Title: Parallels
Authors: Questofdreams and Lazuli
Rated: R
Comments: Huge thanks to our beta, proud snapist.
Disclaimer: Yep, they apply.
Chapter 14
Naruto looked down the street and for the briefest of moments, was completely thrown off. One way led to his apartment, the other led to his father's house.
"Fuck," he muttered, rubbing his face.
Why did Sasuke have to be so damn difficult? he thought, pressing his palms into his temples, attacking a headache that wasn't really there. Pushing off the wall, he looked back at the house, half hoping for Sasuke to run out after him, the other half hoping the bastard would leave him the hell alone.
He wondered vaguely what he would find if he went to where his father's house was. Part of him was expecting the Yondaime to be there, while the other part of him discounted it as being completely irrational thinking. Still, curiosity got the better of him and he set off towards his house.
He looked up at the dark sky as he walked, hands shoved deep into his pockets. He turned a few streets and his father's house came into view. Smiling when he saw that there were lights on inside, he quickened his pace. He was right outside the door, digging in his pockets for a key he didn't have when he realized he had lost himself again. His smile fell from his face and he stumbled off the doorstep, shaking his head in a daze.
"What are you doing here?"
Naruto turned at the softly spoken voice and turned to yell at Sasuke, but it wasn't him.
"Ka...Kakashi-sensei." Naruto's eyes widened with surprised. "What are you doing here?"
"It's a nice night, isn't it?" Kakashi asked rather than answering Naruto.
"Kakashi-sensei," Naruto said, tone laced with a warning that he knew didn't intimidate his former teacher in the least.
"I'll answer you if you answer me," he replied. In the dark, it was hard to make out the man's expression as his only visible eye was cast in shadow.
"Alright fine. Yes, it's a lovely night," Naruto said, grinning cheekily even though it was mostly show.
Kakashi's mask curved as if he was smiling. "Wrong question, Naruto."
Naruto thrust his hands in his pockets and looked back toward the house, swallowing a lump in his throat. He forced himself to walk away, telling himself that his father wasn't there, that the Yondaime had died a long time ago.
"I was going for a walk." Naruto said finally, his feet kicking at the dusty road as he walked. Kakashi fell into step beside him. "I wanted to see this part of town." Not the whole truth, but not quite a lie, either.
"Mmm," Kakashi said, and Naruto wasn't quite sure what that meant. "I did too."
Naruto turned to him with a frown. Kakashi shrugged.
"If you're going to lie to me, I'm going to lie to you," he said softly.
Naruto sighed, unable to help the small smile that tugged at his lips. The man could still read Naruto, even years after their team had fallen apart. Kakashi had never taken on another team, and Naruto had been so busy with his own missions that he didn't spend the same amount of time with the man as he did as a genin. Naruto rarely saw Kakashi these days, save for the occasional mission assigned together.
"I don't know how much you know," Naruto finally said into the silence. "But I came here, because my... because--" He took a deep breath and didn't try to force the words out, but instead asked another question of his own, which indirectly answered Kakashi's earlier question. "Why didn't you tell me he was my father?"
Kakashi, for his part, didn't look at all surprised. "I couldn't," he said simply. "We were forbidden to speak of it to the children and that included you."
"Oh, come on, Kakashi-sensei, you don't expect me to believe that, do you?" Naruto asked, shoving his hands back into his pockets, a little angrily.
"Well, it was true. But you, specifically, we were not to tell," he admitted, voice quiet.
Naruto whirled on him, eyes bright and angry. "Why?" he demanded. "Why? When Ero-sennin was teaching me the jutsu, when you were my father's student and friend and..." Naruto took a deep breath. "Why was no one supposed to tell me? Was I just supposed to live in ignorance while everyone laughed at me and talked behind my back? About how they had to pity my father because he kept a monster around?" The memories of the other him were getting confused with his own again.
Kakashi gave him a curious look. "Naruto, are you yourself?" he asked.
Naruto sighed. "How did you find out anyway?" he asked, dropping his voice again.
"I heard you and Sasuke shouting down the street the other day. You were talking about your father as if he was still alive. I was curious so I went to talk to the Hokage about it."
In other words, Naruto thought, knowing his former teacher was too sharp for his own good, Kakashi had spied on them and figured out what was happening before confirming it with the Hokage.
Naruto sighed. "I'm myself but I think the other memories are getting fused with my own. Sort of like how kyuubi and are I getting fused together." He ran a hand through his hair, agitated. "Only the effects are worse. I can't remember if the things I remember are my memories, or the memories from the other me." He turned to look at Kakashi as they walked. "You never answered my first question."
Kakashi looked up, appearing contemplative. Naruto watched him carefully, something warm and constricting clutching at his chest. It occurred to Naruto then that Kakashi had probably seen him walking alone, towards the house that was once the Yondaime's, and wondered if Naruto was currently the other Naruto. And, likely against Kakashi's better judgment, he had sought out Naruto for...whatever reasons he'd had.
Naruto had never known his father until now, but Kakashi had been his student. Kakashi didn't speak about what had happened in his past, as if having reconciled long ago his pain at losing everyone who had ever meant anything to him. But, Naruto thought as he watched Kakashi's masked face, maybe the man wasn't as placid about his memories as he appeared to be.
"Why were you forbidden to tell me the truth about my father?" Naruto asked before Kakashi could say anything. Kakashi turned that single visible eye to him, looking mildly interested at the understanding in Naruto's blue gaze that was so very like another's.
"It wasn't my place, Naruto," he finally said. He shook his head and put up a hand for silence when Naruto made to argue, but didn't say anymore himself.
Naruto huffed irritably, knowing it was pointless to try and argue further. Kakashi was dead-stubborn and was infuriatingly good at ignoring whatever or whoever was pestering him. He rounded another corner, and his own apartment appeared several buildings down.
He ground his teeth and tried one last time. "Then whose place was it?" Naruto asked quietly, wishing he could hide his hurt as convincingly as Kakashi could. "No one else was likely to tell me."
Kakashi-sensei was one of the few people, the few adults in the village that didn't hate him on sight, didn't treat him any different because of the kyuubi, who was actually concerned about him. And his teacher had been the Yondaime. If anything...
"The Hokage, Naruto. If Sandaime had wanted to tell you, he would have done so. It isn't my place to question his motives." Kakashi fixed Naruto with an even look. "You should know that. He was still your Hokage and everything he did had a purpose to it."
Naruto shuffled his feet as he came to a stop at the base of the metal staircase that led up to his apartment. If it wasn't for his respect of the old man, he would have cursed and called the Sandaime a name he was sure even Kakashi had never come across in his dirty novels.
"Well, he didn't feel the need, then," Naruto said shortly. "Maybe he wanted someone else to do it." He walked midway up the stairs, before turning to look at Kakashi. Naruto's expression was once again understanding, despite the hurt evident in his eyes. "I'm sorry," was all he said before he went the rest of the way to his apartment. He knew that Kakashi would know what he was apologizing for—his earlier anger at the man, the Yondaime no longer being there, everything the Kyuubi had taken from Konoha.
The only indication of Kakashi's surprise was the slow blink of his eye. "It's not your fault, Naruto."
Naruto shrugged, feeling the last of his anger drain away to be replaced by a weariness so profound that for the first time in his life, he wanted to just lie down and never get up again. Swallowing harshly, he shook his head to clear it of such abysmal thoughts, although the weariness itself he couldn't shed
He leaned against the stairwell, knowing that this was normal, that he didn't have anyone to confide in, that his father wouldn't be waiting upstairs. In this world, in this life, he was alone and the only people who knew of his past never felt the need to tell him.
And the one person he knew understood him was too much of an asshole to care.
He sighed. "Good-night, Kakashi-sensei," he said, trudging up the stairs. He could tell by the soft 'whoosh' behind him that Kakashi had gone. He stood outside the door for a moment before he remembered that he kept his key under the doormat. Unlike Sasuke, he didn't keep fancy jutsu around his apartment. The particularly malicious villagers had long since worn out the excitement in vandalizing Naruto's home—save for the random wayward children, like the ones who'd broken his window.
A minute later, he was shutting the door behind him, wondering how it was possible that he could feel emptier than his dark apartment. He flipped on a light and then blinked in mild surprise at the sheet of paper on his table, addressed to him.
"Eh...?"
He picked it up and saw that it was addressed to him, but it was his own handwriting. Sense kicked in half a second later as he realized that it had been written by his other self.
Without really aiming, Naruto toed his shoes off and kicked them into a corner. He dropped into his sofa, which was not nearly as plush or new as Sasuke's so he sank hard into the coils, but ignored the discomfort.
His eyes scanned the paper and the first paragraph alone made him shake his head. The other Naruto was carrying on about their mutual exasperation with the frigid Uchiha Sasuke. Naruto felt a smile tugging on his lips as he read. It was as if he himself had written it; it was the same tone and the same words he would have chosen. Which, of course, made perfect sense considering technically, he had.
"Bastard Sasuke," the letter began, "here reminds me of how he was before things happened between us. But believe me, once you get him started, it's impossible to get him away!
"Here's some advice on some things. I've heard you're a damn good ninja (although I wasn't all that surprised because well, you're me!) so why don't you use your next check and buy yourself new furniture because that sofa is an insult to all furnishings!"
Naruto snorted. The furniture in his father's house really was nice and soft and not at all sunken. He sighed, wishing he was home with his father again.
"I know, I know--ramen is more important and all that and Ichiraku won't give me free samples but still! You get a couple of good missions and get a better place. Or better yet, move in with Sasuke. He's all nice and warm, you know?"
Naruto blushed at that. "Nice and warm," he whispered to himself, remembering being curled up against Sasuke's chest, legs tangled, steady breaths rustling his hair...a wonderful scene rudely interrupted by the image of Sasuke's cool eyes and emotionless voice, reminding him of the fight they'd just had. "Jerk," he muttered and read on.
"This Godaime of yours...very strange woman. A little annoying too. She keeps calling me names. My father would never do that. Well, we'll figure this all out soon enough, and I know you're smart, cause you're me and telling slow Sasuke all about our great plans to fix everything. I was surprised that you didn't know about our father, though. That Godaime person of yours--and Sasuke--looked so surprised, although Sasuke being a bastard tried to play it off and smirked, saying the resemblance was obvious.
"So, basically, remember about the furniture (or moving in with Sasuke). I can't wait to see Dad again. You're really lucky that you're with him. I'm sure you know that though."
Naruto felt his throat tighten and he nodded to himself.
"So yeah--don't go moping in that empty apartment, either. I don't think I'd do that, but I guess you-me had a harder time of it so go tackle Sasuke or something."
It was simply signed "Uzumaki Naruto".
Naruto slumped back into his sofa, wincing as his head fell on a particularly uncomfortable spot and let his hand fall off the edge, the paper slipping from his fingers to land silently on the floor.
He had closed his eyes, mind sifting through his layers of memories of two completely different lives and wondering how long until he switched again, when a sound from his window made him frown and sit up. His eyes widened as Sasuke crawled into his living room, having pried open his taped over window where the glass had yet to be replaced.
"You're still you," he said blandly when Naruto gazed at him. "I was hoping I'd find you here and not wandering the streets looking for the place."
Naruto looked rather surprised at this admittance of caring coming from Sasuke. The fight had gone out of him and he didn't have the energy to really tackle Sasuke again.
"Why didn't you use the door?" Naruto asked, falling back down again and covering his face with his arm.
"Force of habit."
Sasuke's shadow fell over Naruto but Naruto didn't look, keeping his arm in place. He didn't want to look up into that stony face. He pushed away the pleasant memories of him and Sasuke spending days just lounging in bed to find the one from the day before, when Sasuke had told him that there would be no more hesitation now that he knew how Naruto felt. Naruto would have reminded Sasuke of his own words if not for the sense that it would do little good. Maybe Sasuke just didn't want him anymore.
He felt a strong hand clasp his wrist and draw his arm away from his face. He only had a few seconds to look up in surprise before warm lips covered his own. His eyes widened, a tiny panicked voice inside him wondering if he was having a delusional episode...and then a moist tongue swiped across his bottom lip and he knew this was really Sasuke, his Sasuke. And the wonder of it made him close his eyes in bliss.
The hand on his wrist loosened, sliding into place over his palm, fingers lacing. Naruto opened his mouth, inviting Sasuke in. This was what he wanted from Sasuke. This was what he had wanted earlier but had been too wound up to ask for it, too worried that Sasuke would laugh in his face and push him away, giving the excuse of his memories being screwed up to deny it. But Naruto remembered Sasuke's voice clearly as he said he wouldn't hesitate, and he answered to that silent memory and pulled Sasuke closer.
Sasuke lowered himself to his knees beside the sofa, lips gently sliding across Naruto's before pulling away and peering intensely into his face. "Naruto," he said quietly, his voice wavering with an emotion he'd never heard in his Sasuke before.
Naruto scooted over on the narrow sofa and gently squeezed Sasuke's hand, still linked with his. "Lie down with me?" he asked, hoping that Sasuke wouldn't close himself off again.
Sasuke hesitated, his habits from the past warring with what he wanted to do now, with Naruto. To try and fix something. He nodded slowly and moved to lie down next to Naruto, their fingers still laced.
"Don't vanish on me," he ordered. "I'm here with you, not your other self."
Naruto smiled, wondering if Sasuke would let him rest his head on the man's shoulder. He wanted so much to turn his face into that pale neck and kiss the skin there. He decided against trying. If Sasuke wanted to seek closer contact, then he would. It would be asking too much for Sasuke to make that leap in touching.
"Thank you," Naruto breathed.
It was enough, for now, to feel the warmth of Sasuke's body next to him, to have the reassurance that he wasn't alone in this. "You're going to do this again, when everything is fixed, right?" Naruto asked quietly.
Sasuke smiled--a small smile, but the warmth was there. "If we get the time to. After this is over, Hokage-sama will be sending us on back-to-back missions for weeks for wasting so much of her time."
Naruto grinned. "Yeah well, after all that then."
A trace of Sasuke's smirk appeared. "I'll still be here, Naruto."
"Stupid old hag," he muttered, but there was a faint smile there, too. "It'll be good to have missions again. It's been boring without them." He yawned and stretched his own free arm out. "Man, I'm still worn out from earlier."
"That's right, you said you would be training with your father. How'd that go?"
Naruto dropped his arm, resting his hand on Sasuke's hip and absentmindedly rubbing his thumb back and forth over the thin strip of exposed skin where Sasuke's shirt had ridden up. Sasuke's dark eyes flickered to where Naruto's hand touched his skin, but other than a slight tilt of his brow, didn't object.
Naruto's grin broadened, pride shining in his eyes. "Heh. He taught me how to do his Body Flicker technique—his specialized one that made him so fast."
"And?" Sasuke raised an eyebrow, his face still impassive even with the warmth of Naruto's hand on his skin.
Naruto made a face. "And it's going to take me longer than it took me to learn Kage Bunshin. At least a few days. Maybe as long as it took to learn Rasengan."
"Hm," Sasuke said noncommittally. "You can show it to me next time we train. Sounds interesting."
He shifted against the lumpy sofa, inexplicably distracted by the warm weight of Naruto's hand on his hip and the brush of his finger against his skin. It was pleasant, but distracting.
Naruto bit his lip at the way Sasuke shifted but couldn't quite bring himself to move his hand away. Maybe he's asking for more, he thought absently. It was what the other Sasuke always did when Naruto wasn't 'touching enough.' He knew he was probably remembering things that didn't belong in his batch of memories, but after Sasuke—the other Sasuke, that is—had given into touching, the bastard was really greedy about it.
"It's really cool, Sasuke." Naruto's eyes brightened. "And no stealing it with your sharingan!"
"Don't be stupid, Naruto. I don't think my sharingan is enough to steal a Hokage-level technique," he said.
Naruto blinked, remembering the other Sasuke saying almost the exact same thing. "Um, right," he said, chuckling. He bit his lip and looked longingly at Sasuke's mouth.
Sasuke should have been annoyed that Naruto wasn't taking initiative, but instead, he licked his lips, reveling in the way Naruto's breath caught. Hmm, Sasuke mused, suddenly not nearly as adverse to this form of power.
But he didn't count on Naruto still being half caught up in memories that weren't his and was caught off guard when warm lips teased his own and that warm hand that was holding his hip gripped more tightly.
"I'll really enjoy showing you what I learned," Naruto murmured, no longer certain if he was talking about the jutsu or something else entirely.
Sasuke's first impulse was to push Naruto away, but halfway through stiffening his muscles, he forced himself to relax. He had come here not to start another fight, but to try and repair the fragile threads of their relationship. And honestly, he had had a lot of time to think about it in the hours between Naruto's last switch and had come to the surprising conclusion that when--and most likely, because--it was Naruto, kissing really wasn't so bad.
Naruto sighed softly when Sasuke didn't pull away, but he kept the kiss light and simple, not wanting to do anything to push it too far just yet. But Sasuke seemed to want more, and Naruto's fingers gently caressed his skin again.
Sasuke leaned into the kiss, pressing his mouth a little more insistently against Naruto's. He felt Naruto's lips curve slightly against his before they both opened their mouths at the same time, tongues darting out to slide wetly together. He felt a shiver race down his spine and almost pulled away in surprise.
Somewhere in the part of his brain where logic ruled, he wondered how such simple contact could bring such comfort to people. All he'd had to do was kiss Naruto and Naruto had forgiven him.
Naruto's hands tightened on Sasuke briefly, mouth tilting up to get more contact. His fingers curled possessively around Sasuke's slim hip as his tongue pushed into Sasuke's mouth, heat beginning to coil in his gut as Sasuke opened his mouth willingly. He dimly realized that he should probably stop before things got out of hand and Sasuke pushed him away for good...but right then, Sasuke was warm, cooperative, responsive even in his own subtle way.
It was a give and take so he took--he wanted to see what Sasuke would give him. He needed the reassurance that Sasuke wasn't just in shock or something. He pulled away slightly, breath fanning over Sasuke's lips.
"You okay?" he breathed, staring into that pale beautiful face through half-lowered lids.
Sasuke blinked, clearing away the curious haze that had settled over him. He smirked at Naruto's question. "I'm not a girl, Naruto."
"Well, you could at least respond back so I don't think you're humoring me or something," Naruto grumbled. The tips of his fingers set up a slow, stroking rhythm through the cloth of Sasuke's shirt.
"Since when does kissing back not constitute as responding?" Sasuke asked in that same amused tone.
"So," Naruto said uncertainly. "You're okay with this?"
Sasuke gave him a subdued version of his signature glare. "I'm not doing this for only your benefit, Naruto."
Naruto felt himself grow red at that. "I wasn't...that's not..."
Sasuke rolled his eyes and kissed him again, effectively cutting off his rambling stutter. He liked it much better this way, shutting up Naruto's protests without violence. While it was strange to not be beating each other up, he found that he enjoyed the quiet whimper that much more, and was suddenly determined to bring it out again.
Naruto whimpering was a much better sound than Naruto whining about Sasuke being an ass. And while Sasuke certainly wouldn't deny the accusation (he really quite enjoyed being himself), once he got over the initial strangeness of someone touching him in ways that had nothing to do with combat, he definitely wanted to be the one causing Naruto's more pleasant sounds. If he had to admit to himself truthfully, a large part of him had wanted this for a long time; but, as he'd told Naruto the night before, he'd never been certain how Naruto felt about him. His hands slipped underneath the fabric of Naruto's shirt, eliciting a gasp from Naruto. Even better than the whimper.
Even though he'd never exactly done this before, it was in his nature to take the lead in situations that might spiral out of control...like right then as Naruto's tongue had seemingly lost all inhibition and was thoroughly ravishing his mouth. He rose onto his elbow, fingers still locked around Naruto's as he leaned over him, other hand trailing over a muscled stomach.
Naruto gave another soft growl into Sasuke's mouth, wanting Sasuke to be the one beneath him, to have Sasuke murmuring his name. It's not fair that he's always the one in control. I have more experience than he does at the moment. Granted, that experience was from the other Sasuke, but, still.
A moment later, he wondered what he'd been thinking as Sasuke's hand settled on his chest, fingers brushing over his left nipple. He arched into the touch, groaning softly.
Sasuke managed to smirk around a mouthful of Naruto's tongue. "Like that, Naruto?" he murmured, pulling back just a hair's breadth.
Naruto's lids fluttered to half-mast, blue slits glaring at the man above him. "You," he said lowly, running his tongue languidly across Sasuke's lower lip, "are much too coherent for someone with a tongue down his throat."
Sasuke smirked, dark eyes smoky with barely restrained lust. Seeing what he wanted, Naruto decided to up the stakes a little and prayed that Sasuke wouldn't take his move as too much and toss Naruto away. The hand that had been stroking Sasuke's bare skin moved a little further south, cupping Sasuke's groin and giving it a firm squeeze.
Sasuke jerked back, eyes widening. Naruto flushed, dropping his hand.
"Er...sorry?" he said sheepishly. His hand, still linked with Sasuke's, tightened, pleading for him not to let go, not to leave.
Sasuke narrowed his eyes as Naruto grew increasingly more squeamish. "Hn," he grunted, a mischievous look glinting in his dark eyes as he lowered his head again and swept his tongue through Naruto's mouth.
Naruto's own eyes widened briefly before closing in relief and pleasure. He smiled against Sasuke's lips before returning his hand to Sasuke's groin, moving from a simple squeeze to a light stroke, fingertips running over the half hard erection. Sasuke wasn't going to be the one with all the power here.
He gasped when Sasuke suddenly squeezed his nipple before withdrawing his hand from beneath Naruto's shirt.
"Where did you learn to do that, Naruto?" Sasuke asked, breath quickening as Naruto's hand stroked him through his pants.
Naruto had the grace to look lightly embarrassed, but didn't offer a reply. He slid his hand from Sasuke's groin, past that smooth strip of skin and grabbed a handful of firm backside, arching up to show Sasuke that he was equally as turned on and to divert Sasuke's attention from his question so as to avoid a rather embarrassing confession about what he'd done with the other Sasuke.
Sasuke gasped against him, eyes widening in that momentary surprise that Naruto loved so much, because rare was the moment that Sasuke dropped his guard long enough for it be seen.
"C'mon, Uchiha," Naruto murmured against Sasuke's throat, eyes gleaming. "You're still thinking too much."
He dropped kisses from the corner of Sasuke's mouth across a smooth plain of pale cheek to the strong curve of a jaw line, his hips thrusting upward. Sasuke squeezed his eyes shut, his free hand finding purchase on Naruto's upper arm, strong fingers digging into the muscle. He ground his hips downward, coherence flying out the broken window as his lower body burned.
Naruto growled lightly, teeth nipping and his hand squeezing the firm flesh of Sasuke's backside, using it to push the dark haired boy more firmly into him. This was his Sasuke, the one he'd loved for so long, who understood him. This wasn't him trying to fool himself into believing another version of the man above him would be enough because he knew now that it wasn't. This was what he wanted and doing it with the Sasuke he knew so well, who knew him so well, made it that much more gratifying. And it would be even more gratifying to have Sasuke whimpering his name.
Sasuke bit his lip to keep from moaning as his length pressed into Naruto's, heat and friction sending pulses of pleasure to places he wasn't aware could even feel such things. Naruto's lips latched onto his neck, sucking hard.
"Nnn." Sasuke groaned, thrusting ardently down against the hard body twisting and shuddering beneath him. Control and dominance slipped away unheeded for the first time in too long as he bit down on Naruto's cloth-covered shoulder.
Naruto reveled in this small power that he held over Sasuke, pulling him even closer and murmuring into his ear, warm breath moving over the sensitive skin in puffs. "That's it, Sasuke." Naruto encouraged him with another squeeze and thrust. "I want to hear you."
He hoped he didn't sound stupid--it sounded fine when Sasuke was encouraging him, but he wasn't sure about the other way around.
Sasuke growled, his hands smoothing over Naruto's shoulders to tangle in blond strands. His breath came in pants, heating the skin just above Naruto's collarbone where his mouth had found purchase.
"Naruto," he breathed and Naruto closed his eyes, almost coming right then and there at the sound of his name breathless on Sasuke's lips.
Sasuke groaned Naruto's name again, his thrusts growing urgent as he reached for something that was just out of his reach. His mouth searched out Naruto's again, and this time the kiss was less tentative and fiercer, both of them not really thinking beyond what they wanted, almost needed from each other. He pulled his lips away with a loud smack, gasping for much needed air.
"Fuck." It was the only warning given before Sasuke's teeth sank hard onto Naruto's shoulder and he shuddered, wet warmth spreading between them where their bodies continued to grind against each other.
Naruto thrust upward hard, searching for his own release. It didn't take much; a moment later he groaned loudly and came. Sasuke collapsed on top of him, boneless and breathless. He was heavy but Naruto didn't mind the weight.
His mind felt oddly settled and not out of place at all. He knew who he was, who this Sasuke was--what everything was supposed to be like. He rested his lips in the crook of Sasuke's neck, breathing in the musky smell of his best friend/new lover.
After a moment, Sasuke rose to his elbows, dark eyes gazing contemplatively down at Naruto. Naruto bit his lip before smiling gently, waiting for a reaction, one that he hoped wouldn't be delayed disgust with what they'd just done.
Sasuke wasn't sure what to make of it all so for the moment, he said nothing. He would sort everything out later when Naruto wasn't there to befuddle him further. He leaned forward, lips hovering at Naruto's ear. "I need to clean up," he said softly.
Naruto sighed as Sasuke's weight was lifted off him and he watched the back of that dark head disappear into the bathroom. Naruto shifted so he was sitting up and leaned back into the couch, nose wrinkling as he noticed his own state. I need to clean up, too, he thought absently, but he wasn't sure if Sasuke would welcome his presence. He knew his friend well, and knew what they did was new territory. Naruto would have to tread very carefully.
"Naruto," Sasuke called. Naruto could divine nothing from the even tone of his voice. "I need pants."
Naruto pushed off the sofa and lumbered into his room to snatch a pair of clean black pants from his closet and tossed them to Sasuke, who had not yet shut the bathroom door. When he did, Naruto leaned back against it, mind startlingly clear. Sensations, touches, tastes of all their previous encounters flittered through his mind, but they were vague and unfocused because they were simply impressions of memories he'd never created himself. He was almost giddy from the realization that he wasn't going to lose who he was, that Sasuke was the one that kept him centered and focused.
"Sasuke." Naruto cleared his throat from how hoarse it sounded, and tried again. "I..."
The door opened and Naruto straightened away from the entrance, turning to face him. Sasuke cast his crotch a cursory glance before saying, still in that even unreadable voice, "You should clean up too."
Naruto opened his mouth again, but found the stickiness in the front of his pants too uncomfortable to ignore. So he sighed and wheeled back around to his room to grab another pair of pants.
He was vastly uncomfortable now, unsure of where they were to go from there. For all he knew, Sasuke was acting on a 'spillover' effect or jealousy or hormones. Naruto didn't want to press the issue, didn't want to ask too many questions right away that would close Sasuke off from him completely.
When he got back to the bathroom, Sasuke was sitting at the small table by the kitchen. Naruto did not miss the fact that Sasuke's back was to the sofa. He pursed his lips and shut the door, quickly setting about cleaning himself and changing his pants, wondering if Sasuke would still be waiting when he was finished.
He didn't get the chance to discover that or ask any questions at all, before a wave of dizziness washed over him, almost worse than any other time before. It's a damn good thing I've already cleaned up, he thought in annoyance as he almost fell over. And Sasuke better learn that jutsu soon. I am not going through this shit again.
He closed his eyes until the nausea passed before tentatively peeking through one lid. He recognized the bathroom in his father's house and sighed. Noticing that he wasn't wearing the same pair of pants he'd had on when he'd switched earlier, he was left little doubt as to what his other self and Sasuke had been up to. Perhaps even more disorienting than the shifting of his surroundings was suddenly finding himself in whatever clothes the other him was wearing at the moment of change.
He left the bathroom and padded barefoot down the hall back to his room where a large lump, presumably Sasuke, was lying across his bed in the dark.
Naruto leaned against the doorframe, sighing softly. "I'm sorry to say, we switched again," his voice was carefully controlled. "While it's a good thing we switched back so we can perform the jutsu, I guess that..."
He blinked as Sasuke turned to face him, dark eyes unreadable as always. "Are you going to start apologizing again?" he asked bluntly.
Naruto frowned slightly. "Well," he floundered for a moment before blowing out his breath in resignation. "Things will be fixed tomorrow so no, I'm not apologizing again."
Sasuke arched an eyebrow. "Good. Now get into bed. I'm tired." He smirked, leaving Naruto to speculate why he was tired as he turned away, burrowing into the sheets.
Despite what had just happened with his Sasuke, Naruto felt natural sliding onto the bed, taking comfort in the warmth beside him. Mixed memories and their resulting emotions were pressing back around him, now that he was no longer distracted by his pleasure with Sasuke.
Of course, his comfort was greatly influenced by the slow merging of him and his other self, but he didn't really mind right then as he felt the drowsy weight of sleep tug at his eyelids. Tomorrow would be his last day with his father. The thought was just enough to jar him momentarily back into wakefulness. He tried not to think about those warm blue eyes encouraging him to try harder at shuriken practice, or the comforting weight of the Yondaime's hand on his shoulder. Instead, he resolved to spend as much time as possible clinging to his father until they performed the jutsu. He didn't care if it was childish; he needed it and he knew his father would understand.
At least he would go back knowing that he had a father, one who had cared deeply for him. He had a glimpse of a life that was vastly different from his own, one that another part of him was allowed to experience. Sasuke had no such chance. Again, Naruto idly wondered if there was a world where Itachi hadn't gone nuts or didn't exist at all.
He sighed against Sasuke's skin, eyes half shut. For this moment, he could accept this as what normalcy was--the warmth of Sasuke beside him, the comforting feel of his chest moving beneath Naruto's hand and the steady beat of his heart lulling him into sleep.