Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, or any of its associated characters!
Summary: COMPLETE (new chapter up everyday - total of 35 chapters!). Sasuke's a writer whose been writing the same words for years. He's tired, he's annoyed, and his money situation is...pretty messed up, even by student standards. Enter Naruto. Modern AU (College/University), Sasunaru/Narusasu. Posted for Sasuke's birthday!
A/N: Everything I want to write here spoils the upcoming chapter so I'm just gonna say THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH for all of the love & support! I'm so, so happy with how well this is being received - all the work feels so worth it :)
Enter Naruto
Chapter 9: Halloween
In the past few weeks, Sasuke and Naruto saw each other almost every day. Sometimes they stayed in, sometimes they just sat and worked—more often than not, Naruto had convinced Sasuke to cook for him again (usually in exchange for helping him with his groceries). Now, October was nearly over, and—
"Whatcha up to for Halloween?"
"The thirty-first? I have a journal due on the second."
"So?"
"So," Sasuke rolled his eyes, "I'm going to be working."
Naruto gave a dramatic sigh. "You're so boring."
"Yes," Sasuke said dryly, "I am."
Naruto laughed.
"Okay, okay. Kiba's having another party that night. Did you want to come?"
"He has a lot of parties."
"Yeah," Naruto grinned, "it's his frat's thing. They're the host for all the big parties."
"I'll pass."
"I thought you might. Mind if I join you?"
Sasuke looked at him.
"After the party?"
"Yeah," he laughed, ducking his head a little, "I don't have the stamina that I used to. I'll probably wanna leave early. And since it's in my house…"
He gave Sasuke a meaningful look. Sasuke raised an eyebrow at him.
"Course I can always stay with Sakura. I dunno for sure if she's coming, but I could cab there or something..."
"You can stay at my place," Sasuke told him—Naruto's eyes lit up, "if you can manage to find it."
"Oi! I've been coming here for weeks!"
"You were not drunk during those weeks."
"Okay, fair point. Ah, well," his grin came back in full force, "if I get lost, you'll just get a drunken phone call from me."
"I can't wait," Sasuke deadpanned.
"You should tell him."
The party was well underway, and Naruto had managed to convince Sakura to join him—if only for the first few hours.
"Sakura…"
"You should," she insisted. "You never know."
"I can't just go around assuming everyone is gay, Sakura." Naruto grimaced and refilled his drink.
"You can't just go around assuming everyone is straight, either." She gave him a meaningful look.
He sighed and conceded the point. "I don't know. I don't think it's a good idea."
"At least tell him you're bi. It's going to come up eventually, you know."
"Have you told Ino?"
"Touché," she gave a soft laugh, nudging him a little as she moved closer, "but my all of my friends don't know about my sexuality. All of yours do."
Naruto scowled.
"Fine, fine," she topped up her drink, "let's just get you nice and drunk for lover-boy tonight, hm?"
"Sakura!"
"Sasukeeeeeh!"
"Hello, Naruto." He held the phone at a cautious distance away from his ear. Drunk Naruto liked to yell.
"Sasuke!" Naruto said again. "I'm close by! I think I'm close? Hang on."
"Describe what's around you, usuratonkachi."
"Teme! You're around me! I think. I think? Oh—yup!"
A loud "whap!" against the door signaled the blonde's arrival. Sasuke hung up the phone and strolled over to him.
"I brought vodka!" Naruto held up the bag proudly as Sasuke opened the door.
Sasuke raised his eyebrows. "If you vomit in my house, you're cleaning it up."
"Not for me, dummy." He poked Sasuke in the chest as he passed by him.
"Shoes, Naruto."
"Oh yeah—sorry." Naruto stumbled to take off his shoes before he brandished the bag at Sasuke. "It's for you! And a bit for me."
He grinned. Sasuke crossed his arms.
"I thought I said I didn't like parties."
"You did, but it was 'cause you didn't like crowds! Two's not a crowd." He stopped for a moment, eyebrows furrowed. "I'm not a crowd, right, Sasuke?"
Sasuke took the bag from him, sighing.
"…You're not a crowd."
Naruto's smile lit up the room.
"We could do shots!" Naruto offered as Sasuke searched the fridge.
"We are not doing shots."
"Why not?"
"Moron..." Sasuke muttered. Ah—there—Naruto's orange juice. "I still have the juice you bought."
"I'm a genius! I'll mix!"
"No, you won't. Go sit down. Pick a movie or whatever."
"'Kaaaay." Naruto grinned, and sauntered over to the couch.
Not a moment later, Naruto let out a loud yell.
"Naruto?" Sasuke moved so that he could see him. Naruto had the computer open on his lap, but had slapped a hand over his eyes.
"Sasuke!" He yelled, pushing the laptop away with his free hand. "You left your writing open again!"
Sasuke held in a laugh at the frantic blonde, and quickly made his way over before Naruto accidentally broke his computer.
"Relax, idiot." He grabbed it, skimming the page it had been open to. Naruto peeked out from his fingers.
"Is it safe?"
Sasuke fought a smile. "Exactly how much did you have to drink?"
"Uh," Naruto gave him a sheepish look, "well I told Kiba I was leaving early, so he said I was wussing out on him, so I said that I totally wasn't, so he said I had to prove it while I was still there, and then I took a bunch of shots and then said I had to go, and then he said—"
Naruto clapped a hand over his mouth.
Sasuke raised an eyebrow.
"And then he said?"
Naruto shook his head, hand still over his mouth.
"I don't want to say what he said," he spoke quietly through his fingers.
Sasuke blinked.
"Well, alright," and in a moment of madness, Sasuke continued, "you can read this one, by the way."
Naruto's eyes widened like he had just offered him the world.
"I can?"
"If you can manage to read."
Naruto snatched the laptop out of Sasuke's hands. "You ass, I'm not that drunk. Shut up."
Sasuke just chuckled, walking away to mix himself something that wasn't totally foul.
Sasuke's writing was…elegant. It was always elegant. He just had a way to build an atmosphere that totally sucked Naruto in. He remembered always commenting that on Sasuke's work.
Naruto's smile grew wider. He had really missed reading Sasuke's writing.
He was still in this one, he noticed. Not by name, but he assumed it was him…the other character kept calling him an idiot, anyways. He got about a quarter-ways through before Sasuke sat down beside him.
"I'm still reading," he muttered, trying to focus. He really was dizzy…
"Mhm," was all Sasuke replied with, taking a sip of his drink.
About halfway through, Naruto started to tear up. He sniffed.
"Naruto?" Sasuke was watching him. He looked wary.
"Shut up." Naruto glared at the screen with red-rimmed eyes. "I'm reading."
Sasuke was on his second drink, now. He hadn't meant to make this one as strong as it had ended up, but, well, it was too late now.
And Naruto was still sniffling.
"It's not that depressing," he mumbled.
"Shh," Naruto's arm swatted out in his direction, "I'm almost done."
"It's not done."
"It's not done!" Naruto slapped his hand against the couch—just barely missing Sasuke's leg. "Why didn't you tell me?!"
"Did you finish it?"
"Well obviously not! But yes I did, but why didn't you warn me, you jackass?!" He shoved the laptop towards Sasuke and glared.
"What did you think?"
"I think you're a big, stupid jerk!"
"Naruto?"
Naruto sniffed. "I—gimmie a sec. I need to—collect my thoughts. Gimmie a sec." He rubbed at his eyes.
Sasuke took his laptop back, skimming through what he had written. It wasn't that sad—
"Was this—uh," Naruto cleared his throat, looking as if he was trying to get ahold of himself, "was this the, uh, intended effect you wanted to have on your audience?"
He gestured vaguely at himself.
Sasuke frowned.
"I didn't really…consider it."
"Oh," Naruto sniffled a little, looking away for a moment, "but, um—don't you want people to read your stuff? Like eventually?"
"I suppose so," he muttered. He wasn't sure he wanted anyone to read this in particular—he didn't know if was good enough, really, but—
"Who do you write for?" Naruto looked up at him, bringing his legs up all the way onto the couch. Sasuke eyed him for a moment.
"Myself."
Naruto scratched his chin. "Okay."
"But," Sasuke continued, "I'm stuck at the ending. I don't know where to go."
Naruto let out a puff of air, hugging his knees.
"Okay—well—I want a happy ending. Obviously. You're such an asshole," Naruto rubbed at his face, "but you gotta consider…like, the overall message you wanna send. If a total stranger picks this up, what are they gonna take from it? What d'you wanna tell them? And who do you want to be the person who keeps reading 'til the end, y'know? What're you gonna leave them with?"
That was…not a bad point.
"…I'll think about it."
"'Kay. We have to watch a super happy movie now, by the way. You owe me."
Sasuke snorted.
"Alright."
"And—hey! Do I not get a drink?"
"I'll get you water." Sasuke eyed him.
"Hey! No, no, no, no, you do not make me cry and then deny me a drink!"
"You admit to crying?"
"No!" Naruto glared at him. Sasuke only chuckled, and stood to make Naruto a very weak drink.
"Actually pick a movie this time, usuratonkachi!" He called from the kitchen.
"Teme!"
Naruto was going to fall asleep on his lap again, he just knew it. His blinks were already slowing, and his head was leaning just a little more second by second—
"Naruto," Sasuke called, and Naruto sprung to attention.
"Huh—yeah, what?"
"You're falling asleep."
"No, I—" he sagged and gave Sasuke a tired smile, "yeah, kinda."
"Idiot. Take the bed."
Naruto looked surprised. "No, no—that's yours! I'm fine on the couch."
"I'm not tired yet. You're going to fall asleep in the next twenty seconds."
Naruto snort turned into a laugh. "I can stay awake! I promise!"
Sasuke rolled his eyes.
"Do you want to bring the laptop to the bed? I'll move to the couch after you fall asleep."
"No—you don't have to move to the couch! I'll—"
"Fine then," Sasuke cut him off, rolling his eyes, "we'll both sleep in the bed. Happy?"
"Uh—"
"Get up, usuratonkachi." He picked up the laptop. "Did you want some pajamas or something? I'm going to change."
"S-sure."
Sasuke tossed some pants in his direction. Naruto caught them, barely, and then received a face full of shirt.
"Did you bring a toothbrush this time?" Sasuke asked as he exited the bathroom. Sasuke, apparently, had decided to forgo a shirt tonight.
"Uh," Naruto replied—not staring, not staring, damn it Naruto, stop staring—
"What?"
"I—" It was a bad idea—he knew it was a bad idea—but the words were forming in his throat and he didn't think that he could stop them—
"I'm bisexual."
Sasuke blinked at him.
"…Okay..."
There was a pause.
"What's your point?"
"I—well, some guys get weird about sleeping in the same bed as a guy who isn't straight! I just—"
"Are you planning on groping me?"
"What?! No!"
"Do you think I'm going to grope you?"
"Of course not! I—"
"Then get in the damn bed, moron."
"Oh—I…I, uh, need to brush my teeth," he gestured towards the bathroom.
Sasuke rolled his eyes.
"Then go do that and then get in the damn bed."
Naruto gave him a bright, relieved smile.
"O-okay!"
Sakura had been right after all.
After Naruto huddled into the bed, blushing a bright, vibrant red, Sasuke snorted. He couldn't help it.
"Do you not remember Sakura implying that you could be attracted to me the day we met?"
"What?"
"In the café. Do you not remember that?"
Naruto stared at him.
"…Not even a little bit."
"You are," Sasuke laughed, rubbing his temples, "such a moron."
Ten minutes later, Naruto still had his head in his hands.
"Naruto," Sasuke bit back a laugh, "it's not that big of a deal."
"No," Naruto was mortified, "you don't understand. I was stressing out so bad about telling you. Like this whole time. This whole time! And you—you already knew! Fuck!"
Naruto groaned and clutched at his hair. "I am so dumb!"
Sasuke laughed.
"Don't laugh at me!"
"I'm not laughing at you," Sasuke said, completely unable to keep a straight face.
"You are!"
Sasuke didn't reply, but he was so obviously trying to fight back the smile—
"Fuck," Naruto shook his head, smiling in spite of himself, "I don't even have the excuse of being drunk anymore."
"Are you not?" Sasuke's eyes scanned him for a moment.
"I mean—not nearly as much as I was earlier." He threw Sasuke a grin.
Sasuke snorted. "Well, I'll give you that."
Naruto grimaced a little. "I wasn't that bad, was I?"
"It was fine. You were just obviously drunk."
Naruto blushed and ducked his head. "Sorry."
"I didn't say I minded," Sasuke mumbled, words slowing and stretching as they twisted into a yawn—
"Now I'm the one who's awake." Naruto laughed a little, doing anything to distract himself from the way Sasuke's back flexed as he rolled over—
Sasuke glanced back at him through half-lidded eyes.
"Are you not tired anymore?"
"Um," Naruto swallowed, looking back at the laptop screen, "it's just—y'know—the movie…"
"You've fallen asleep during movies before," Sasuke mumbled.
"Not ones I haven't seen before!"
"…We can finish it tomorrow." Sasuke's hand reached out to pause the movie.
"I don't mind staying up a little, though..." Naruto shifted the laptop away from Sasuke's hand. This was...ugh. It would have been totally fine if Naruto wasn't so incredibly, obviously, undeniably attracted to Sasuke. It was getting worse by the day—and now, with Sasuke half-naked, lying next to him, smiling at him as if—
This just wasn't fair.
"Usuratonkachi," came Sasuke's breathy voice, "it's late. C'mere."
Naruto's heart jumped out of his chest.
"...How many drinks have you had?"
One obsidian eye cracked open.
"Four or five."
"And how strong were they?" Naruto's eyebrows were raised.
"Pretty strong."
"Are you drunk?"
"I'm tired."
Naruto gave him a look.
"Maybe a little drunk."
"Uh huh. Do you have water near you?"
"No…"
"Okay." Naruto shifted, getting out of the bed. "Tap water fine?"
"Uh, yeah." Sasuke blearily blinked up at where Naruto was moving over to the kitchen.
"You don't really drink often, do you?"
"Hm?" Sasuke's eyes snapped open.
"Oh, shit, were you asleep?"
Sasuke mumbled something incoherent and closed his eyes. Naruto discreetly placed the water beside Sasuke and then moved the laptop onto the side of the bed that he was on. His eyes flickered to Sasuke, and then around the apartment as he settled in under the covers…maybe he could find some headphones or something?
But he didn't see any, and he really didn't want to get up to look for them…and the movie was already paused…and he was so comfortable…
He gently laid the laptop on the floor. He fell asleep facing away from Sasuke.
But that was not how he awoke. Naruto, a known overactive sleeper, had managed to throw himself almost entirely on top of Sasuke—head on his chest, one leg casually strewn over top of Sasuke's thighs. His thoughts went from warm and hazy to wide awake and panicked in an instant. He held his breath and began slowly inching away, but—
Sasuke's grip tightened. Sasuke's arm had slipped underneath him sometime in the night, wrapping around his waist to cuddle him close to his bare chest.
Naruto was cuddling with Sasuke's bare chest.
Oh, god.
Naruto squeezed his eyes shut, frozen in place. Why had he agreed to this? He knew he moved in his sleep! Especially towards warmth—he should have known this would happen. Of course this would fucking happen!
He let out a low hiss of air through his teeth.
But then again—Sasuke was asleep. And he had been—well, he had seemed pretty okay with everything so far. And if Naruto kept moving, he was definitely gonna wake him up—but if he didn't...if he just let Sasuke wake up first, then it—it wouldn't really be his fault, right? He could just pretend he had no idea. He could just…enjoy this…
He bit his lip, sighing quietly. Against his will, his body started to relax.
It was just so…nice…
It was awfully warm for October. This was generally when Sasuke was forced to get the extra blankets out, but he didn't even feel the slightest shiver. Sasuke shifted a little.
Ah, he guessed it was November now, though. Yesterday had been Halloween…and Naruto had that party, and then they—
Sasuke eyes snapped open.
And then Sasuke had basically invited him into bed with him. And now they were cuddling. Naruto's head rested on his chest—hell, Sasuke could feel him drooling—
And one of Sasuke's arms was wedged—firmly—underneath Naruto's warm body. He tried to flex it a little, but it was almost entirely asleep...he sighed, letting his head fall back on the pillows to stare of at the ceiling.
This was…far too pleasant. As everything with Naruto tended to be—but any hope that Naruto was remotely attracted to him had died last night. The blonde had shown zero interest beyond that of strictly friends. He felt like he had practically laid his heart on the line, between letting Naruto read his writing and sleeping in the same bed—especially after Naruto had admitted his sexuality—he felt embarrassed, and stupid, and…humiliated. And now this. The closest he had ever gotten to Naruto was when the blonde was unconscious. He scowled, and yanked his arm, full of pins and needles, out from under Naruto.
"Get off me," he muttered, shoving himself over. Naruto obeyed, blinking around blearily.
"Wh—uh—you okay?" He slurred.
"Fine." Sasuke made a conscious effort to avoid slamming the bathroom door behind him. He splashed his face with water, and then leaned over the sink, not bothering to dry himself off. He watched the drops of water fall onto the porcelain and slide down to slowly circle the drain.
He sighed. Maybe a shower would make him feel better.
It didn't. He exited the bathroom to find Naruto sitting cross-legged on his couch, already having changed back into his own clothes. He wasn't smiling.
"Uh," Naruto stood as he saw Sasuke, "Sasuke, listen—I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable." He rubbed the back of his neck."I move a lot in my sleep, and I, uh—"
"It's fine." Sasuke cut him off. He apparently hadn't dried off his hair well enough, because he felt a few water droplets slide down his neck, beneath his shirt. He scowled.
Naruto hovered awkwardly, looking lost.
"Where's my computer?" Sasuke asked after a moment.
"Oh! I—uh, it's on the floor beside the bed, sorry, I can get it—" Naruto quickly shuffled over, and reached for the laptop to pass it to Sasuke.
Sasuke took it without looking at him. He strode over to his desk and opened it, making a show of checking his emails without really reading any of them.
"…Did you want me to…?" Naruto gestured to the door.
"Do what you want."
There was a pause.
"Um—Sasuke, if I—"
"I have a big project due tomorrow, Naruto. I'm busy."
Sasuke waited until he heard the front door close, snapped his laptop shut and put his head in his hands.
A/N: :)
See you tomorrow,
- Kinomi
