Just a really short piece on Naruto being all open to Sasuke
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In the past few years that Sasuke had grown to really know Naruto, he had seen the blond cry a hefty number of times. The stupid dobe had been crying when Sasuke got stuck like a pincushion with Haku's needles. Then there was the heartfelt confession Naruto gave to Sasuke at the Valley of the End. Later when he was trying to convince Sasuke to come home after infiltrating Otogakure (honestly, Sasuke shouldn't have let Naruto sneak back out without alerting anybody). Fighting Sasuke that last time in Kusagakure Naruto had fairly broke down half way through (though in Naruto's favor so did Sasuke at the end, but no one was ever going to learn about that).
It really took Sasuke by surprise when Sakura mentioned, after they had witnessed Naruto hold back tears when Konohamaru was admitted to the hospital for injuries, "Naruto doesn't cry. I've only seen it once."
He opened his mouth and closed it again. "Really?" He finally asked surprised.
"Why?" Sakura asked him.
"Well… I've seen… never mind," he stopped thinking that perhaps Naruto wouldn't appreciate Sasuke spreading rumors about Naruto crying. Since when did he get so sensitive to the blonde's feelings?
Sakura seemed to understand. She nodded her head and let out a low "hmm". Then she turned to him with a wicked smirk, "Figures he'd only cry in front of you." Then she vacated the premises before Sasuke could allow his brain to process what she was implying.
"Stupid girl."
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Naruto laid his head down on the table with an exhausted sigh. "I could just sleep for days right now."
It struck Sasuke at that moment just how vulnerable Naruto allowed himself to get around his one-time rival. The blond practically fell asleep on Sasuke's shoulder half the time when at one point he didn't like sleeping in the same room. Naruto let Sasuke patch him up when he got sloppy on a mission and then pretended that he was in perfect health if anyone came around.
And then there was the whole crying thing.
"Why do you let your guard down so much around me?"
Naruto didn't open his eyes. "If it bothers you that much I'll stop."
For some reason he felt like the other was mocking him. Apparently Naruto assumed Sasuke would deny and tell Naruto not to change. "Just answer the question."
"Probably because I figured you'd never care enough to ask." This time Naruto did lift his head and opened his eyes. "What's bugging you?"
"Sakura's never seen you cry. Yet I've seen it a dozen times."
"You make it sound like a dozen is a large number," Naruto teased. "Trust me; there were a couple million times I didn't allow you to be privy to."
"But why did you allow me to witness those times."
Naruto stood up at that moment and turned his back to head into his bedroom. "Why not? You're like a brother, aren't you?"
As Naruto disappeared into his bedroom Sasuke stayed in his place before he turned in for the night in his own bedroom. Like a brother. There was something different. At one time, Sasuke had been secretly pleased to know Naruto felt they were so close. Yet, at the same time, he really didn't like the title.
"I don't want to be brothers," he decided before turning his back on his room and bursting straight into Naruto's. Vaguely he realized the blond had yelped in surprise as the bedroom door was flung open. "I don't want to be brothers." He leaned down the few centimeters that separated them and kissed Naruto firmly on the lips.
"Good thing for that," Naruto murmured, "because my dreams are not family appropriate."
Sasuke sighed and dropped his head onto Naruto's shoulder. "Dobe."
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A/N I guess Sasuke's OOC at the end, but deal, because I didn't want to drag this on into one of those soap operas where the two dance around each other. Tell me if there are any mistakes. I do my own editing.