AN: NC-17 and some language. But not that bad. Ahaha enjoy.

Disclaimer: don't own.

"Next!" Minoru called out and briefly looked around the busy mission room, at the lines that had formed. He mentally frowned. It's not that he minded when it got busy, if anything it made the time go by faster. No, the thing was that his shift was technically over almost thirty minutes ago, but since it was so busy he stayed voluntarily. Out of good work ethic, mostly. Because frankly he would rather be home right about home and relax a bit before he and Naruto went to the spring festival near the lake. The festival that Naruto was trying not to avoid anymore. And he wasn't going to discourage it.

He took the offered report from the shinobi that stood in front of him and looked out over. Or at least tried to. If it wasn't for the - what looked like - mud covering it, "I'm sorry, I can't accept this, it's illegible." He handed the report back, "You'll have to rewrite it and come back." He noticed the miffed look on the jounin's face and returned it passively.

"You're kidding..."

Minoru sighed at the frustrated tone, "I'm not." The jounin's clicked his tongue and snatched away the report.

"Goddamn faggot."

It was barely audible with the noise in the crowded mission room. But Minoru heard the curse that the jounin said under his breath but loud enough for him to hear. He kept his passive expression, grateful that he was so skilled at hiding his emotions,even though he felt his face turn cold.

"Next," he called out and ignored the way Hatchi glanced at him.

Minoru entered their apartment with a sigh and toed off his shoes. He slipped off his hitae ate as he walked into the living room and set it on the coffee table. He found the apartment empty when he wandered into the bedroom to change out of his uniform. As he suspected, he found a note on the kitchen table, and couldn't help but smile.

Lee wanted a sparring partner.

I for some reason agreed... So I'll be back soon!

Yours,

Naruto

Minoru chuckled and moved to search the fridge, but realized he wasn't hungry. He sighed and moved back to the living room. He didn't like where his head was. It was stupid. It was so stupid. And even more so that it was still bothering him. He looked at his makeshift studio space, and opted in continuing the painting hanging on the wall.

He painted. It always helped him clear his mind, it always helped him put things into perspective, always helped him calm himself. It helped him get out any frustration. But something happened, maybe he got too lost in his thoughts or he was applying paint a bit too aggressively - whatever it was, the canvas fell off the wall and hit the floor in such a way that the stretchers came apart at the corner. He gaped at it for a moment before dropping down to a squat with a sigh and carefully moving it, trying not to disturb the wet paint than it already was. He ran a hand through his hair and pinched the bridge of his nose. He looked up when he felt Naruto enter the apartment and stand at the entrance of the living room.

"Hey…," Naruto greeted and furrowed his brows, "What happened?"

Minoru sighed and looked at the damaged canvas, "It fell."

Naruto moved closer and squatted down next to his husband, "How?" Minoru shrugged and moved the canvas to lean against the wall. He eyed him for a moment, noticing the somewhat shuttered look in his eyes, something was off, "Are you okay?" Minoru looked at him then and offered him a smile and a nod. It wasn't convincing.

"Yeah, I'm okay," he said with a sigh, and cerulean eyes gave him a look. He smiled and stood, the older man stood with him, "How was your sparring session?"

Naruto chuckled, "I don't know why I agreed to it, my plan was to relax today...that was the complete opposite of relaxing. "

Minoru chuckled, "It is." He pulled Naruto closer by his shirt, "Now you're all sweaty," an arm wrapped around his waist, sending a tingle up his spine. He tugged on Naruto's shirt and pulled it off. Something about Naruto's chemistry always drew him in, always did something to him. It was quite a thing to realize when he first started having feelings for him. All those times they trained together, all those times when he would come in close contact with the older man. It did things to him. It still did. It always will. He sighed when Naruto brushed his cheek against his in a soft caress. Naruto smelled like home. He smelled like comfort and trees, and if love had a scent it would be his. He smelled like everything he loved all rolled into one. He pressed his lips on Naruto's neck, tasting the saltiness on his skin.

Naruto brushed his lips against that spot on Minoru's neck and smiled when his breath hitched. He cupped a pale cheek and directed him into a soft kiss, hands found purchase on his hips and pulled him closer. He grinned when Minoru stepped forward, "Shower?" Minoru grinned back and nodded before capturing his lips again. They made a trail of clothes on the way to the shower, their exploring hands never leaving skin.

Naruto revelled in the cool spray that showered over them, in the tender touches on his skin, the lips that marked their territory. Minoru pressed him against the shower wall and he threaded his fingers in the dark wet locks, smiling at the way the illuminated eyes seem to shimmer. Their hips rocked together, their erections grinding in such a wonderful way it had Minoru pressing his forehead against his shoulder. Their moans and pants of air echoed in the bathroom as they stroked each other, slowly, teasingly. Naruto latched on to the pale throat, on that spot, and he gave it no mercy. Minoru moaned loudly next to ear, his free hand gripped his side as his hand and hips quickened. His nose bumped the younger man's jaw and lips found his, and he instantly delved his tongue into that welcoming mouth. He quickened his hand, making the younger man moan in his mouth. Their kiss broke for the need of air and the illuminated gaze fixed on him and it sent a pulse down his spine. And the grin that pulled on Minoru's wet lips didn't help. "Minoru - I - " he moaned as the hand around him quickened. It never ceased to amaze him the way Minoru touched him, how his hands knew his body better than he did. How he made his body flush and his skin break out into goosebumps. How he could feel his love behind every caress made his breath hitch, and his body scream.

"I love you," Minoru said softly, and cerulean eyes fixed on him, locks of wet blonde hair stuck to the older man's forehead and he couldn't help but find it endearing, "I love you so much, Naruto - " his breath hitched when Naruto tensed, moaning as the hand on his hip gripped tighter, the erection in his hand pulsed as he came - hard - in his hand, "Na-ruto - " it was too much for him - his orgasm washed over him and lips swallowed his moans as he spilled his hot seed in between them.

Naruto panted for air and chuckled when the dark head dropped to the knook of his neck and arms wrapped around his shoulders. He smoothed a hand over the younger man's wet back and kissed the sensitive scar on his shoulder. They stayed there for a while, until Minoru shivered against him. He smiled when Minoru reluctantly pulled away and smiled at cupped a wet pale cheek and his smile widened when the younger man leaned into his touch and kissed his palm.

They helped wash each other quickly before getting out and drying each other off. Naruto laughed when Minoru plopped down onto the bed with the towel still low on his hips, "When should we head over to the festival?"

Minoru hummed and smiled when Naruto plopped down next to him. He rolled onto his side and propped his head on a hand as he looked down at the older man. He felt a flutter in his heart when smiling cerulean eyes looked up at him. A fond smile pulled on his lips as he cupped a whiskered cheek and stroked his thumb under a blue eye, "Soon," he said softly and a sun kissed hand came up to rest on his wrist.

Naruto noticed the flicker of Chakra in the midnight blue eyes. He had a feeling that something was in the back of Minoru's mind, but knew it was best to let the younger man come around on his own. So for now, he let it go, "Maybe we should eat before hand." Minoru smiled and nodded before dropping his head on his shoulder and smoothing his hand over his chest.

They basked in their innocent touches, tracing invisible patterns on skin. Naruto looked up at Minoru when he propped himself up again and looked down at him.

"Remember what you promised," Minoru reminded with a smile, and a sun kissed hand cupped his cheek.

Naruto smiled and nodded, "I'll let you know if I want to come home."

Minoru leaned down and gave the older man a soft kiss before getting out of bed and started to get ready. Naruto propped himself up on his elbows and watched him for a while before following suit.

Their stomachs led them to a spot they had grown fond of that served bentos and sushi and decent ramen - because in Naruto's opinion, nothing beat Ichiraku's. As they ate, and snickered about things only they knew Naruto looked at Minoru, and caved, "So, are you going to tell me..."

Minoru's lips curved into a smile and he popped a piece of sushi into his mouth. He was trying not to think about it, he really was. But it kept going in the back of his mind despite how much he tried ignoring it. Of course Naruto would still catch it. "It's...it's stupid," be snorted, "It's really stupid."

Naruto ate a piece of sushi and hummed, "and yet..."

Minoru smiled at Naruto sheepishly, and looked down at his food for a moment, "Have you...," he sighed and looked at Naruto, "Have you ever been called...a derogatory term...?" He asked lamely with a sigh hoping the older man would understand. Cerulean eyes narrowed at him slightly.

"...In regards to..." Once the words left his mouth he realized just how bad that sounded, "Is it sad that I have to clarify?" He asked with a tone of humor.

Minoru gave him a smile, "...In regards to... Your preference..."

Naruto thought for a moment, "I can't say that I have..." Realization hit him, "Did someone say something to you - who -"

"Naruto," Minoru interrupted gently, noticing his anger in his tone, "It doesn't matter who. I literally don't even know their name." He offered the older man a smile, and got a frown in return, "I've been trying not to think about it, not to let it bother me because it's not worth it. But I can't for some reason, it keeps nagging at me at the back of my mind..." He sighed and the corner of his mouth twitched into a frown.

"Maybe because...it hurt you," Naruto ventured, and midnight blue eyes looked at him a bit lost, "Maybe because even though you don't want it to bother you, it still hurt you."

Minoru swallowed and looked at their food, and took a piece of sushi without thinking, "I just don't understand," he said in a low voice and met the older man's gaze, "I don't understand why or how others can judge so easily. So off handed." He clenched his jaw and poked at the piece of sushi, and sighed, "I don't understand how someone can use something...something that is precious and special to me, something that makes me happy and safe, something that is so full of warmth and comfort - and insult me with it." He met the cerulean gaze, noticing the furrowed brows, "What gives anyone the right to use my love, or the way I decide to love, or the person I decide to love - to take that and insult me with it? What's it to them? Why does that call for bigotry?" He averted his gaze when he felt his eyes sting from either anger and something else, he couldn't tell, "I'm trying not to get upset," he pinched the bridge of his nose, "But I can't - " he stopped when a soothing hand closed over his and realized he was shaking.

"Breathe," Naruto said softly and watched the younger man closed his flickering eyes and took a deep steady breath, "I'm sorry, Minoru, that people are such idiots."

Minoru snorted and couldn't help but smile, "They are. Some of them," he shook his head in dismissal, "Anyway! Enough about that," he gestured to their food, "Let's finish up so we can go."

Naruto chuckled. He knew when drop things, this was one of those times, "Alright."

They finished their meal and as they walked to the festival, Naruto smiled as fingers intertwined with his.

The festival was mostly booths of games and food and scheduled shows on a main stage. And to much of Minoru's amusement, they went to every single booth. And every single show. Minoru couldn't stop smiling at how happy Naruto was.

"How long till the next show?" Minoru asked and watched as the older man took out his pocket watch, a smile tugging on his lips.

"About twenty minutes," Naruto snapped the watch shut and slipped it back into his pocket. "Something in the air smells good."

Minoru snorted, "You've been saying that since we got here and we ate before hand."

"I have no limit," Naruto answered with a grin.

Minoru chuckled, "I'm well aware of that," he said with a wiggle of a brow. He chuckled at the way the older man blushed. His eyes cut away when his saw a glimpse of the jounin from earlier, from the mission room. He mentally frowned when the jounin shot a look their direction. He caught Naruto just as he began to turn to follow his gaze and did the first thing that came into mind as a distraction - because the last thing he wanted was Naruto knowing who it was that offended him. He cupped his face and kissed him.

The distraction worked a little bit too well.

Minoru pulled away a bit too breathless and blushing. The amused quirk of a blonde brow didn't help either. He cleared his throat at the grin that pulled on Naruto's lips, "So...should we go to the show?"

Naruto chuckled and nodded. They moved to the main stage, curious as to what this show was going to be. The previous two had been rather entertaining, the first was a somewhat of a choreographed play with dancing and music. The second was a type of magic show, that to much of Minoru's amusement held Naruto's one hundred percent uninvited attention was glued to it - more than he expected. The third show started when the sun was just setting. There were taiko drummers ready, and one counted off and started drumming. The beat was loud and vibrated through the space, creating cheers from the crowd that has gathered. From behind the curtain that was behind the drummers came out four women, dressed in what looked like kimonos, and casually walked to the front and center of the stage. The drum beat slowed a fraction as the women revealed what looked like balls connected to strings. Minoru knew them as a type of tethered weights used for poi. They started spinning them in unison, dancing with them, as if they were one. Somehow, one lit on fire, even Minoru and Naruto missed the motion. The drum beat picked up, the movements picked up with it. The balls at the end of each string were all now lit, and the women started spinning them, naturally, as if they were an extension of themselves. As night started to fall, the spinning became more magical, creating trails of light in their quick spinning movements.

Naruto looked over to Minoru, his smile widening at the look of wonder on the younger man's face. The orange hues of the fire glowed and reflected off his skin. He didn't realize he was starting until midnight blue eyes turned to look at him and his husband gave him a warm smile. A hand slipped over his elbow and held him closer, and felt a flutter in his heart.

When the show ended, and the crowd cheered, Minoru and Naruto decided to take their leave. As they walked home and Naruto stifled a yawn, Minoru chuckled and gave him an amused look.

"Did you like it?"

Naruto smiled at the genuine question and nodded, "I did," he chuckled, "Very much."

Minoru's smile widened, "I'm glad." A hand slipped into his and tugged. He stumbled into Naruto, bumping into his hard body. Before he could properly respond lips slipped over his in a tender kiss. He sighed into it, feeling the emotion behind it.

Naruto smiled into the kiss and pulled away, noticing the faint flow in the younger man's eyes, "Let's go home."

Minoru's smile widened and chuckled, "Home."

As they walked home, they fingers stayed intertwined.

The next day, while Minoru was working the last minutes of his shift, he looked up when the double doors swung open and to much of his chagrin it was the jounin who he still didn't know the name of. Not that he cared.

"Jounin-san," he greeted casually and took the offered report, "I see that I can actually read it now." Minoru looked over the report and filed it away, "Thank you." He gave the jounin a slow confused look when he didn't walk away, "...is there something else?"

The jounin shifted his weight, "I'm sorry."

Minoru looked at him. Studied him briefly. His posture was uneasy, almost uncertain, and the look in his eyes was...genuine, as far as he could tell. There were a lot of things he could have said. He could have given this man an earful if he wanted to. But he didn't. The jounin shifted his weight again.

"Okay." He said simply. He didn't understand why he felt the need to apologize, especially when he didn't even know him. But in the other hand, he apologized, when he didn't even know him. In a way, that in itself spoke volumes. He didn't forgive him, though, not when he used his love and happiness as a way to insult him. No. What he and Naruto shared meant too much to him for that.

The jounin slowly nodded, acceptingly, and hesitated for a moment before turning and taking his leave. He sighed as the double doors swung to a stop and glanced at the clock, it was time to go home.

As Minoru left the mission room and walked down the road he usually took home, he paused and looked up. A mischievous smile tugged on his lips.

Naruto yelped and nearly fell off the branch he was lounging on when Minoru suddenly appeared in front of him. A sturdy hand caught him and he glared at the laughing younger man, "and here I was thinking of walking you home!"

Minoru tried to stop laughing but snorted in result, "where were you then?"

Naruto frowned, "I thought you got out later!"

Minoru chuckled and moved closer, "I'm sorry."

Naruto half-heartedly glared, "...How was shift?"

Minoru nodded with a smile, "Good," he answered simply. He was pulled closer, a secure hand on his bicep, and he grinned as lips sealed over his. He hummed in approval and threaded his fingers into the blonde locks. When he pulled away he noticed the hesitation in the older man's eyes, "What is it?"

Naruto sighed, "I have an assignment. I leave in a few days."

Minoru's smile softened, "You know," he drawled, "That means you need to get enough rest..."

Naruto couldn't help but smile at the sultry look his husband was giving him, "Is that so?" Minoru nodded enthusiastically, "What did you have in mind?" He hooked his finger under the younger man's chin and traced his bottom lip with his thumb.

"Things," he said with a grin and flicked his tongue out to lick the older man's thumb, "Things you like..."

Naruto grinned, "Such as..."

Minoru blushed despite himself, "What if I just show you..."

And when Naruto grinned at him, the kind of grin only he saw, when he saw that glint in his eye, and when he cupped his cheek in the way only he did, and claimed his lips - this love, this happiness, this man - no one and nothing could ever take this away from him. This was theirs.