Hello, my lovelies!
I am so sorry! I know I'm late with this update, but I had a truckload of responsibilities to deal with this week which culminated in me knocking out at eight last night and not opening my eyes until ten this morning!
I wanted to be able to write this author's note with love. Because this is it! Our ending to No Strings Attached. To all of you who have been reading, commenting, and hitting that kudos button. You have no idea how you've helped me. I was so nervous about writing again and all your love and support made the time spent after work editing and re-writing completely worth it.
I hope you all enjoy the last chapter of No Strings Attached, and that I was able to wrap this up in a way that will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy.
Rating: M (Of course there is smut)
Disclaimer: Characters do not belong to me they belong to Masashi Kishimoto.
No Strings Attached
Chapter 8:
I Miss You Too Much
Naruto was burrowed in bed for the next week, he couldn't remember a time when he had canceled a full week of appointments. But he was useless to his clients right now, he couldn't possibly give them the attention, or service they deserved.
He had half a mind to refer them all to a different therapist. What right did he have to coach others on their relationships when he had thrown his out the window? When his track record was nothing but failure after failure.
The notifications on his phone were piling up, calls from Sasuke, calls from Gaara, messages from Sakura…
He had answered none of them.
He couldn't bear the thought of hearing Sasuke's voice, he missed him so much, there wasn't a day when he would wake up and Sasuke wouldn't be the first thing on his mind. Followed by the pain of knowing he had walked out on him. That he hadn't been strong enough to stay and work things out. He'd taken the coward's way out and thrown the whole relationship out the window.
The light in his room turned on and he flinched as he covered his face with his blanket.
"I really would though you might have changed the locks," Gaara said as he tried pulling the blanket off Naruto.
"I really would have figured you might respect my privacy," Naruto said back, holding on to the blanket for dear life.
"Naruto let go"
"What are you even doing here?"
"You won't answer your phone," Gaara said simply, and Naruto finally sat up, letting the blanket fall.
"You might also take that as a sign that I don't want to talk to you" Naruto looked at Gaara angrily.
Gaara actually stopped for a moment finally taking in Naruto's miserable look, the red eyes, the bags under his eyes, the littered Kleenex around the room.
"You and Sasuke broke up?" He asked, "That's why you're not answering your phone" Naruto bit his bottom lip. Tears welling in his eyes again.
"Was it because of me?" Naruto's eyes snapped up to Gaara "Don't be so full of yourself, it had nothing to do with you"
Gaara raised an eyebrow "Really, nothing to do with the fact that I said I wanted you back?"
Naruto threw a pillow at the man "I'm still angry at you for saying that"
"For a long time, it was the only thing you wanted to hear," Gaara said as he sat near Naruto on the bed.
"Now it's too late" Naruto muttered, Naruto would always have a soft spot for Gaara, but he wasn't who Naruto wanted to be with anymore. Sasuke had taken over everything he had to give.
"Really, if I offered to help you wash the pain away right now, you wouldn't let me?"
The need to bury the pain with pleasure almost overwhelmed him. But he shook his head, he wouldn't. He couldn't bear the thought of someone else erasing what was left of Sasuke.
Gaara let his body fall on the bed "Well then, I'm fucked" Gaara knew when he'd lost, Naruto had truly moved on from him. He had made selfish choice, after selfish choice and his relationship with Naruto suffered all the collateral damage.
"You need to shower," he told Naruto, who actually chuckled and threw a pillow at him.
"Nobody asked for your opinion"
Gaara sat on the bed "Really, take a shower, I'll see if you have anything I can use for food, then I'll let you keep sulking"
Naruto stuck his tongue out at Gaara, but actually got off the bed and headed to the bathroom.
INSERT LINE HERE
Sasuke was beyond furious, Naruto wouldn't pick up his phone, he wouldn't talk to him, he wouldn't message him. Sasuke wouldn't give up, Naruto and he belonged together. His mistake was to even try the long-distance, he hadn't been one-hundredth percent on board with it, but he'd been afraid of asking the question he really wanted to ask back then.
Sasuke had called in multiple favors to get the following week off, he'd promised Naruto that he wasn't picking his job over him, and he would follow through on that promise.
So, he made his way up to Naruto's apartment. When he stepped inside and spotted Gaara in the kitchen he figured he was feeling only a fraction of what Naruto must have been feeling when he saw Hinata on his bed. Even through his anger he could understand why Naruto had reacted the way he did.
He could hear the shower running and his blood was boiling as he looked from the redhead to the bedroom door, if Gaara had laid one hand on Naruto…
"What are you doing here?" He asked Gaara.
"I came to check on Naruto" Gaara could have told Sasuke that he was here with Naruto, that the blonde had taken him back. He thought about it for a second. But he owed Naruto. For all the pain, for once, he wanted to put Naruto first.
"He wasn't answering his phone, it looked like he hadn't left the bed all week long"
Sasuke felt himself take a breath "I think I can take it from here" he told Gaara
Who grabbed his keys and made his way out the door "If you two break up again it's open season" He said as he made his way out the door. Irritating Sasuke to no end.
As the door closed behind Gaara, Naruto walked out of the room drying his hair, and stopped in his tracks as he spotted Sasuke in the middle of his apartment. He was surely seeing things…
"What are you…" Naruto couldn't believe his eyes
"Doing here? Well, you wouldn't answer my calls or texts" Sasuke took in the sight of Naruto, even though Gaara pretty much confirmed nothing had happened he was looking for any signs that Naruto had been touched. Instead, he only saw that Naruto was in a sorry state. Much like he'd been the past week. Which felt more like a month than a week.
"We need to talk," Sasuke said as he grabbed Naruto's hand and guided him towards the couch. Naruto followed, still not believing Sasuke was there. Sasuke took a deep breath as he looked into Naruto's blue eyes.
"First things first, we are not breaking up" Naruto blushed, he'd felt like an idiot for walking out. He felt like he didn't deserve to be with Sasuke.
"Sasuke" Naruto got cut off by Sasuke's lips, he gasped, he had missed him so much…
"We're not breaking up," Sasuke said against Naruto's lips again.
"But, Hinata…and I walked out and—" Naruto blamed his brain for his lack of words. But Sasuke interrupted him, by grabbing Naruto's hand and giving it a tight squeeze.
"Let me clear the air for you, nothing happened between Hinata and me, I know how it looked and she tried, I won't tell you she didn't try, but I said no. Because you're it, is that sinking in your head? You. Are. It"
Naruto was near tears again "I…looking at you two on the bed, it really fucked me up, I could only see red…the thought of you being with someone else…"
"Me too, Naruto when I walked in here and saw Gaara…I saw red too, and he was fully clothed. I'm sorry you had to walk in on that…but I swear to you. Nothing happened"
Naruto felt relief because he knew he could trust Sasuke's words, but the issue remained that even if they fixed things now… "Walking in on you and Hinata wasn't the only reason I walked out Sasuke, I walked out because I'm convinced, I don't have what it takes to make this work long distance. I hate myself for it, I wish I was better for you" Naruto ran a hand through his hair as he averted his eyes from Sasuke "I love you; I love that you are here right now, that you took the time to come here, but even if we fix this issue now…we can't keep going about this the same way and expecting a different outcome"
"I agree" Naruto allowed the pain of Sasuke's agreement wash through him.
"But you're wrong about one thing, you weren't the only one struggling with the long distance. I hated it. I hated walking you to your car every single weekend. I hated that you had to leave. I hated not being able to touch you during the week. I miss you. I miss you too much. Long-distance won't work." Sasuke looked Naruto in the eyes, not wavering for a second.
"So, Naruto, give me two years, let me be selfish and have two years of your life" Naruto's eyes snapped back to Sasuke's in an instant "Come with me, move to Suna with me, once the fellowship is over, we can move back to Konoha, we can stay in Suna, we can move across the world, you get to pick next"
Naruto couldn't believe his ears, he thought asking Sasuke to stay would be too selfish, but he hadn't even considered the idea of going with…He had his clients, and he cared deeply for them. Naruto wanted to put himself first for once, he did what he did to help couples come together, this time around he needed to do something to keep his relationship…Sasuke was asking, he wanted him there and Sasuke was Naruto's world right now. A relationship was about giving and taking, and Naruto could give Sasuke two years, Naruto had no doubt Sasuke would give back as much as he took if not more.
"You mean that?"
Sasuke nodded "Every word," he said as he pulled Naruto towards his lap, unable to keep his hands off the blonde any longer.
"You could refer your clients, or set up at the apartment and do telehealth if they are willing, if you want to set something up in Suna I'll help you look for spaces. Just say yes, just come with"
Naruto's felt his heart swell, with happiness, with… he couldn't even begin to describe how Sasuke's words made him feel.
"Yes," he whispered as he leaned in to kiss Sasuke softly. Sasuke kissed Naruto back, his hands holding on to the blonde strongly. Shaking. He'd been afraid Naruto would say no. He'd been afraid of really losing him.
"I'm so sorry I walked out" Naruto whispered against Sasuke's lips. Sasuke rearranged Naruto so he was straddling him, facing him.
"Since you just agreed to move with me, I know I shouldn't worry, but…should I be worried? About Gaara"
Naruto leaned his forehead against Sasuke's "You have nothing to worry about" Naruto whispered as he blushed fiercely. Remembering Gaara had propositioned to have sex with him not an hour ago.
"Why are you red as a tomato then?" Sasuke said darkly.
"Well…"
"Well?" Sasuke nudged growing impatient.
"I feel like you should know he asked me to get back with him" Sasuke's hands squeezed Naruto's hips.
"But I said no. Sasuke I said no"
Sasuke's eyes grew dark "He wanted you back?" Naruto nodded, "and you said no" Naruto nodded again.
The redhead making moves on Naruto while he was away made him feel all kinds of murderous but knowing that Naruto had a chance to go to the one person he'd been pursuing when this all started and knowing he still chose Sasuke…Well, that definitely boosted Sasuke's confidence. He'd never have to wonder again if Naruto would pick Gaara over him.
He leaned up ready to reclaim Naruto's lips, ready to reclaim all of Naruto, but Naruto's growling stomach halted him.
Naruto blushed covering his face, looked like Sasuke brought his appetite back, all aspects of his appetite.
Sasuke smiled down at Naruto "Want me to order some delivery?"
Naruto walked into his apartment and took a deep breath as the realization that he'd just finished emptying his office hit him. Referring his clients to other therapists was one of the hardest things he'd ever had to do, but at the same time, he felt such freedom at taking a break from it all. He was good at compartmentalizing his work and his personal life most of the time. But it had been a while since he had felt this free. Maybe he'd be going out of his mind a month in with nothing to do, or maybe it would take longer for him to feel like he needed to do something. But that was ok, he wouldn't worry about tomorrow's problems today. Knowing Sasuke wanted him there was enough for him.
Sasuke spent the whole week he'd gotten off with Naruto, helping him sort as much about his move as possible before he had to head back to Suna. Three more weeks had now passed, and Naruto was finally finished arranging mostly everything for his move. Sasuke had been calling more than usual. Leaving Naruto in Konoha made him nervous, if he was honest, he was afraid Naruto would back out and decide not to move to Suna after all. Naruto knew this whole move was a little scary, but he'd rather know that he tried everything in his power to stay with Sasuke than to know he'd just given up. He didn't want to let his fear of failure hold him back.
Hinata no longer made appearances when Naruto and Sasuke would face time. Naruto figured it had been humiliating enough for her to see Sasuke had gone as far as to request a week off to chase after his lover. Naruto felt smug enough about that and couldn't wait to make a scene of moving into Sasuke's apartment in front of her.
He heard noise from the front door and sat up startled, looking towards the entrance and spotting Sasuke coming through the front door.
He stood excited and ran towards the door, Sasuke was ready to catch him "What are you doing here?" He asked as he hugged Sasuke, not even allowing him to put down his bag.
"This"
"Is called a surprise?" Naruto finished up for him as Sasuke smiled down at him "Yes, exactly" Naruto leaned up to place a kiss on Sasuke's lips. Sasuke dropped his bags as Naruto jumped, clamping his legs around Sasuke and Sasuke holding him in place by the ass. Making their way to the room.
"I don't care if you're not ready, I'm bringing you home with me this weekend" Sasuke muttered against the blonde's lips. Naruto leaned into the kiss "I can't wait"
Naruto exited the elevator, Sakura walking next to him, "I'm so glad this is our last trip" She huffed as she tried to balance the two boxes she was carrying.
"Good news is Sasuke is picking up takeout when he gets out of work" Naruto smiled over at Sakura as they walked into the apartment. Sakura had been kind enough to drive the remainder of Naruto's things over to Suna. Since Sasuke had loaded Naruto's and his car with as much as he could and had the blonde ride up with him the week prior. Stating he would not go one week longer without the blonde.
They both placed their boxes on the floor and Naruto walked over to the fridge and took out the bottle of wine they'd been chilling and poured two glasses, handing one to Sakura.
"To officially moving," Naruto said, Sakura smiled softly as she touched her glass to Naruto's and took a sip of the wine. They both moved over to the couch to enjoy the rest of their wine.
"I'm going to miss having you both around," Sakura said. Naruto felt something tug at his heart.
"Hey, you are welcome here always, I'd be more than happy for the company"
"I know, it's just, it's hard when things change"
Naruto scoffed "Tell me about it, but hey seriously whenever you'd like, maybe you could ask Kiba to drive up with you" Naruto winked, and Sakura blushed as she took another swing at her wine.
Naruto laughed "He likes you, stop second-guessing whether you should give it a try or not"
"But he's such a flirt, I…I'm just scared he's just fishing you know, then I start taking him seriously and end up heartbroken"
"Being a flirt doesn't equate to being an idiot, if he doesn't realize what a catch you are once you start seeing each other it's his loss"
Sakura smiled at Naruto as she leaned over and kissed his cheek, when she sat back, she grew a little serious "So, I've been meaning to ask, but you don't have to share if you don't want to"
"What is it?"
"How's therapy?"
"Oh, well the first couple of sessions were online, but I'll be moving to in-person now that I'm in Suna" Naruto took another drink "It's funny because I know how it is as a therapist, but it's different to be the client, talking about Gaara, about the one-night stands and the need to just drown everything out with sex…it can be hard and uncomfortable"
"I just worry about you, I'm obviously rooting for you and Sasuke and want for you two so badly to be together, but if things don't work out…"
"I'm sorry I know I scared you falling off the grid-like I did last time, that's one of the reasons I'm getting help. I just want to be better, feel better, and learn to enjoy my time with Sasuke"
Sakura smiled as she pulled Naruto into a hug "You're too cute, and you totally transform Sasuke" she giggled as she thought about how Sasuke went from a narcissistic asshole at work to doting boyfriend whenever he was around Naruto.
The door to the apartment opened and Sasuke walked in carrying the takeout he'd stopped by to pick up after his shift and felt his heart warm as he spotted Naruto on the couch with Sakura. As he spotted his lover surrounded by his belongings. Because this was their home now.
"Yes, I'm starving!" Sakura said as she stood and headed to the table. Naruto stood and leaned up to place a soft kiss on Sasuke's lips as he offered to help him with the takeout.
"Welcome home" He offered Sasuke a bright smile.
"Hi love" He smiled down at the blonde as he leaned down to steal a second kiss.
"Thanks for helping," Sasuke told Sakura as he brought by the rest of the wine and an extra glass for Sasuke.
"Yup, Naruto says I now have unlimited access to your apartment as payback"
"As long as you don't mind listening to Naruto over here as I ravage him"
Naruto chocked on the wine he'd been drinking turning bright red "Sasuke!"
Despite Sasuke being busy, Naruto felt good in Suna, he couldn't remember the last time he had so much free time on his hands. Also, whenever Sakura had long breaks between shifts she'd drive up to Suna and keep Naruto company. Lately, she'd been bringing Kiba. Naruto was happy to see his friend enjoying herself. And it also took one smitten boy to spot another, he knew Sakura had nothing to worry about.
Therapy was going smoothly, and he was working on stopping himself from comparing Sasuke to Gaara. He'd gone into every single arrangement after Gaara thinking the worse, holding on to the idea that every single one of his partners thought and came to conclusions the same way Gaara would.
Sasuke wasn't Gaara, he didn't think like Gaara, and most important of all, he didn't treat him like Gaara had. Sasuke wanted Naruto, looked after him like no one before.
So, Naruto made it a point to remind himself how lucky they both were to have come across each other. Because Naruto matched Sasuke's passion for him, he wanted to make the man happy.
In all ways possible, so whenever Sasuke grew too busy or consumed with work, Naruto would think of creative ways to engage with his lover. Naruto would go to great lengths to ensure Sasuke wasn't the only one delivering surprises in this relationship.
So, when the door to the room opened and closed, he heard a body drop on the bed below.
You might want to close that door Naruto texted his lover
"How…Naruto?" Sasuke asked out loud as Naruto giggled on the top bunk and made his way down.
The room was pretty dark, Naruto's eyes scanned Sasuke, God he melted looking at Sasuke in scrubs. Sasuke sat up looking at Naruto, his eyes growing dark.
"Where did you get scrubs from? What are you doing here?"
Naruto smiled deviously as he made his way to close the door to the on-call room and walked back to Sasuke.
"You like?" He asked and Sasuke could only stare as Naruto climbed on top of him straddling him "Sakura called in a favor with one of her nursing friends from school"
Sasuke's hands slid under Naruto's top "We are going to have to send her a very nice thank you gift, won't we?" He sat up trailing a path of kisses down Naruto's neck, who melted into Sasuke.
"Dr. Uchiha, I'm here for a checkup," Naruto said, his voice laced with lust. As he took a bunch of individual lube packets from his pockets and dropped them on the mattress snickering.
Sasuke groaned, Naruto's creativity and ability to make all types of fantasies come true would never cease to amaze him.
"I'd like to be thorough so let's get you off these scrubs first," Sasuke said as he pulled Naruto's top off and slid his hand down Naruto's pants off to start pumping his erection. The blonde moaned, repeating Sasuke's name like a mantra.
"It's Dr, right now" he whispered in the blonde's ear who gave him a needy moan.
"Yes, Dr, please" Naruto whimpered as Sasuke got off the bed, but he made quick work of pulling Naruto over to the edge and pulling his pants off, and then getting on his knees.
Naruto's eyes grew impossibly darker looking at his lover, his strong, powerful lover on his knees in front of his weeping member. He couldn't tear his eyes away as Sasuke's mouth came down on him.
He let out a choked moan as Sasuke pulled him further off the bed, so his lubed finger would make its way into his entrance as his head bobbed up and down on Naruto's dick. It was too much. For both men, for Sasuke to look up at his blonde wanting to just consume the man.
"Dr. Uchiha please…" Naruto muttered, and Sasuke couldn't take it anymore he needed to take the blonde. He pulled Naruto off the bed, who looked quizzically at him, but Sasuke just smirked as he pushed Naruto against the door, capturing his lips on a passionate kiss and pulling his pants down just enough for his dick to find freedom, he once again closed the gap between himself and his lover, his hands running through Naruto's sides once he reached the blonde's thighs he held on strongly to them and pulled Naruto up, who caught onto his lover's intentions and wrapped his legs against Sasuke's waist.
Sasuke positioned himself against his lover's entrance and pushed Naruto down on him. Who groaned as his head fell back against the door. Sasuke buried himself in the blonde, and Naruto met Sasuke's thrusts as best he could.
"Naruto, God, you make me…." Sasuke muttered into the blonde's neck as he bit him lightly, giving him a particularly hard thrust.
"You like this? Having me take you against the door with my scrubs on?" Sasuke spoke.
Naruto moaned "Yes, god yes" and Naruto's breathy moans drove Sasuke over the edge as he emptied himself on his lover and Naruto stained Sasuke's scrubs with his cum. Sasuke only had enough energy to barely carry his spent self and his lover to the bed.
Both men lay there for a second catching their breath until Naruto broke the silence "We made a mess"
Sasuke chuckled pulling the blonde closer "I can't even begin to put into words how happy you make me" he told Naruto, who felt all types of butterflies as he could see and hear Sasuke's devotion to him.
"I love you" Naruto whispered looking back at Sasuke with just as much devotion.
Sasuke's pager started buzzing somewhere on the bed, "That damn pager" Naruto muttered, but there was no malice behind it.
"You should keep the scrubs, camp out in the on-call room more often" Sasuke smiled at Naruto as he sat up and Naruto started putting the scrubs back on.
"I can't just camp out in the on-call room, but tell you what, I'll take them home with me so we can have some more fun" Naruto winked at him.
Sasuke leaned down to place a kiss on Naruto's lips "Can't wait to make it home, but for now, I need to find a new set of scrubs and get back to work"
Naruto felt smug for having ruined his lover's scrubs.
Sasuke walked out of the on-call room more than energized and ready to get through the rest of his shift. Already thinking of all the things he'd do to Naruto once he made it back to their home.
On the other hand, Naruto was left in the on-call room with a soft smile on his face. Sasuke and himself had found each other in a rather unconventional relationship that had evolved into so much more. Naruto wanted to believe that every hurdle and every heartbreak he'd suffered before was leading him to Sasuke. To the man he hoped would become the love of his life. He couldn't wait to see what came next for them.
THE END
This is it! I'm looking forward to reading your thoughts on the ending.
If you enjoyed my writing style, I am currently working on two different stories:
1. Is basically unrequited love from high school, fast forward a couple of years Sasuke comes across Naruto again now a famous singer of a pop-rock band, what will happen?
2. Naruto boards a cruise with his boyfriend, things aren't great between them and this is the last attempt at saving their relationship. Enter Sasuke Uchiha.
Which one will it be? 1 or 2
I've been working on these two while writing No strings Attached. But they are extremely rough, not finished, and need a lot of editing. So let me know if there is a particular one, you'd like to see start being published first.
Until next time my darlings,
Chio~
