Chapter 2
During the hour, Sasuke had planned the route they would take, knowing that Naruto would not take the time to do it. Packing the basics for a two week-long trip didn't take long. Sasuke grabbed what he needed and left his house making his way to the entrance of the village. He didn't have to wait long for Naruto to show up. Although the blonde was late, he seemed prepared for the trip and followed Sasuke's lead without a fight.
Leaping from tree to tree, they made their trip a quick and silent one on the first day. They both ignored each other, made a fire, ate dinner then took turns keeping watch while the other slept. This was a familiar routine so the need to talk to each other wasn't necessary and most likely not wanted by either party. The entire day was wasted on sulking and brooding from both Naruto and Sasuke. Naruto had tried to talk but was given short or no responses so he gave up and just followed Sasuke's lead.
Sasuke got to sleep first so Naruto watched over, exhausted from their travels and pent up emotion. He wished Sasuke would just talk to him but he knew that wouldn't happen soon. When it was time for Naruto to sleep, he went to wake Sasuke up. As he leaned over to tap Sasuke awake, he saw that his eyes were already open.
"Hey, are you awake?" Naruto was hesitant, wondering if he even slept at all.
"I'm awake." was all Sasuke said. He got up and positioned himself in an upright position, looking away from Naruto.
Naruto was too tired to even care if he got enough sleep so he just passed out on the branch of the tree they mutually and quietly agreed to sleep on. Sasuke scanned over the forest and then his eyes landed on blonde. Anger boiling in his mind as he tries to forget the previous trip.
"Gaara! Are you ok!" Naruto shouts pushing past Choji.
Sauske looks over to where Gaara was standing as blood ran down his palm.
He watched Naruto lift the red heads shirt and glance over the gash.
"You have to be more careful Gaara!" Giving a sweet smile as he applies a cloth to Gaara's side.
Sasuke shakes his head. Why did he care who Naruto fussed over. He looks away from Naruto doing a scan of the forest in the dark of night. His eyes then wander back to Naruto. His face , which usually shows so much emotion, was blank as he slept soundly. His mouth slightly ajar as he breathes slowly. His right hand rested on his stomach which was exposed to the cool air.
Sasuke tries to stop a chuckle at the childish action. He always did this even when they were kids. Sasuke knew the fox spirit ran warmer than the average human temperature, causing Naruto to get hot easily. This trait shows itself when he's asleep. Much like a toddler, Naruto pushes his shirt up to cool his skin. It had never bothered Sasuke, but something about seeing him now like this felt...different.
The wind picks up and the cool air sends a shiver down Sasuke's spine. He glances over at Naruto who managed to push more of his jacket up exposing most of his chest to the open and ,quite frankly, cold air.
'How can he ever get hot in weather like this.' Sasuke thought to himself. It felt like the wind passed right through him while Naruto looked as if he was basking in the sun. Glancing down at the blonde, he notices Naruto's breath started getting deeper and his face showed that of discomfort.
Sasuke sighs and gets closer knowing that Naruto was probably cold. He is quiet but he knows that Naruto sleeps deeper when he's with someone he trusts so he knows Naruto won't wake up easily. Even though the two weren't on speaking terms, they both trusted each other with their lives.
Sasuke gently lifts Naruto's palm off of his chest. Taking the calloused but warm hand and moving it away so he can try to pull the jacket down. Sasuke softly grabs the end of Naruto's jacket.
"Don't.." Sasuke's eyes widen as he almost jumps away. He looks over to Naruto's face and sees he's still sound asleep. Anguish over takes the blondes features making Sasuke realize Naruto was having a nightmare.
Looking over Naruto's stomach he doesn't see any signs of shivering or goosebumps. He let his eyes wander, looking over his bare chest. His hand reaches towards Naruto once again, almost drawn to the warmth that Naruto is emitting. Some part of Sasuke craved the warmth of Naruto. The same part of him that wanted to touch him, wrap his arms around him. Maybe even...
"Sas.. ke" fell from Naruto's lips as his face contorted in pain once again. Sasuke pulls his hand back and looks at him in shock. Naruto's nightmare; was it about him?
Sasuke goes back to his original spot on the tree, his hands shaking. He tells himself it's from the cold. It has to be. Had Sasuke been wrong. Did Naruto sleep worse with Sasuke around? Was Naruto still hurt by what happened between them? Was Naruto still in pain over Sasuke's betrayal?
"No!" The loud word shocked Sasuke to his core as Naruto started visibly shaking. Sasuke knows that he couldn't leave Naruto to his nightmares. If anyone was truly after them they would find Naruto in a second so he makes his way back to Naruto.
He grabs Naruto's arm, "Naruto", he mutters. The blonde reacted quickly to Sasuke's voice. His face relaxes and a content sigh falls from his once again parted lips. One of his hands finds Sasuke's on his arm, holding it firmly in place. Sasuke blushes as the cold from his hand gets absorbed in Naruto's, making him feel warm all over. As much as he didn't want to, he takes his hand out from under Naruto's and goes back to facing the other way, cold and confused. Naruto seems unfazed and goes back to lifting his jacket up to cool himself down. This time, Sasuke keeps his eyes on the forest, not daring to look back.
Naruto sleeps soundly for the rest of the night and wakes up when the sun rises. With a yawn and huge stretch, he looks up at Sasuke, glazing over him. He seemed to be stuck in his head.
"Good morning." Naruto yawns. Silence filled the air and Naruto grunted, already frustrated that Sasuke is giving him the silent treatment again. They eat a quick breakfast and start their travels for the day.
Naruto felt well rested. He hadn't slept this well in a while despite being annoyed with Sasuke. He had hoped he got enough sleep, remembering that Sasuke was awake when he went to get him for his watch shift. Naruto glances around the sky, seeing it become darker than when they started.
"Sasuke." His voice rings out as they leap from tree to tree. His voice was deeper from lack of use and he could've sworn he saw Sasuke lose his footing a bit, but there was no reply.
'Oh yeah we weren't talking to each other.' Naruto rolls his eyes and gets closer to Sasuke, thinking that maybe he didn't hear him.
"I think a storm's coming. The clouds seem to be building up in the direction we are going in." Naruto moves next to Sasuke so he for sure knows he can hear him.
Sasuke looks forward. Naruto was almost ready to knock him down a few branches until Sasuke actually spoke back to him, "Shouldn't be that bad, idiot. It'll probably break up before we get there." Naruto feels anger boil up in him again but decides to keep his mouth shut.
They continued for another 5 hours at least, the rain long forgotten as they got to a thicker part of the forest where the sky was barely visible at some points.
Crash
Lightning flashes, thunder booms and rain starts pouring down in giant drops; soaking each ninja to the bones instantaneously. They stop and Sasuke looks angry, but Naruto has a smug smile on his face. There is no way they can travel in a storm like this, so Naruto decides to take the lead and after 20 minutes of searching, he finds a cave. Slipping his way through the entrance, the blonde takes a deep breath as Sasuke comes in behind him. Naruto looks over the raven haired man and covers his mouth, a chuckle managing to slip from his lips before he could stop it.
"What's so funny, Idiot."
"Shouldn't be that bad idiot. It'll probably break up before we get there." Naruto repeats in a mocking voice, causing Sasuke to growl and push past the blonde.
"Sasuke, you look like a drowned rat!" Naruto barely squeaks out the insult between his fits of laughter.
Sasuke storms off further into the cave, leaving behind Naruto and his uncontrollable laughter. When he can finally calm down, he follows Sasuke's angry footsteps into the cave further where he sees the wet rat brooding with his back against the cave wall.
Still chuckling, Naruto reaches for the zipper of his jacket and quickly pulls it down, shedding the soaked jacket. He walks away from where Sasuke was and wrings the clothing out. Then drapes it on the cave wall and proceeds to do the same with his shirt and pants.
"What are you doing, Idiot!" Sasuke shouts. Naruto ignores the particularly high pitch and just looks at Sasuke with a 'what do you think I'm doing' face.
"Taking my clothes off so they dry. I don't want to catch a cold or something." He wrings his pants out and drapes them next to the jacket. Naruto looks around the cave for any sort of kindle he can use for a fire to warm the place up. Even though he's perfectly content with the temperature, he knows Sasuke doesn't have the same luxury. Although, if Sasuke asked why he was so dead set on a fire he would say it was to dry his clothes.
He walks past Sasuke who was very silent. More so than Naruto was used to. He checks around him for anything he could start a fire with and Sasuke looks up at him.
"Wha..t are you.. doin..g idiot." He can't stop from stuttering. Naruto's eyebrows scrunch together.
"Looking for firewood, bastard." Naruto keeps looking around, hoping he would find something to get a fire started. He knew Sasuke would never admit to being this cold, so he tried to hurry.
" use. You won't find any." Sasuke's words stutter as he draws his legs closer to his chest. It didn't help him to become warmer. His wet pants added to his shivers but at least in this position, he could stop himself from shaking.
Naruto notices a stick pretty close to Sasuke and grabs it. Sasuke see's it as well and goes for it at the same time. Their hands touch and Sasuke gasps at the sudden contact and how warm Naruto feels. He desperately wanted to hold it just to warm his fingers, but he ripped it away at the thought. Naruto pulls his hand back, shocked at how cold Sasuke felt.
"Sasuke! You're freezing." Instinctually he reaches forward and presses his hand to Sasuke's cheek. "You're like ice!" Sasuke pushed his hand away but Naruto is quick with his actions. "Take your clothes off!" Naruto's urgent words echo through the cave, making the pale shivering Sasuke gain the faintest color in his cheeks.
"Naru-" a huge shiver passes over Sasuke as he tries to fight him.
"Now!" Sasuke didn't want to, but he was too cold to fight with Naruto right now.
Sasuke tugs his jacket off and sheds his pants too. Naruto yanks them from his shivering hands and takes them to the front of the cave to wring them out.
"Stupid Sasuke and his stupid pride." He mutters as he spreads the clothing out against the wall. Naruto proceeds to actively gather anything he can use for a fire trying his best to ignore Sasuke's body shaking with shivers or the occasional chatter of his teeth.
He manages to get most of what he needs and goes to start the fire by Sasuke. Of course his back is to him, but Naruto sees something concerning. He glances at the pale, toned back of Sasuke and drops the sticks he had gathered.
"Sasuke, what happened!" He rushes forward and gets a better look before Sasuke can turn.
The pale skin had a deep bruise littering most of his back. Deep purples and blacks sprout out from his spine. Sickly colors that gave Naruto chills. Yellows and greens surround the bruise he wishes he could see more, but Sasuke turns around giving Naruto a deep glare.
"Sasuke, when the hell did that happen." A heavy silence overcomes the two as Naruto glares daggers into Sasuke's eyes.
"When we got ambushed ok! Idiot leave it be!"
"They got you too!" Naruto's fist clenches, wishing he had killed those thugs for attacking them. For hurting Sasuke. His Sasuke
"It's nothing. No blood." He mutters, pushing Naruto away as he tries to grab on to his shoulders.
"Sasuke!" Naruto growled out grabbing sasuke's arm making him face him.
"Naruto!" Sasuke stands up, his blood boiling with anger. He no longer shivered from the cold, but from the rage he had.
"This could be something way worse than a cut, Sasuke! There could be internal bleeding!" His words spill out fast and Sasuke can feel Naruto's warm hand shake.
"I'm fine Naruto, let me go! Why do you even care now!" He yanks his arm free, hiding pain shooting up his back.
"When haven't I!" The blues of his eyes are piercing and Sasuke avoids eye contact.
"Doesn't matter, just drop it."
"Sasuke, if you have something to say, stop being a coward and just say it!"
"You didn't care when it happened so stop pretending to care now!" Sasuke looked at the blonde's eyes, following the hurt look that overcame Naruto's face, taking a step closer to Naruto.
"When Gaara was slashed with the kunai, one of the other Ninja got me with their staff." Sasuke's voice is deep with anger and anguish. He was angry with Naruto, with Gaara, how he let some low life ninja even touch him. Naruto tries to look at Sasuke's eyes but the raven avoids eye contact.
Naruto was having a conversation with Shikamaru and the rest of the group ahead of them as they walked down the path towards the Leaf Village. Everyone was ahead of Sauske except Gaara.
"SHIKAMRU!" Naruto yells, then holds his stomach laughing a guttural laugh. Sasuke hides a smile as he proceeds to walk but can't help the joy that comes with one of Naruto's genuine laughs.
He glances over at the red head when he sees the normally stoic man smile. A sharp pain strikes Sasuke out of his thoughts and he doubles over. Gasping for breath, being that the wind was knocked out of his lungs. A white hot searing pain shoots through his spine as he tries to get up. But is pushed down to the ground by a foot.
"Stay down, Ochiha, if you know what's good for you." The voice growls out. Sasuke finally gains his breath back and quickly takes the man down pinning him to the ground with a loud thud.
The rest were taken down easily and Shikamaru came over with some rope so they could tie the one Sasuke was currently holding down to a tree. Sasuke stands up then nearly falls to the ground. He bites his lip to avoid the hiss of pain threatening to escape. A shooting pain stems from the center of his spine. He tries to take a step then nearly stumbles.
"You ok?" Shikamaru mutters, tying the knot tightly.
"Fine." Sasuke looks out towards the road to see Naruto on his knee cleaning a wound Gaara managed to get. Naruto was so attentive to him, smiling as he wrapped up the cut. They joked together and Naruto blushed at the thanks he received from Gaara. Sasuke felt his stomach sink and he looked away quickly trying to take the smile Naruto gave Gaara out of his mind.
"You get that wound checked out when we get back to the Hidden Leaf." Shikamaru mutters, pushing past Sasuke and towards the front again.
"Man!" Naruto goes over to Sasuke, completely unaware of what had happened to him, "Can't believe they got the jump on you and Gaara!"
"Idiot." The childhood nickname rolled off of Sasuke's tongue in a poisonous way.
"Don't get upset Sasuke, it happens to all of us! Luckily Gaara's wound isn't too bad so we should be able to keep going without visiting a hospital along the way. I'm glad no one else got hurt!"
"Not all of us are dumb like you!" Sasuke pushes forward ignoring the hurt look crossing Naruto's face.
Naruto impulsively pulls Sasuke into a hug. It was more like pinning Sasuke's arms to his side so that he could pull Sasuke closer without him fighting him.
"Naruto..." Sasuke feels his face turning red as their bare chests touch. Naruto's arms wrap around his back, keeping him in place. His body was so warm and the heat washed over Sasuke's whole body. He can't keep it together and tries to wiggle free, but Naruto keeps a firm grip on him. His hands instinctively rub his back in small circles. He knows this is for comfort purposes, but still...
"You have to tell me when you get hurt. I had no idea, I would've made you see Sakura before we left." Sasuke's mind fills with thoughts about Naruto. How soft he feels, the heat emanating from his almost bare body, his soft touches, the way he wants to nestle into his neck. It's beginning to be too much for him so he tries to break free, but Naruto is stronger at the moment.
"You are freezing." Naruto chuckles, his breath rolling down Sasuke's neck, causing him to tense up. He has to get away from Naruto now so he finds his footing and manages to get the blonde off of him, while trying desperately to hide the blush he knew was littering his pale cheeks.
"Sasuke you still get all pink when you hug someone!" Naruto chuckles. Sasuke scoffs and finds his spot back on the wall, trying to calm himself.
Naruto picks up the pile of sticks once again, making a makeshift pit with rocks and stacking the sticks nicely. "Hey, Bastard! Light the fire will you?"
Naruto watches Sasuke perform the Jutsu then starts the fire. The cave is illuminated and Naruto quickly gathers their clothes and lays them out to dry by the fire.
The rain continues to pour as hours pass. Naruto was lying by the fire and turned to look at Sasuke who hadn't moved in awhile. He was curled into a ball, sleeping soundly close to fire. His breathing was light and even, but he seems to have some goose bumps on his skin.
Naruto quietly gets up and checks to see if the clothes are dry. His is completely done, but Sasuke's is still a bit damp. Naruto puts on his remaining clothes, but leaves his jacket off. He tiptoes his way towards Sasuke, his back now facing the open flames. Going to cover the raven haired man with his jacket, he stops and crouches first. His fingers instinctually move towards the deep purple marks tainting Sasuke's ivory skin. Naruto's fingertips trace Sasuke's spine lightly and feel nothing too alarming, although Naruto knows it must hurt to walk. He keeps feeling around to feel if his alignment is off, but his thoughts start to wander to other things.
'How is his skin so smooth?' Naruto's eyes widen at the thought. Gulping lightly, he shakes his head to erase it and he continues to feel towards his ribs. His hands move slowly and as gentle as he can without waking him. He must have hit a tender spot around Sasuke's ribs, causing him to curl tighter into himself as he sleeps, making his back tense.
'He's so muscular!' With the light of the fire, you could see every detail of his body. Naruto blushes deeply. 'I spent too much time with the pervy stage and now I'm a pervert!' Naruto thinks to himself.
Sasuke rolls over and Naruto leaps back, hoping he's not awake. Luckily, Sasuke is still in a deep sleep. He seemed so exhausted earlier that Naruto figures that he will continue sleeping like this for a while.
Taking this opportunity, he quickly checks over Sasuke's front to see if there are any other hidden injuries there. He checks his arms and legs and notices nothing, then to the best of his abilities he checks Sasuke's abdomen, eyeing the black trail of hair that leads into his under clothes. Shaking his head more aggressively, Naruto sighs heavily and curses Jiraiya for tainting his mind.
Naruto decides to check his neck and upper back area, averting his eyes from his lower body. There was a bit of bruising along the side of his neck, but Sasuke's hair is in the way. He brushes pitch black hair off of Sasuke, causing Naruto's knuckles to graze the soft skin of his neck.
The blonde quickly snaps his hand back and prays that Sasuke doesn't wake up. When Sasuke doesn't stir he continues his check up. No bruising or irritation on his neck. Satisfied with the makeshift check up. Not realizing how skinny Sasuke's build actually was. He was very muscular, but it never occurred to him that Sasuke was smaller than him. Though Sasuke is taller, he thought his height would translate to build as well. Naruto's eyes widen in shock at the jacket practically swallowing Sasuke. He sees Sasuke's curled up body loose in the warmth of the jacket sighing in content.
'He looks like a cat all cuddly and cute!' Naruto let himself stare a bit longer as Sasuke slept. He looked so peaceful and sweet. He thought orange was a fitting color on him. Or was it that Naruto liked the look of his jacket on Sasuke...