When Sasuke walked into the hospital that afternoon, Itachi was there waiting for him. "Before you go in there I have to warn you, Naruto has been unresponsive all day. He seems to have reverted to how he was when he first arrived here. We're hoping that your presence will have a positive effect on him but we're not sure. I just wanted to let you know so you weren't caught unaware." Sasuke nodded before heading for naruto's room.
Just as Itachi had warned, Naruto didn't acknowledge him in the least aside from tracking him as he entered the room. "Naruto?" Sasuke said softly. Naruto didn't give any indication he's heard him. "It's ok. You don't have to talk. I'll just sit with you like I used to. I've been working on a new picture I want to show you. It'll take me a minute to finish"
Sasuke sat in his chair and began to draw. It was another portrait, this one had softer features than the last. It was inspired at the bemused yet interested look on Naruto's face while he watched Sasuke and the others play poker. As always when Sasuke tried to draw Naruto, the eyes gave him trouble. Even when he was unresponsive like he was now, they were bright and vibrant in a way that none of Sasuke's pencils could quite capture. Sighing as he finished the picture, Sasuke held it out for Naruto to see. Naruto looked blankly at the picture. Sasuke had actually hoped that showing Naruto the portrait would have the same effect the last one had, but alas, naruto didn't have any reaction aside from a small smile that sasuke was pretty sure he'd imagined. Sasuke talked to Naruto for a while before Itachi came to fetch him. Or try to anyway.
"Die in a ditch." Sasuke said.
"Why do you have to fight me on this?" Itachi asked.
"He might come around at any moment! I want to be here!"
"Sasuke. You know some of the patients here are dangerous." Itachi said calmly.
"Do not use that 'you're being unreasonable' tone on me." Sasuke spat. "Madara!"
Obito was at the door in a second. "Yes little cuz?"
"I'm staying here tonight." Sasuke said.
"Anybody tries anything, I'll kill them."
"Obito. You can't kill the other patients." Itachi said pinching the bridge of his nose.
Obito shrugged. "Fine. I'll unalive them then." Obito walked off with a wave over his shoulder.
"Sasuke..."
"You heard Madara. He'll make sure I'm safe." Sasuke laid Naruto on the bed and pulled the covers up.
"I really wish you wouldn't call him that. It's not good for his recovery."
"Hey if he wants me to call him Shirley I'll go along with it. If it weren't for the fact that he can't seem to differentiate his life with Madara's, he'd be a productive and functioning member of society. It's cool he idolizes the guy but he just takes it too far. He's not crazy he's just an overzealous fangirl."
"Sasuke..."
"I know. I know. I'm not allowed to use the 'C' word. But you get what I mean. Now go home. I'm not leaving."
The Uchihas glared at eachother with increasing intensity before Obito came and dragged Itachi out of the room. "Let him stay and I'll stop tossing my meds out the window."
"...Deal."
Sasuke climbed onto the bed with Naruto. "Are you mad that I left? I'm sorry. All you have to do is say the word and I won't do it anymore. Well that's not completely true. But I'll work super hard to graduate early so I can spend all my time with you. I promise I won't do anything to hurt you. Just please come back to me. You won't have to stay here long. If you hurry up and recover, I'm sure Itachi would be happy to have you transferred out. They're worried you might be traumatized by what happened but I'll take care of you no matter what."
Sasuke watched Naruto's face for any indication that he might have heard him. Wheb he received none he simply sighed and laid his head on Naruto's shoulder, wrapping his arms securely around the Blonde. "It's ok. No matter what, I'll be right here."