After Naruto's outburst there really hadn't been much more to talk about. Sasuke was just glad that he'd not used all his strength or he'd definitely ended up in hospital. Like this, he'd just opted for a shower and cleaning of the cuts on his face.

Obviously ashamed Naruto did nothing but apologise for the rest of the evening and set up his spare futon for Sasuke, as well as give him a set of clean clothes because he hadn't had a chance to wash his yet.

He'd have to lie if he said he didn't feel like a new human after his shower. The water stung in his wounds, but he had to admit it felt cathartic.

When he stepped out of the bathroom Naruto wouldn't look at him.
"I'm sorry", he muttered again as he went to bed himself. They'd had too much alcohol to talk this out right then and there.

The next morning came far too early for Sasuke's liking. Usually he didn't have any problem with getting up early, but his head confirmed that there'd been too much alcohol the night before and his body reminded him that Naruto's outburst hadn't just been a dream. He hurt all over and his face felt swollen in every place.

"You're awake", Naruto greeted him, already fully clothed and probably on his way out to the office.

"Good morning."
He tried to look at the blonde but his head felt too heavy. It seemed like Kyuubi was still a massive boost to Naruto's system. There was no way he'd not be hungover otherwise when they'd roughly had the same amount of drinks.

The blonde looked at him, his expression riddled with shame.
"I'm trying to work fast today. You can stay here and rest." He shook his head as if to dismiss a thought.
"I also wouldn't go out looking like that", he added. "I'm really sorry."

Sasuke only gave him a small nod before he allowed himself to collapse back onto the futon. He didn't want to be awake today anyway. He was asleep again by the time Naruto closed the door behind him.

He didn't know how much later it was when he was finally woken up by a knock on the door, but he decided to ignore it. No one knew he was here anyway and Naruto didn't seem to be back yet.

"Sasuke, I know you're there. Let me in, please."
Although she sounded a lot more mature than he remembered her, he'd recognise that voice anywhere.

Only in Naruto's boxers he made his way to the door slowly, still too hungover and sore to care. With his face rearranged by Naruto he'd look like shit with clothes on as well, so it didn't really matter.

"Sakura", he greeted her as he opened the door.

She gasped as she saw him, then hurried inside.
"Naruto really didn't lie. You look like he used you as a punching bag."

'Technically, he did.'

Sakura set her bag down on the floor and motioned for Sasuke to sit down on the futon.
"What did you two do last night?"

"Did he not tell you? We tried to find out how many different colours my face can turn at once."
He didn't know why he felt the need to be cocky with her. She didn't deserve this when she probably only came here to help him.

She rolled his eyes at his stupid remark.
"Look, you don't have to tell me anything. I can just patch you up a little and then be out the door again and we don't have to talk at all."

"No, I'm sorry. I'm not really awake yet", he admitted. Where was his pride? He'd never have allowed Sakura to see him like this, but it didn't seem to matter anymore. Nothing did.

She placed a hand in front of his face and he could immediately feel the swelling subside.
"I'm here, because Naruto asked me to come. I hope you know this."

Although he'd figured as much it still hit him to hear her say it devoid of all emotion. Sakura's admiration and care had always been something he could count on, even when he'd treated them like shit. Somehow it hurt to know it was gone.

"I'm sorry for what I did to you."

"I don't think that cuts it, Sasuke." She concentrated on what she was doing. "Now lie down so I can look if there's any damage to your ribs."

Only now did he notice how much any motion hurt. And Sakura's face tightened as he winced in pain when he did as she'd said.

"What happened here last night, Sasuke? Why did Naruto break your ribs?"

"Ask him. He probably had the same reasons as you did for not wanting to come here."
Breathing almost stopped hurting immediately when she placed her hands over his ribs. She'd really become good at this.

It took a while to reassemble Sasuke, Naruto had really done a number on him.
"You should figure out your differences", Sakura said as she got up to leave. "I don't want to come here every day now."

'I don't want to come see you every day' was what she was really saying and Sasuke really felt that.
He only nodded and let her leave, although he really didn't want her to. He wanted to talk, he wanted to keep apologising, he wanted to hear from her that it would be okay, but instead, he just let her leave, because he didn't think he deserved to be heard. Not after everything he'd done. He deserved her hatred and he deserved to feel it hitting him with full force like that.
He hadn't even noticed that he'd been digging his fingernails into his thighs until the skin broke and he drew blood. 'Pathetic.' He repeated it over and over again to himself.

When Naruto returned to the apartment, he was still curled up on the futon.

"I'm home", Naruto announced as if to give him one last chance to collect himself, but he didn't even bother. Didn't even answer the blonde.

"Did you move at all today?"
Naruto's voice was soft.

"I think I went to the bathroom twice." He said it as if it was an accomplishment.

Apparently his unwillingness to move had not deterred Naruto from sitting down on the floor next to him.
"Sakura told me what she had to do to put you back together." He sighed. "I'm sorry I lost control last night."

"You didn't lose control", Sasuke laughed. "I've seen you lose control and I wouldn't be alive if you had."

"It was still wrong of me."

Sasuke finally uncurled himself and sat up next to the blonde, surprised it didn't hurt at all anymore.

"I was angry. I've been angry for a long, long time. Still, I should know better. Violence only breeds more violence. It's what makes people like us."

"People like me", Sasuke corrected him. "You turned out perfectly fine."

Naruto laughed bitterly and shook his head, then decided to let the topic rest.
"Have you eaten today?"

"Not yet."

"I know a good Ramen place."

"She didn't even want to talk to me, Naruto."
He didn't know why he'd said it, but somehow the words had left his mouth before he could stop himself.

Naruto placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Give her time", he said. "She'd just gotten over losing you before you came back. It wasn't easy for us all." The blonde looked to the floor.
"We fought so long for you, tried to bring you back. It would have cost our sanity if we'd kept it up."

'And so, you gave up on me', Sasuke completed in his mind. Talking with Naruto like this reminded him why he'd put it off for so long. It hurt in a way that made him just want to avoid it.

"Stop that!"
Naruto's sudden words and a grip around his hand pulled him from his thoughts as his fingers were pulled away from his thigh.
"That's not gonna make anything better."

'But I'm so fucking tired.'
He wanted to explain himself, say that he didn't notice that he was doing it, but it wouldn't help his case, he figured. Instead he went for "let's go eat something, then."

'Only cowards run', he reminded himself. Changing the topic like that, it really was pathetic.

When they finally made it to Ichiraku it was already dark outside. The days getting shorter had never really helped with his moods. Ever since Itachi killed his whole clan he'd felt uneasy alone in the darkness and he'd never really been able to get rid of the feeling.
Orochimaru's treatment certainly hadn't helped, but that was a whole other ordeal and he wasn't willing to think about anything related to his time there for too long in fear it might eat away at his sanity if he did.

It remained unspoken between them, but it was clear that Sasuke would continue to sleep on the futon in Naruto's apartment until he had one of his own. He was certain Naruto was already working on a solution for this problem and it shouldn't take him too long to find one.

Even though it was only a short walk to the Ramen place Sasuke was thankful for the darkness. Kakashi might have cleared him of his crimes when he was Hokage but that didn't convince the villagers. Walking through Konoha at daylight meant nothing but people staring daggers at him, some even shouting at him, but no one dared to attack him because beneath all their anger towards him there was fear most of all. In their eyes he was nothing but a traitor, a killer and a monster. Most of it was based purely on rumours, they couldn't know of all the sins he'd committed. Even he wasn't sure if he remembered them all correctly.
Walking with Naruto made the people look away much faster. Of course, no one would dare to question the Hokage, not after his heroic acts in the war.
It made Sasuke wonder if what he was experiencing was what Naruto'd had to deal with his entire childhood, when people thought of him as the monster.

Still, he felt vulnerable sitting there out in the open to eat with Naruto, who didn't seem to mind the occasional stares and mumbles.
It made Sasuke eat his Ramen much faster than he'd usually do, as if his life depended on finishing his food, so he could get up earlier to leave again. He hated himself for once again thinking about running away. 'Why is running really all you can do lately?'

"Do you want more?"
Naruto had ordered a second serving for himself, because of course he would.

Sasuke didn't want to look up from his empty bowl. He really just wanted to disappear.
"I'm good, thanks."

"You don't look good."
A small remark, so out of context. It wasn't like the Naruto Sasuke knew, but maybe this was the new Naruto, just like he was the new Sasuke. The years really had changed them and he couldn't say that it was for the better.
The Uchiha decided not to say anything and to keep staring at his bowl until Naruto had finished up his second serving and they could finally go.

As soon as Naruto was finished, Sasuke got up, but they were held up by Ichiraku demanding money, because "yours is on the house, but he's not invited."
He wished hard for the floor to open beneath him. Instead, Naruto just paid the man without saying anything more than a short "until next time!" and then they left.

"He doesn't mean it like that", he tried.

Sasuke made a disapproving noise.
"Of course, he does. They all do!" He gestured to the few people standing around them who'd stopped in their tracks to stare at them, but quickly looked away as Sasuke pointed them out to Naruto. "Look at them, circling like vultures! I've had it!"

"They'll adjust, give it some time", Naruto told him, almost whispering as he was obviously embarrassed by Sasuke directing their attention to them even more.

'But I can't wash my name clean of my sins', he wanted to say but didn't.