Naruto stood in front of the sink, eyes half open as he brushed his teeth sleepily.
He slowed his brushing as a knock came at the door.
'Is that Sasuke? He's way early today...'
He spit and rinsed quickly, stepping out of the bathroom and moving towards the door after he'd finished.
Naruto started speaking as he turned the doorknob.
"It's really early to be training, y'kn-...Sakura?"
Sakura gave a slightly embarrassed grin.
"Hi! Sorry, I know it's pretty early. I didn't wake you, did I?"
"Uh, no. No, i was already up, it's fine."
"Oh okay, good. Well, come here, then!"
She opened her arms wide for a hug, Naruto hesitating only for a moment before he stepped into the embrace.
Her deceptively strong arms wrapped around him tight.
He laid his head on her shoulder, enjoying the warmth of her hug.
"I've missed you, Naruto."
"I've missed you too..."
Naruto felt her squeeze, and then her arms loosened.
He stepped back, sharing a smile with her as he did.
"So, you gonna invite me in?"
"Oh, yeah. Come on in!"
They both giggled as Naruto backed into the apartment, spreading his arms wide in invitation.
The look of shock on Sakura's face kept Naruto giggling after she'd walked inside.
"Wow...you've cleaned up since I was here last time."
"Hehe, yeah. Sasuke helped me clean it, actually."
The look of shock on Sakura's face intensified.
"No way. Really?"
"Yup. He's, uh...been coming by here a lot lately. We've been training together, and he's helped me out with a few things. Cleaning included."
"...we are talking about the same Sasuke, right? Angsty, broody demeanour? Handsome, punch-able face?"
"That's the one, uh huh."
"Whoa...i wouldn't have expected that from Sasuke."
"Yeah, neither would I, really, but...he's been acting...different. Better."
Sakura smiled, warm and sweet.
"That's great, Naruto. I'm glad he's been helping you out lately."
"So am I. So am I..."
"Well, speaking of Sasuke, I didn't come by just to bug you, actually. Kakashi-Sensei and I are gonna be at Yakiniku Q BBQ in a couple days, and we wanted you and Sasuke there so we could hang out like old times."
"Oh really? Cool! Yeah, yeah I'll be there."
"Great. And uh, you could ask Sasuke to come, if you wanted. I was going to go ask him myself, but from the sound of it, he might respond more favorably to you."
"Um, sure, I'll ask him. He'll be dropping by later anyways, so..."
Naruto yelped as he was taken off his feet, groaning when he hit the ground.
He stayed motionless in the dirt.
"Okay, that's enough. I'm done."
"You're giving up, then?"
Sasuke looked as though he was upside down from Naruto's spot in the dirt.
"Never. But I am tired of getting slammed, though."
"Really? That's not what I heard..."
The Uzumaki rolled his eyes and let out a snort.
"Oh, you're so funny,Sasuke."
"I know, I'm a delight."
That got a genuine chuckle out of Naruto.
"Hehehe, quit being delightful and help me up."
Sasuke laughed and offered a hand.
'God, he has an amazing laugh...i want to hear it every day.'
Naruto took Sasuke's hand, pulling himself to his feet.
He held on for perhaps a moment too long after he'd gotten up.
Naruto wiped his hand off on his pants leg, trying to shake off the warm glowy feeling that had shot through his fingers when his hand touched Sasuke's.
He chuckled nervously, and Sasuke rolled his eyes at his friend's odd behavior.
Sasuke walked over to a shady spot and sat down in the grass, beckoning Naruto over.
Naruto sat down next to him, sliding over discreetly to make more space between them after a moment.
He looked over, taking in Sasuke's profile, eyes roving over the Uchiha's jaw, and what was visible of his lips.
He shook his head at himself, looking away to watch the wind blow through the tree tops instead.
It was still hot with the sun beginning to set, but the cool breeze blowing past him felt nice.
'I've gotta stop pining for something I can't have. That'll only lead to hurt.'
He looked back over as Sasuke started to speak.
"Training was good today. We're both improving nicely."
Naruto grinned.
"Yeah, we've been doing a good job, haven't we?"
"That we have."
"Hehe, yeah."
There was a moment of easy silence, and then he was reminded of Sakura's invitation from earlier.
"Oh right. By the way, uh, Sakura showed up at my apartment this morning."
"Hmph, what'd she want?"
"Um, she came by to hang out, and she and Kakashi want us to show up at Yakiniku Q a couple of days from now to meet up for dinner. So, I mean, I know you probably don't want to go, but I-"
"I'll go."
"...what? Seriously?"
"Yeah. You're going, right?"
"Uh, definitely."
"Then I'll be there."
"O...kay. Awesome. I'll uh, I'll see you there."
Naruto ran his fingers through his wet tangle of hair, water dripping off his skin and onto the bathroom floor as he stepped out of the shower.
He pulled a towel down off the rack, sliding it back and forth over his head and hair.
He took a deep breath after the towel came off his head, finally able to breathe properly again.
Naruto moved to dry the rest of his body, but he paused as he caught sight of himself in the mirror.
Blue eyes looking back at him.
He took note of his features, eyes, nose, cheekbones, jaw, trying to judge them objectively.
But no matter what he saw or thought, he couldn't shake the feeling that something ugly stared back at him in the mirror.
Sakura's words rang out in his head.
They'd been sitting there, talking over lunch, back when she hadn't been so busy.
He'd forgotten how the subject came up, but he remembered how the conversation ended vividly.
"See that girl over there? That's the one I was talking about."
"Her? Seriously? No, I, I don't think so."
"What? You don't like the look of her? She's really pretty, though."
"I just...i don't think she'd be interested in going out on a date with someone like me, Sakura."
"What do you mean? Someone like you?"
"Someone... who looks like.. me."
The expression on Sakura's face after he said that was a hard one to parse, but it'd been a mix of many things.
Her words came out warm and genuine, though.
"Oh Naruto, no. You're so handsome, don't say things like that."
She'd called him handsome.
He'd been sure his heart would leap out of his chest, sitting there with his cheeks on fire.
'But...'
Words even older than those flashed in his mind.
Quietly jeered taunts of the other children, and even from the adults.
"God, he's ugly. Look at that face. You can tell just from the sight of him..."
He stared blankly into the mirror, mind flooded with thoughts and memories.
Naruto looked away from the mirror after a moment, a tired sigh leaving his mouth as he stepped out of the bathroom.
He picked up the shirt laid out on his bed, pushing his head and arms through as he pulled it on.
The material clung to his still-damp skin.
Naruto walked down the street, cool evening breeze feeling nice on his freshly showered skin.
He slowed his pace as Yakiniku Q BBQ came into view, a familiar face stood outside by the entrance.
"Hey, Sasuke! You're...actually here."
The small, teasing grin on Sasuke's face was illuminated by the light bulbs above, glowing on the restaurant sign.
"Of course I am. When I say I'm going to do something, I do it. You and I share that in common."
Naruto let out a surprised chuckle at that, grin on his lips.
Sasuke returned it, motioning inside.
"Alright, let's go inside. Sakura and Kakashi are waiting."
The smell of good food and sounds of lightly scattered laughter were the first things Naruto noticed once they stepped inside.
His eyes landed on Sakura and Kakashi quickly, sat across from each other in a booth.
Sakura noticed them at the same time, grinning and throwing her hand up in a wave.
He and Sasuke walked over, stepping up to the booth.
Sakura smiled and patted the seat next to her, Naruto sliding in and sitting down.
On the other side of the booth, Kakashi mockingly did the same, hand patting on the seat, lone visible eye watching Sasuke intently, waiting to see his annoyed reaction.
Sasuke gave a quiet snort and rolled his eyes, sitting down next to Kakashi.
Kakashi spoke first.
"So, the gang's all here. Just like old times."
Sakura eyed the hot grill in the center of the table as she spoke.
"Yeah, it feels like it's been forever since we actually met up for something that wasn't training. I'm surprised you came, Sasuke."
"Hmph."
Sasuke grit his teeth a bit when Kakashi's hand clapped on his shoulder.
"I'm surprised too, Sakura. Our brooding Uchiha usually isn't particularly sociable. But I hear that's not necessarily been the case lately. You and Naruto have been training together, yes?"
Sasuke shrugged off Kakashi's hand before he answered.
"Yes, we have. It's been going well."
Their sensei made a considering noise, eye roving back and forth between the Uzumaki and Uchiha.
"Well, that's very good. I'm glad you boys have been able to put aside your differences and help each other out."
Sasuke looked like he was fighting the urge to not roll his eyes again when he spoke.
"Yeah, well, somebody's gotta look after him."
All three others at the table gave a chuckle at that, but Naruto's faded off quickly.
He felt a sting, deep in his chest, at that comment.
As the seconds ticked by, it seemed to grow more and more painful.
The talking and chatting around him resumed, but he lost himself in thought as the ache in his heart worsened.
Naruto breathed deeply as he and the others stepped outside of the restaurant, but despite the fresh, open air, he still felt as though he couldn't catch his breath.
He turned around at the sound of Kakashi's voice.
"Well, that was fun, but it's just about my bedtime now. You three, don't get up to too much trouble without me."
Kakashi threw his hand up in a wave as he walked away, copy of Icha Icha Paradise slipping out of his pocket and into his other hand discreetly.
Sakura let out a little laugh and shook her head.
"I'm just glad he didn't bring out that ridiculous book at the dinner table."
She took note of just how dark it had become outside.
"Huh, I guess it has gotten pretty late, though. Alright, I better be getting home too. Naruto, c'mere."
She wrapped her arms around Naruto's shoulders quickly, but tightly, arms loosening and stepping away after a moment.
"Have a good night, guys, I'll see you both later."
"G'night, Sakura."
She gave a little wave and turned around, walking off down the street.
Naruto became acutely aware that he and Sasuke were left standing alone together, and he felt the sting in his chest again.
He spoke, trying to look anywhere but at Sasuke as he started walking.
"It is late, I'm heading back home too."
His fingers clenched at his side as the Uchiha walked alongside him and spoke.
"I'll walk with you."
Naruto made a noise of acknowledgement, keeping his pace quick as he walked.
They were silent for a couple of minutes after that, until Sasuke broke the silence.
"You've been quiet tonight. Are you feeling alright?"
Naruto kept staring ahead and didn't slow his pace as he answered.
"Yeah, I'm fine."
Sasuke eyed him eyed closely.
"Really? Because you don't seem fine."
"Well, that's odd, because I am fine."
Sasuke kept thinking over his friend's behavior from throughout the night.
"...have I said something that's upset you?"
Naruto couldn't resist the agitated noise that fell out of his mouth.
"No, of course not. That wouldn't be like you at all, Sasuke."
Sasuke grit his teeth, picking up his pace and putting his hand on Naruto's shoulder to slow him.
Naruto shook his hand off and stopped, finally turning to face Sasuke.
"What?"
"Just, talk to me, damn it."
"Why?"
"Because I've upset you somehow, and I want to fix it."
"Yeah, well, you don't need to worry about me, okay? I don't want your pity. And I don't need anyone to"look after me",so why don't you just go on home, Sasuke?"
Realization showed in Sasuke's eyes.
"I...i didn't mean it like that, Naruto."
"Oh really? Then how did you mean it?"
"I...i just.."
Naruto shook his head and stormed off.
"Naruto! Wait!"
Naruto bolted up the steps to his apartment, pulling his keys out of his pocket as he walked down the hallway.
He struggled to get the door unlocked quickly, the key sliding against the doorknob.
The door finally came open, Naruto stepping inside and closing it shut behind him.
Before the door could close shut, Sasuke caught it, holding it open firmly.
A frustrated noise left Naruto's mouth as he stepped away from the door, watching Sasuke walk inside, eyes locked on the Uchiha's face, trying to put a name to the complicated emotion showing on his face.
"What do you want to say, Sasuke?"
"I haven't been spending time with you out of pity, goddamn it!
"Really?! Well, pity is the only explanation that makes sense, for why you went from hating my guts one moment, to trying to be my friend again in the next!"
Sasuke's voice was quieter when he spoke again.
"That's not the only explanation, Naruto."
"Then what is it, Sasuke? Why?"
Sasuke's mouth opened and closed as he struggled to speak, eyes looking anywhere but at Naruto.
Naruto looked away from him with a sad sigh, eyes throbbing.
"Just go, Sasuke. I can't do this, it hurts too much."
He turned away and walked to his bedroom door, barely hearing the quiet "Naruto..." that left Sasuke's mouth as he walked away.
He closed his bedroom door shut, crawling into his bed and sitting, gathering his arms and legs close to himself.
Naruto waited, listening intently for sounds of the Uchiha in the other room.
His heart throbbed painfully as he heard the sound of the door to his apartment shutting gently.
He raised his hands to his face, tears spilling down his cheeks.
'I shouldn't have told him to go...'
The sound of his bedroom door opening shocked his heart into a quickened beat.
He took his hands away from his face and looked, staring as Sasuke stepped through the doorway and approached his bed, turning his back to Naruto as he sat down on the edge of the mattress.
There was a moment of silence, and then Sasuke spoke.
"I haven't meant the awful things I've said to you. I never meant a word of them."
Naruto could still feel the wetness of tears on his face.
"Then why did you say them?"
Sasuke's shoulders were tight and tense, fingers digging into the bed as talked.
"Because I knew there were no other words in the world that would hurt you like those did. And...iwantedto hurt you. Because I was angry. At...my brother. At you. At myself. Angry at the world. I let anger poison my mind, and it blinded me to what was important."
Naruto watched intently, only one half of Sasuke's face visible in the darkened bedroom as he turned his head to look out the window, moonlight shining in.
"When I saw you almost die the other day, I felt something. A feeling I haven't had in...i can't even remember the last time. A terror deep in my chest, like I was about to lose an important part of my life, and it would never be the same again."
Naruto could hear the raw emotion in Sasuke's voice.
"Like...i was about to lose a piece of my heart."
Naruto's eyes widened, mouth dropping open a little.
"So, I'm sorry, Naruto. I'm sorry, for the things I've said, for the things I've done, and I'm sorry that I was too caught up in my own shit to realize that you were hurting, too."
Sasuke turned to face Naruto, looking into his eyes, charcoal grey on ocean blue.
"But that's how I've been spending my days, trying to show you that I'm sorry, and trying to show you the truth of how I really feel about you."
Naruto's breath trembled, enraptured in Sasuke's eyes.
"Tell me, how do you...really feel about me?"
Sasuke's eyes seemed to shine in the moonlight.
"I love you, Naruto."
Naruto's breathing stuttered, the words he'd just heard reverberating in his mind, over and over again.
His voice came out, shaky, but firm.
"Show me."
Naruto and Sasuke both moved, rising to their knees on the bed and reaching for each other.
They each wrapped their arms around the other, holding tight in their embrace.
Naruto reveled in the feeling of Sasuke's arms, and the feeling of his own wrapped around the Uchiha.
"I love you, Sasuke."
Sasuke seemed to pull Naruto even closer, but then he leaned back to bring their faces together.
They shared the same breath, their lips grazing.
Naruto pushed forward, their lips sliding together.
He set his hands on Sasuke's face, holding it gently as they kissed, thumb stroking over his cheek.
Everything else melted away around them, until only each of them and the space they shared was left.
They stopped kissing only to breathe.
Sasuke ran his fingers through Naruto's hair, fingers settling at the back of his head, bringing their foreheads to touch.
They held like that for a moment, both of them laying down gently beside each other on the bed.
Naruto tried to take note of every amazing sensation he was feeling, but there were too many to count.
He gave a quiet giggle of wonder as he and Sasuke lay there, smiling at each other.
"My heart's beating so fast."
Sasuke's smile widened.
"So is mine. Here, feel."
Sasuke's fingers curled around his, bringing Naruto's hand to his chest.
Naruto grinned at the feel of Sasuke's excited heartbeat under his fingers.
"This is amazing."
They laid there, eyes connected, fingers sliding over each others skin, for what felt like hours.
As Naruto's heart finally began to slow, exhaustion crept over him.
His eyes fell shut, dozing off for a brief moment.
His eyes snapped open again seconds later.
Sasuke smirked and chuckled, voice quiet in the dark.
"Tired?"
Naruto lifted his head off the pillow, struggling to stay awake.
"No no, I'm alright."
Sasuke's hand settled under his head gently, guiding it back down to the pillow.
"I'm tired, too. Let's sleep, and then we'll pick up where we left off in the morning."
Naruto turned his face into Sasuke's hand, enjoying the feel of his fingers on his cheek.
They both quieted, but Naruto's voice drifted out after a moment.
"I'm worried...that this is a dream. And I'll wake up, and you'll be gone again."
Sasuke's fingers touched over his skin, sliding down his arm.
"I won't ever leave you again, Naruto. I promise."
Their fingers laced together, hands held tightly.
Naruto's voice slipped out sleepily, his eyes shutting.
"I trust you, Sasuke. I love you..."
The last thing he heard was Sasuke's voice.
"I love you too, Naruto."
Naruto woke gently, eyes cracking open as sunlight shone in through his bedroom window.
His head was settled on a firm chest, heartbeat thumping under his cheek.
He inhaled, a familiar scent drifting into his nose.
Sasuke's scent.
There were fingers still laced tightly with his, and when he squeezed, they squeezed back.
He looked up, Sasuke smiling as their eyes met.
"Good morning."
Naruto's voice came out low and quiet, still thick with sleep.
"You're still here."
"Of course i am. We keep our promises, remember?"
Naruto grinned, eyes taking in the sight of Sasuke, bathed in the glow of the morning sun.
"I'm still wondering if I'm dreaming. Pinch me?"
Sasuke grinned back, fingers brushing through Naruto's hair as he spoke.
"I've got something better."
Sasuke leaned close and kissed him, arms wrapping around Naruto as the kiss deepened.
Sasuke leaned back, breaking the kiss for just a moment.
"Convinced you're awake now?"
Naruto's kiss-slick lips curled into a smile.
"Definitely. This...is better than any dream could ever be."
They kissed as the sun rose higher in the sky.
