When Sasuke arrives home his heartbeat instantly picks up again as he recognises the car parked there next to Itachi's. He knows whom that car belongs to and it often spells nothing good when it's here. He quickly rushes around the house to the back door -knowing that that one is open and not trusting his trembling, swollen hands to be able to handle a key to the front door- and pulls it open with force after which he stumbles through the kitchen towards the living room. There he finds Itachi whom had already stood up at the commotion Sasuke had made as he barged through the kitchen.
"Sasuke…" Itachi whispers with wide eyes, not that his little brother notices. Seeing the redhead with long flaming hair in a low ponytail on the couch and no sight of his beloved blond Sasuke instantly knows the doctor isn't here for his brother. Before either one of the adults can say anything he swirls around and rushes towards the stairs.
"Sasuke stop!"
Instantly Sasuke freezes in his step. In all his life he had never heard his brothers voice filled with so much terror, so much fear. Slowly, mechanically he turns around to face him and he finds the eyes of his big brother filled with so much terror and horror that for a moment he can't seem to recognize him. He has to blink for a moment and realizes how the older Uchiha has his fists balled tightly, his face has gone all white and even from here Sasuke can tell that he seems to tremble. It is then that he realizes the fear isn't for Naruto but for him and as he looks down at himself he starts to understand why. Bloodied, bruised, wild eyed and drenched. To his brother he must look like he came straight from a war zone. Or worse; a disaster zone…
Fuck…
Yet his mind, clouded still by adrenaline and hyper focussed, couldn't let go of the fear for his lover. He takes a deep breath, his eyes falling once more on the third person in the room whom looks with worried eyes from one Uchiha to the other.
"I-is he- Is he okay? N-Naruto, is he okay?" Sasuke asks, desperate.
"No need to worry Sasuke. Naruto is going to be alright. He has a fever from an infected shoulder wound, but with plenty rest, liquids and healthy food he is going to be perfectly fine." Kurama answers in a calm voice.
Sasuke nods before taking a deep, trembling breath as deep as his aching lungs would let him. He's okay. He thinks. Naruto is going to be okay… As his worry is eased the adrenaline seems to leave him instantly and the backlash of feeling all the pain and exhaustion is so intense that he lets himself drop to his knees. It is then that Itachi finally breaks from his stupor, Sasuke's barely constrained sob making it clear that he needs his big brother now.
"It's okay, I'm here." The older Uchiha says as he has fallen to his knees in front of the younger one and pulls him in an embrace as Sasuke's shoulders start to shock. Sasuke barely registers how tight the other is holding him, almost desperate as if he's afraid of losing him.
"I'm scared! I-I'm so terrified that I cannot protect him!" Sasuke despairs as the rage he felt earlier is stripped bare and only the source for it remains; his fear, his sadness. "I-if I can't k-keep him safe… What if it happens again?! How do I stop him from getting hurt?! I hate this! I hate them! I hate the world for wanting to hurt him!" He roars and Itachi holds him a little bit tighter still, not knowing for once what to say. Perhaps because nothing could be said, because Sasuke didn't need a solution or even reassurance right now. He just needed to get it out. "I hate this! I-I hate being p-powerless! I-I hate- I h-hate- I'm- I-" taking a breath between every cut of sentence Itachi notices how Sasuke starts to hyperventilate. Still half dazed from shock, which only returns more as he makes some room between them and he can see the injuries up close, he is aware he should do something but slow in comprehending what, let alone doing it.
"S-Sasuke…" He whispers roughly with a lump still in his throat. It is then that his faithful and dearest friend comes to his aid.
"Shh. Sasuke look at me." The redhead tells the fast breathing youngster. "You're hyperventilating. Follow my breathing, focus on nothing else for the moment. Breathe in, and out. In…" Kurama keeps demonstrating his slow breathing so Sasuke can follow him and can get control over his air supply and his wildly out of control beating heart. It takes a few minutes before his breathing is back to its original rhythm, leaning against Itachi all the while. "Let's get you to the couch so we can take a look at those injuries, hm?" Kurama suggests and he guides the two shaken up Uchiha's back to the sitting area where they sit down on the couch, Itachi never letting go of his younger brother. Kurama notices how pale he still looks, but at least most of the terror is out of his eyes now.
"Sasuke." Itachi has to clear his throat as his voice cracks on the name of his beloved sibling. "What happened?" He asks gently while Kurama goes to get his medical supply bag.
"I…" Sasuke starts but he has trouble continuing as he isn't sure where to start. He turns a bit in his brother's embrace but makes sure to keep the distance between them small. He is shortly reminded of sitting like this with his brother shortly after their parents died and all the nightmares he had in the period that followed. "Some guys-" He starts but is interrupted.
"Who?" Itachi asks, the fear having made way for quiet rage. "Give me their names and I'll-"
"Easy there tiger." Kurama says as he sits down at the edge of the coffee table so he can face the both of them. "Let him tell his tale. Afterwards we'll plot our revenge." Itachi growls softly under his breath, holding his little brother a bit closer at which Sasuke smiles softly and Kurama chuckles while laying out some bandages and a bowl with water and cloth and such.
"My former… followers… that I used to bully Naruto with before we became anything more…" Sasuke shakes his head, scolding his former self for being such a fool not to see the beauty, the amazing person he was willingly hurting at that time. He allows Kurama to take one of his hands to clean away the blood and inspect the damage. "They didn't like it that I didn't want to hang out with them anymore, thought I believed myself better than them."
"Which clearly you are." Itachi scoffs and Kurama hums in agreement.
"They also… didn't like it that I snitched on them to the headmistress." Sasuke continues. "She had asked me if Naruto still got bullied by them. And I didn't know…" He barely whispers the last line, ashamed. "So I told her. They didn't like that. Waited for me on the trail behind the lake with three others whom all, I believe, are dropouts." He shrugs and then winches. His shoulder hurts from someone pulling it too hard and even now he can barely remember whom. "I have never felt so much anger before… Not even when Naruto told me about what had happened to him." He turns to face Itachi then. "They realized I left them for Naru. They said… They said they would hurt him. They said t-they would see what was so special about him and h-have a go at him themselves!" He chokes, tears burning in his eyes again like the hatred in his heart for those who dared to even suggest hurting his soulmate so.
"Sasuke…" Itachi closes his eyes for a moment, understanding downing on him and he understands completely how such words would have pulled his little brother over the edge.
"I just. Lost it." Sasuke shakes his head. "I can hardly remember the fight. Five to one, 'Tachi, five to one."
"Fucking cowards." His brother hisses under his breath and the word choice surprises him. Sasuke hadn't heard Itachi swear since, well, never probably. It makes him realize how rattled his normally stoic, always polite and patient brother is.
"Managed to get away though. Relatively unscaved and seeing these hands I cannot think them in any better state than you." Kurama says as he lifts a brow and has a sly smirk around his lips.
"I believe so." Sasuke smiles back faintly before dropping it again, frowning instead. "I actually have no idea how much damage I did… Or to whom, it's all quite a red blur. Ah-" He gasps as Kurama inspects his left hand and it is only then that he realizes how much his fingers hurt on that one.
For a while all attention goes to all the injuries he has gained. At the end of it all Kurama summarizes it as two dislocated fingers on his left hand that he managed to pop back in, he has a mild concussion, bruises all over as well as small cuts. He bandages the injuries, disinfecting them and all that –no need for a second person to get fever because of an infected injury- and prescribes some medicine that will help with the pain and such. After taking the first dose of painkillers and the exhaustion truly catching up on him Kurama advices him to go straight to bed and let his bruised body rest. It is when Sasuke stands up with Itachi's help that he remembers something important he should tell.
"Oh, right. Tomorrow the headmistress and homeroom teacher will come by. They want to talk with you and Naruto. Make sure neither of us is going to fall behind this year. …more than we already are…" He whispers the last line under his breath and Itachi sighs, nodding.
"I shall make a call in the morning to explain why you are staying home and I shall discuss a time with her then."
"Thank you, Tachi." Sasuke says with a soft smile while they make their way to the stairs, Itachi still close by his side for support. Though by now Sasuke isn't all that sure whom that support is for. He says nothing until they are at the top of the stairs and his bedroom door is in sight. "I can take it from here…"
"Okay…" Itachi answers and yet neither one moves to break the contact, Itachi's arm still around his shoulders, the other hand on his upper arm.
"I'm sorry." Sasuke manages to whisper. "I never intended for you to relive it all… Because of me…"
"Hey," Itachi moves his hand from his arm to make Sasuke lift his head and look at him. "None of this is your fault. Not my trauma, not the relapse and most certainly not you getting hurt." They look into each other's eyes and it pains the older one to still see so much self-blame in those young eyes. "Please Sasuke, do not blame yourself so…" He pleads softly. It's not just about happened today, but the terrible burden of thinking that he was responsible for their parents deaths. Sasuke closes his eyes though, no words coming to mind, and nods before looking away. Itachi constrains a sigh, knowing that such thoughts aren't easily dispelled and only need time. And a lot of saying that it wasn't his fault by his loved ones. "Do you need help getting cleaned up?"
"No." Sasuke slowly shakes his head. "I'll just do a quick wash-down and head straight to bed." He doesn't stop the yawn that comes over him and it is a sign for Itachi to finally, reluctantly let go of his little brother.
"I shall come check on you, on the both of you, in a couple of hours." Itachi says and he cannot resisting kissing the side of Sasuke's head before stepping away. Sasuke just hummed as he did so, not having the energy –or the heart- to protest to such obvious display of brotherly affection.
In the bathroom he makes quick work of taking those wet clothes of, nearly losing his balance as standing on just one foot seems suddenly a near impossible task. He curses silently as the edge of his wet jeans stays stuck around his ankle and with a frustrated sigh he gives up and goes to sit on the toilet to properly take it of. The near hopping on one foot and even the bending down didn't do his headache any favour and he silently curses himself under his breath for being so stubborn. With hands near numb from pain it was a task, normally done mindless and quick, that became arduous and frustrating. He almost regrets not letting his big brother help, almost. Remembering his pale face, the trembling and the terror in his eyes, Sasuke closes his eyes for a moment after getting rid of all his clothes as he catches his breath. He had caused enough trouble for Itachi, he need not cause any more just because he couldn't get his own clothes of.
With a sigh he gets up and makes quick work of washing most of the lake water, sand and blood from his body. Holding a towel in front of his private parts –he had traumatized his brother enough the last time he walked out without one and one might never know if Kurama decided to check in on Naruto and thus become his next victim- he walks from the bathroom to his bedroom, taking a quick breath before entering it.
As he closes the door quietly behind him he finds his lover to be asleep with a wet cloth over his forehead, a bowl and a glass with water nearby, and he lets the breath he held go with relief. Silently he walks to his closet to take out some underwear and putting it on before walking quietly around the bed to slip under the blankets next to his love. He stares at the blond for a moment before deciding to turn around, he rather not having him wake up to find his boyfriends face inches from his, bruised and swollen as it was.
When Naruto awakes he finds his mind a whole lot clearer than last he was awake. He vaguely remembers how a redhead had come to see him, measured his temperature and he had to sit up with Itachi's help so they could take a look at the wound of his shoulder, cleaning and re-bandaging it. Now that he thought about it, the pain and the burning feeling emanating from it feel a lot less present than it did before. Swallowing, he finds his throat as dry as sandpaper and he manages to lean on one arm to take the glass from the nightstand next to him to quenched his thirst.
I hope Sasuke won't blame himself for the wound getting infected. He thinks as he puts the now empty glass back. It was stupid of me not to pay it more attention… Then again, I was pretty well occupied the last time we took a shower… He thinks as he remembers the blowjob he gave his love with a soft smile. And I had far too many other things on my mind before and after… With a sigh he lays back down and it is only then that he realizes someone is sleeping next to him. He frowns as he finds Sasuke sleeping with his back towards him. I guess I deserve that. He thinks, his arm falling short from reaching out. I've been giving him the cold shoulder a lot lately, guess I get a taste of my own medicine. Remembering why he had distanced himself from his heartkeeper he remembers his breakdown before Itachi helped him to bed. Ugh… How much of a bad impression could I give? Breaking down in his brother's arms?! Really? Honestly these Uchiha brothers are far to kind, far to considerate… Naruto thinks and yet his heart melts as he remembers Itachi's kind words and that if Sasuke didn't deem him worthy of his love he would have kicked him out by now. Sasuke deserves better than the cold shoulder from me with no explanation. I should tell him what is bothering me. We had promised to be honest with each other, especially seeing the damage our lies have caused. Naruto thinks as he makes up his mind, scanning his boyfriends back as he does so. I will tell him, talk to him. I will- Wait. What is that?
As he leans forward he shoves a bit closer to Sasuke's side of the bed and his frown deepens at seeing the dark bruise on the shoulderblade before him. His heart speeds up as it fills with dread and he leans more over his boyfriend until he sees the bandage just above his left eyebrow.
"S-Sasuke!" He gasps silently and he carefully places his hand on the ravens upper arm. "Sasuke!" He calls him a bit more determined, worry now evident in his voice and he shakes the arm carefully.
"Hnm…" Comes the sleepy reply as the raven opens his eyes blearily and he slowly turns to lay on his back to look at the one who woke him. "Naru…"
"Sasuke, what the fuck happened?!" Naruto is aghast at seeing the deep darkening around Sasuke's left eye, the split lip and the light bruising of his right jawline that seemingly must have scraped over the ground.
"You… had a fever. Because your shoulder had become infected." Sasuke answers while hardly suppressing a yawn. Moving his arm his two healthy fingers cares the face of his lover whose eyes he notices are filled with worry.
"I mean you, you jerk." Taking his lovers hand Naruto hears Sasuke hiss and he notices the bandages around his two outer fingers, tightly held in place. Looking back to him Sasuke can see the tears gathering in those worried eyes as his grip instead shifts to his wrist and the base of his thumb. "What the hell happened to you?"
"Hnn…" Sasuke takes a deep breath and he moves his arm, freeing it from Naruto's grip, so it's a clear invite for Naruto to shove up against his side, which the blond is happy to do. "Kaguya and Kidomaru and three others ambushed me in the park. They didn't like it that I didn't wanna hang out with 'm anymore."
"And that is why they beat you?! What the fuck?!" Naruto almost growls with agitation. Hadn't they been through enough? Hadn't Sasuke suffered enough?! "Fucking cowards. I always knew they were assholes, but this…"
"Hn." Sasuke almost snorts at his boyfriends anger for him and he moves his left arm to lay his hand carefully on his side, his thumb caressing him. "They thought I was looking down on them, or something…" Naruto moves to kiss his boyfriends neck softly.
"You'd be right to look down on them. I hope you got to make them pay." Naruto growls, folding his hand into a fist on Sasuke's bare chest.
"I'm quite sure I did." The raven answers and puts his right, bandaged hand on top of the one on his chest for emphasis. Naruto's breath hitches at seeing even more damage done to his love and he presses even closer to his lovers side, hiding his face in the crook of his neck.
"I…" The blond starts and he knows it is now or never. He may not be able to stop the physical pain, the least he can do is ease his heart. "I love you! I love you so, so much." He can hear Sasuke's breath hitch and the warm hand around his own holds his a bit tighter. "And I'm sorry. Sasuke, I am so, so sorry…"
"Naru…" Sasuke moves a bit so there is some more space between their faces so he can look into those beautiful blue eyes. "What could you possibly be sorry for?" He cups the blonds cheek and Naruto moves his hand to the nape of his boyfriends neck on the opposite side of where he lies.
"I've been so distant lately… And it's not fair because it isn't your fault…" He starts. "I… I should have done more… I could have done more… To stop it." Tears fill his eyes as he works towards admitting his greatest shame.
"Naru… We talked about this. None of what that bastard did to you was your f-"
"But kissed him back." Naruto interrupts him determinedly. "I fully kissed him, asked for more and even complimented him. It doesn't matter that I thought he was you. I should have noticed!" Sasuke's frown deepens but he remains quiet for now as he knows his lover isn't done yet. "I acted s-so eager. I was the one who took my shorts off, I was the one who welcomed him between my legs… How can I blame him for going ahead when everything about my body language screamed 'Please, fuck me already'?!" He closes his eyes stiff, unable to keep looking into those dark orbs that seemed to slowly fill with tears as well.
"Naru…" It is barely a whisper that leaves the ravens lips and he wipes away a stray tear from his boyfriends cheek, at which the blond lets himself fall forward to hide his face against his neck. Sasuke knew Naruto hadn't resisted Sai at first, believing him to be him, but to hear it described in such detail was… It tore at his heart. Only he was allowed to see that side of his boyfriend, only he should be the one allowed such a marvellous sight. He remembers all the times his blond had acted like that, desperate to be filled by his cock. To think he behaved that way with someone else, no matter that he thought he was Sasuke, it hurts. It hurts, a whole lot. No matter that his mind tells him it only happened because Naruto had mistaken his rapist for his boyfriend, for him. It still hurt and for a short moment that pain is masked by anger. And for once not just at the rapist, but a fraction of it at his lover. It didn't help much that it has been a while since they had sex. For fuck sake, he hasn't even gotten the chance to reclaim him properly as his! To cleanse that beautiful body, all hot and bothered and desperate as it would be, of that fuckers intrusive touch. Every day he remembers that the last time someone saw his Naruto like that, it wasn't him. Naruto pushing him away therefor hurt even more than the restraint he is putting on himself to let him heal.
"I cheated on you." Naruto whispers in agony. "E-even in my dreams when he shows up… I keep cheating on you!"
"Willingly?" Sasuke has to ask, he has to know. Why would he willingly let his rapist fuck him in his dreams? It didn't make sense to him, but the thought of it being possible scares him. Didn't that mean he liked it? He, as no other, knows how Naruto liked it rough, enjoyed the pain. He knows he himself has been responsible for causing blood, even as a result of rough sex. But the way Naruto spoke about the rape… It clearly didn't sound like he enjoyed any of it.
"No, I-I don't know… I w-would dream of what I think is us, but when I looked down its Sai on his knees pleasing me and it's you whom I've pushed away…" Naruto admits.
"And when you realize it's him… D-do you- Would you-" Sasuke takes a deep breath and forces the words to leave his lips. "Do you continue to have sex with him?"
"No." Naruto replies instantly. "Or at least I tried? I dunno, it was a weird one since he turned to stone and my dick down his throat with him so it's not like I could pull away… Woke up then…" Sasuke lets go of a sigh in relief, easing the tension in the blonds shoulders with it.
"We cannot control our dreams, Naru…" Sasuke says and he continues to caress his boyfriends side with his thumb. "You mentioned… That he tried though… But that you blew him of, right?"
"Yeah… Clearly I didn't deliver that massage strong enough…"
"Naruto, it isn't your fault. He coerced you. He allowed you to think that he was me and kept going, knowing full well that you would stop him as soon as you realized this. You made it clear you didn't want to do such things with him and he ignored it. There is nothing else you could have done, my love." Sasuke kisses Naruto's forehead tenderly and the blond leans up a bit so they can look at each other.
"But, in my dreams I-"
"What you do in your dreams is uncontrollable. You have been through trauma in such an intimate way… It is no wonder your subconscious is trying to make sense of what happened by looking at it from every possible angle. Even if that means you will have a dream where you have willingly sex with him, knowing it is him…" Sasuke looks deep into those blue eyes that widen at his unexpected words. "I don't like the thought of it. I hate it, even. But that is just your subconscious, your dreams, and I know you wouldn't cheat on me in reality. I know that you love me. …And in dreams, wet dreams especially, we often end up forgetting that…"
"If… If I dream of having sex with him that way… Would you want me to tell you?" Naruto asks, frowning. He doesn't even know why he's asking, in no way has he any intention of ever letting Sai rape him willingly.
"If you want me to… Would you feel bad if you woke from such a dream?" On purpose he avoids the word 'guilty'.
"Of course I would! Sasuke I'd be… I'd be beyond upset, I'd feel bad and I'd be reminded how I hate him, his touch, his everything…" For a moment Naruto closes his eyes tightly. "I cannot even imagine having such a dream where I would enjoy it."
"My beloved… If ever such things bother you, I do want to know. I want to hold you, reassure you that everything will be okay, that we are okay and that I would never blame you for any of this." Sasuke says tenderly as they look at each other again and Naruto just cannot resist any longer.
He presses his lips onto his soulmates, kissing him eagerly and soon deeply. Their tongues swirl around each other as they taste each other's personal taste. Sasuke's tongue slips deeply into Naruto's mouth, the blond pressing himself even stronger against his body. Naruto can feel the heat building up, coursing all through his body at the clear expression that his boyfriend would want him no matter what, and it gathers in that familiar place. He moans into the heated kiss and he moves his leg up to swing it over Sasuke's hips, ready to straddle him. When his leg reaches Sasuke's private part however the raven breaks the kiss with a hiss, his good hand stopping the knee from going even higher.
"Sasuke?" Naruto asks worried while still out of breath.
"Hmm. Still sore…" The raven admits while grimacing and Naruto instantly lowers his leg, away from those tender private parts. Storm seems to gather in those blue eyes.
"Those motherfuckers. I swear if I see them in school I'll, I'll- I don't know what I'll do to them but I swear it won't be pretty!" Seeing his lover so protective of him makes Sasuke's dick twitch an additional time, which nearly makes him think it worth the pain to continue with where this had been going moments ago. But he wasn't the masochist between the two of them.
"I don't want you to get hurt, just you being here is enough for me. Besides it just gives us another reason to take it slow, again…" They both sigh at that and Naruto drops to just lay with his face in the crook of the others neck. The sexual tension between them was getting ridiculous. Naruto wonders how much longer he'll have to wait before Sasuke claims it safe to take him. A kick to the balls, which he assumes it must have been, heals rather quickly in a few hours to a day at most. His asshole was the problem, the damage that cursed Sai did, and he hoped Sasuke didn't intend to wait until it was fully free of soreness for he is quite sure he wouldn't be able to wait that long. He wishes Sasuke would just claim him sooner rather than later. To cleanse his body properly and remind him of what his big dick in his ass felt like again. And not just once, oh no. Naruto had every intention to make it a sex marathon as soon as they were able to go at it again.
"When… did you have that dream?" Sasuke asks suddenly. Clearly Naruto's mind hadn't been the only one wandering in the silence that had fallen.
"Uhm… Two nights ago I think…" Naruto answers hesitantly. The fever kind of messed with his sense of time, not to mention the amount he's been sleeping ever since he left home. He doesn't even know how late it is now.
"So… after I gave you that amazing blowjob?" Sasuke smirks, the pieces all made sense now, fitting perfectly together. A result of the trauma as well as an amazing blowjob. Yeah, that would make for a weird concoction of a dream alright.
"Yeah…" Naruto sighs wistfully. "Though the one I gave you yesterday was really something too huh…"
"Hmmhmm…" Sasuke responds lazily. "Was that dream the reason you didn't want me to give you one?"
"The dream… The guilt… It was the reason I distanced myself from you. But I realized that wasn't fair, because you wouldn't be able to understand why until I told you…" Naruto clarifies and he takes a deep breath of his boyfriends scent. Sasuke turns his head so his lips touch his forehead, his words spoken softly and seemingly directly into his head.
"Now that I do, will you still distance yourself from me?"
"Does it look that way to you?" The blond asks and he presses himself even tighter against his lover to emphasise the sarcasm of that question and the obviousness of the answer.
"Hn." Sasuke answers and kisses his forehead lovingly.
It remains silent for a while after that and Naruto thinks over all that has been said. I really must be the luckiest guy in the world with a beloved like him. He thinks and sighs deeply with contentment. I've been such a burden for him lately. Physically, mentally and emotionally… I'm so broken, yet here he is forgiving me, caring and consoling me. Trying his hardest to ease my suffering the best he can. But I guess he kinda always has done that. Naruto thinks back to the photobook and childhood stories Itachi had shared with him and the story and pictures of all the times Sasuke had saved and wanted to care for wounded creatures. Not just for me does he care and worry but for his brother too. …I guess he really isn't that much of a sadist really. It's so obvious all Sasuke ever wanted to do is taking care of others who suffer because he cares so much, feels so much. And I get to have the biggest part of that big, strong, loving heart?! Honestly? Naruto couldn't fathom it. How did he ever deserve that? How could he have ever wanted to hide their relationship when he feels like the luckiest guy in the world with Sasuke by his side?
"I really love you so goddamn fucking much, you know." He whispers softly, his throat closing up. There comes no reply however and Naruto leans up a bit to look at his lover. "Sasuke?" He asks softly only to find that the raven had fallen asleep again. A tender smile spreads around Naruto's lips and he watches those dark lashes and relaxed expression for a bit longer before he carefully lays down again.
He is halfway of to dreamland when he hears a soft knocking on the door which opens after a minute. Itachi carefully peaks inside and fully steps into the room when he finds Naruto looking at him over his shoulder, the blond not making a move to disentangle himself from said Uchiha's younger brother.
"How long ago was he awake?" Itachi whispers, stopping at the edge of the bed.
"Not long." Naruto answers and he cannot stop the yawn that had to present itself right then.
"Was he coherent? No slurring speech or searching for words?" Naruto has to think for a moment.
"No, not really. No more slurring than usual when he's tired." Itachi nods in understanding. "What time is it?"
"Near dinner time. There is some soup downstairs if you feel like it." Itachi offers as he turns halfway around to leave again. He's relieved to find Naruto so clear minded and suspects that most of the fever has resided by now. He is also glad to find the two of them so closely together, seemingly they have talked about their issues and cleared up any misgivings.
"I think I'll come get some later." Naruto says before turning to nuzzle closer to his counterpart. Itachi leaves silently.
When he wakes up Sasuke can feel such a warmth around him and a sense of safety makes him keep his eyes closed. He's still in a state between being asleep and awake, lazily drowsing and allowing his mind to wander in not one specific direction. His body and senses slowly become more and more aware however and for once he wish they didn't. Though the warmth of a body closely pasted to his side and the familiar, safe smell that comes with it are the first senses he becomes aware of, it is the soreness and the pain of his own that follow. He holds his breath for a second before releasing it and opening his eyes. As soon as he does so it is as if the light is sent straight through his eyes with the intention of splitting his head in two. He groans and quickly closes them again to spare himself more headache and when he feels a kiss in his neck the pain seems to be temporarily lifted.
"Morning." He hears his lover say softly and a smile that feels more like a grimace forms on his face. "Headache gotten worse?"
"Hmm. 's to bright…" Sasuke answers and Naruto seems to shift as if he's looking around before placing another kiss to his cheek this time. Sasuke frowns for a moment, eyes still closed, as he feels how the blond leaves the bed and walks around the room. He is about to ask what he's up to until he hears the curtains and he guesses that some weren't closed properly when he went to bed last night. Carefully he dares to open his eyes once more when he feels the matrass dip in again.
"The sun is up pretty high already. Seems it's gonna be a bright day." Naruto says as he lies back down and Sasuke welcomes him into his arms. "Though I guess that's not gonna be a good thing for you right now." Naruto had guessed that Sasuke had suffered a concussion since Itachi came to check on him last night.
"Hn." Sasuke answers as he pulls Naruto closer to his side, being mindful of his wounded fingers of course. "Time is it?" Naruto still can't get over how adorable it is how Sasuke seems to shorten his sentences as much as possible when he's tired.
"Hm. Closer to midday than morning I'd say." Naruto caresses Sasuke's bare chest with his thumb absentmindedly. "Do you want to get up?"
"Not really…" Sasuke sighs and he kisses his lovers forehead. "How's your fever?"
"Ah… Good. I think." Naruto answers and embarrassment overcomes him suddenly. "It's my dignity that has taken quite a bit of damage however."
"How so?"
"I, eh, kinda broke down…" Naruto answers and his face heats up at the memory. "Practically in your brothers arms…"
"Hnnn." Sasuke stays quiet for a little bit as he thinks about it, imagines it. "If there is anyone who is good with helping with that, it is my brother. You have no idea how often I broke down in his arms…" Sasuke admits and Naruto realizes how foolish his embarrassment is. After their parents died Sasuke must have cried in his brother's arms plenty of times and taken the hyperventilating Itachi must have helped him with plenty a break down or panic attack. He recalls how Sasuke had told him about how his brother helped him whenever he had a nightmare after he had helped him dealing with his after the club incident.
"You're pretty good helping with such too, you know… I just… Said some stupid things I believe."
"Blame it on the fever."
"Gheh, yeah." Naruto snorts. He leans up some more and looks into those dark onyx eyes which still seem quite dreamy. "I love you." Naruto says without thinking with love written all over his face. Sasuke's eyes widen for a moment, becoming more awake as if to make sure that he isn't dreaming those most cherished words.
"I love you too." He smiles tenderly back and he welcomes it when Naruto leans down to press his lips to his. They kiss lazily, moving their lips together again and again without deepening it. Though they both want more Naruto decides to break the kiss and moves back a little. Sasuke sighs, having wanted to follow those damn delicious lips and what lies behind them, but fearing the increase of his headache if he were to move his head to much.
"Shall I get you some water and painkillers?" Naruto asks as if he could read his boyfriends mind. As Sasuke hums his acquiescence he goes to do so.
They stay in bed for a while longer after that. They talk quietly about nothing in particular, trying to outdo one another with sweet and loved filled words and compliments. They end up kissing occasionally though they never let it go far and more often than not they just end up cuddling and caressing each other in silence. It's a lazy morning where for the first time in a long time, if not ever, they get to enjoy being together in contentment in their own personal bubble. Both of them think and share how they wished they could stay like this forever and how they hope that one day they will get to have this pretty much every morning. Without the pain of wounds or the aftermath of a fever of course.
The world doesn't just stop turning to give these lovebirds some well-deserved peaceful time together however. All to soon they hear a short knocking on the door and when it opens it is Itachi looking in. He announces that a brunch awaits them downstairs and that they should get it before it gets even colder, after which he leaves. Naruto and Sasuke sigh almost in unison, realizing they have to leave the warmth and privacy of their bed and safe haven that might as well be their cloud nine. They smile at each other then and move in unison to kiss one another one last time. This time they don't hold back and Naruto eagerly opens his mouth to let his soulmates tongue into that hot cavern where his own tongue eagerly swirls around the other's. He moans with delight into the kiss and Sasuke lets out a low growl in reply, pressing his lover closer as he maps out his mouth with his tongue. The intimacy of the kiss almost pulls the both of them over the edge, nearly giving in to their desire entirely. But before they can indulge into such activities that can only lead to more complications, they break apart to catch their breath. They look at each other, both with smiles on their lips, eyes bright with a hint of lust for each other. They need not words to describe their feelings, to share how happy they are for they already do.
Shortly after they make their way downstairs. Sasuke still feels rather out of it. His headache has subsided to a soft throbbing, as have his other more prominent injuries and he tries to ignore the feeling of his clothes chafing against every bruise. Naruto is holding his hand the entire way to the kitchen however and every time their eyes meet he sees a spark in that bright blue that instantly seems to spring over into his own onyx ones.
"Go sit, I'll get it." Naruto says as he gestures to the kitchen chair while walking on to get their breakfast.
"Loveling, you still have a slight fever."
"And you, dear heartkeeper of mine, still have a concussion."
As Naruto places the plate with toast in front of Sasuke the raven takes his hand and Naruto can't help but lean down to kiss his forehead tenderly.
"The sickening sweetness in this room makes me just about to throw up." Comes a low voice and the two look up to find Kurama leaning against the doorpost and Itachi chuckles, patting the redheads shoulder as he passes him by and into the kitchen.
"Let them be, Kurama. They are rather adorable together and after everything that has happened I'm glad to see it." Itachi wordlessly places a pillow on the other chair while walking onward to the counter to take something of it. Without missing a beat he continues; "Never would I have thought I'd hear my little brother say such sweet, romantic words. I'm proud of you, little kitten." Itachi can't help but tap his shoulder a few times lightly, enjoying the obvious blush threading over the other's skin. It gets worse as Kurama starts laughing wholeheartedly.
"I'd like to say he must have learned from the best, but you haven't really shown that side of you much around him have you?" Sasuke raises a brow while the doctor has a mischievous grin on his lips and a certain glint in his eyes, aimed at Itachi.
"Some people deserve to be romanced, others just simply don't. I'll let you know when I've found the right person." Sasuke can hear the grin in his brother's voice though he doesn't see that there is a threatening look in his eyes aimed at the person whom he taps on his chest with the back of his hand in passing.
"Tsk. We'll see about that later tonight. Guess I'll stick with teasing the younger one for now then." Kurama says under his breath though Sasuke still manages to hear him. He doesn't know if he should be frowning in confusion or glowering at the redhead for his intent with him. Kurama and Itachi had been friends for years. They went to the same collage together, had even been roommates and whenever something big happens to either of them the other would be ready to help. Sasuke hadn't seen him much lately, the friendship between his brother and the doctor having been strained at best as far as he could tell. They must have made up however, the whole ordeal with Itachi's trauma would make contact between them only a matter of time and thus there would have been plenty opportunity to talk things out. Whatever the reason for their distance might have been, Sasuke was glad to see his brother joking around with the redhead like he used too. Knowing that there was someone else they trusted that looked out for him, Kurama being a doctor on top of that, was a huge relief and he could practically feel the weight lift of his shoulders. He loved Itachi more than anything and truly would have done anything for him, but the thought that his steadfast, competent and always reliable big brother having to rely on him was still disturbing to him.
"Sasuke," Itachi interrupts his thoughts and the younger sibling snaps his head in his direction, which the flash of pain instantly makes him regret doing so. "I have to do some groceries, it won't be long. You both should take it easy today."
"What? Do you have to?" Sasuke asks, worry evident in his voice. He knows how ridiculous the question is, really. Of course groceries have to be done, but this is the first time Itachi would leave the house after he came back, with the exception of a hospital visit that is. He stands up as Itachi answers.
"Don't worry little brother." Itachi says, features softening at seeing the undisguised worry in his little brother's eyes. "It's just some shopping and I won't be going alone." He places a hand on the side of Sasuke's neck and the other a hand on his upper arm as they look at each other. "I'll be back before you know it." Sasuke holds his eyes for a moment longer, searching for disguised fear or concern but finding only care and reassurance. He sighs as he lets go.
"You better." He whispers and he sits back down again, Itachi nodding and smiling as he turns.
"No worries, feral one, I'll look out for him." Kurama jokes with a smirk and Sasuke barely constrains a rolling of his eyes, if only so his headache wouldn't get worse. The men leave shortly after.
"He seems… Nice." Naruto comments as they start eating their breakfast. Sasuke hums.
"Guess so. Occasionally…" He says. "Most of the time he's just annoying though." Naruto chuckles and asks some more about the red stranger that helped him with his wound and fever. Over the stretch of breakfast Sasuke tells him about his brother and the doctor, their friendship and how they met. It was a relaxing morning still, with some laughter here and there and like before they would fall quiet every now and then to just look at each other, or one watching the other only to look away and pretend they didn't when caught.
"Seems like you're moving around more easily." Sasuke remarks at some point as they are wrapping up the dishes.
"Yeah, I guess so." Naruto knows well that it isn't about his fever that Sasuke is inquiring. "It's still a bit sore… But not that painful anymore I think…"
"Good." Sasuke whispers in his ear, suddenly standing behind him. Naruto gasps for a moment and he instantly leans back, feeling the raven wrap his arms around his middle as if it were the most natural thing for them to do. Gods, how I've missed this. Naruto thinks as he leans his head back, Sasuke's chin leaning on his shoulder when the raven isn't pasting short, almost innocent kisses on his jaw or neck. They stand like that for what feels like forever, one of Sasuke's thumbs caressing his stomach while Naruto intertwines his fingers with that of his other hand.
"I want to have this with you every day." Sasuke whispers, relishing the feeling of his soulmate in his arms, secure and safe.
"Me too…" Naruto answers, the lines being nearly a repeat of what they had been talking about that morning in bed.
"We should tell Itachi that we want to live together. Maybe he can help us find a place of our own." Sasuke dares to opt. They hadn't talked about this since the rape incident and things with Naruto's parents were still a huge mess to clean up too. Not to mention their own physical and mental healing.
"Yeah, that would be nice." Naruto hums with contentment and Sasuke kisses his jaw again. It makes the blond turn his head and soon their lips have found each other. They kiss tenderly though Naruto wishes it could be more, yet he knows that putting his hand in the raven's hair and pulling him closer to kiss him deeper, was probably not the best idea considering his concussion.
"Shall we go upstairs?" The raven whispers almost huskily when they break the kiss. Naruto hums and just nods, allowing Sasuke to take his hand and guide him towards his room.
They have almost reached the stairs, each of them eager to make out some more in the safety of their personal bubble, when they hear the doorbell. Sasuke frowns. Has Itachi forgotten something? They had been gone for a while now, yet he didn't think them back this soon.
"Shall I?" Naruto asks as the raven doesn't seem to move to get the door, still lost in thought.
"No, I got it." He says and reluctantly lets go of his lovers hand. When he opens the door however he's hit with a sudden realization that makes the alarm bells in his head go off. And no, that most certainly doesn't do his concussion any favour.
"Sasuke?!" The person on the other side of the door seems just as surprised and alarmed as him.
"Sasuke?" Comes Naruto's voice from behind him and as he looks over his shoulder he swallows thickly. He had completely forgotten to inform Naruto of his conversation with the headmistress the day before and that she and the homeroom teacher would be visiting today.
To be continued…
Anyone here still reading this story? Or am I the only ghost still floating around this place?
Next chapter is gonna have a few more confrontations. Not just Kurenai confronting them about what happens but also Naruto confronting Sasuke as he's compleately put on the spot by this unexpected visit...
Please throw me a comment guys! It's been ages since I had one on here...