Silent All These Years
"I don't understand, Sasuke-kun. How can you betray your village? Kill off its Jounins, and still be loved by everyone when you return. What's the secret, Sasuke-kun? How do you do it?"
The sharp features of the boy were slowly muting in his eyes until he could only see the intensely blue eyes, drawing him in slowly to drown. He groaned, not finding the strength to answer.
"I drag you back, bloody, like they told me to do, Sasuke-kun, and it's not a thank-you but why did you bruise our pretty Sasuke-kun, Naruto? He didn't deserve that, Naruto. Doesn't matter what I tell them…Perfect Sasuke-kun did nothing wrong. He was just avenging his brother. Never mind the fact he couldn't just do that but would destroy the village if we allowed him to."
Sasuke gave a bitter laugh before coughing, chest heaving for breath as blood poured out of his mouth. The cerulean eyes danced, a feral smile crossing his lips as he watched his rival leaking away his life.
"You didn't allow that to happen now, did you, Naruto?"
Naruto remained silent.
"What'd you think would happen when you caught me? Cheers, happiness, people seeing you as a hero? To them, you will always be the Kyuubi."
"Why are the crimes you commit willingly not counted against you, Sasuke-kun, while I am held accountable for the sins for something that I had no doing in? I am sick of trying to prove I am something otherwise."
"I don't know."
Sasuke groaned, bringing his knees up to his chest to cradle them as another wave of pain hit his frail frame. He felt oddly at ease as he waited for his death.
"I guess…. it is because people…don't want to see people they place their dreams on…as bad."
"Maybe."
Silence reigned, and Naruto leaned his head back on the plaster wall of the hospital room.
" Thank you."
"For what, Sasuke-kun?"
"I have been waiting for someone to deem me worthy of being killed."
"Why die? No matter how hard you try, you can't fuck things up. They like you, want to be with you and keep you safe. They would die for you, Sasuke-kun, and it still isn't enough for you. What do you want that this world can't give you?"
"Do you think my life is easy, dobe? I have spent my entire life, chasing after another man's shadow because he stole what I wanted!"
"After you killed him, did you take back what he stole? Your family, your life…they can't be replaced by another's death. Stop playing the part of the victim! Others are in the same boat as you but at least you were loved."
"I was never loved."
"You could have been, Sasuke-kun. You could have if you had let them."
Naruto stood up and yawned, stretching his arms above his head before walking over to Sasuke, pressing his palms against Sasuke's chest. Sasuke watched him warily, unable to do anything as Naruto's eyes settled on his, blood red and silted.
"All I wanted ever, Sasuke-kun, was to be loved, to be acknowledged, to be seen as myself. But obviously, I can't have that. Not as I am now…" he whispered.
Sasuke smiled, his first true smile as he felt the familiar warmth of energy gather around Naruto's hand. The yellow pulsating energy appeared seconds later, and they both stared at it in morbid fascination.
"All you want is to die and all I want is to live as you. We both win." He hissed, lowering the ball so it hovered above Sasuke's heart.
"And if they discover it isn't me?"
"They wouldn't," Naruto reassured him and Sasuke pressed his weary body upward, impaling himself into the light.
: Excuse me but can I be you for a while: