Author's Note: Meh. I know it's kind of short. It's been so long since I've updated this story, and I've had this chapter half-written for forever, so I finally tried to sit down tonight and I realized the reason I can't write anymore is because it's in a nice stopping place already. So... anyways, here ya go! Sorry for the wait!

Muddy Waters

Chapter 9

by Taka Momos

Sasuke held Naruto in his arms as Orochimaru looked them over, his gaze predatory as he raked over the shivering man Sasuke held close to him.

"Well, if it isn't the young Sasuke. And who is your little friend?" He said, walking towards them.

"Get out." The approaching man stopped, his body reacting to the rejection, but his cocky smirk remained set on his lips.

"Why, Sasuke. I'm only here to visit."

"I said get out!" A fire burned in Sasuke's eyes as he positioned himself between the man and his blond, unconsciously posturing himself like a wolf protecting his den. Itachi remained silent, knowing that he should stop the confrontation, but finding himself yielding to his trust in his brother's justification for being hostile and his own personal hatred for the slimy son of a bitch.

Orochimaru looked them over, deciding it best to avoid a fight with the Uchiha in such an unfavorable situation – on Uchiha territory – and outnumbered, with the ever-watchful elder Uchiha only feet away. He shrugged, heading for the door, passing by the two as he left.

"Well, I hope we see each other soon, Sasuke. And I hope maybe then I'll get to meet your little... friend." Orochimaru locked with Naruto's terrified eyes, his smirk growing into a perverted, knowing grin as his victim began to buckle in fear.

Sasuke bared his teeth in rage, his body moving forward with every intention of forcefully removing the man's ugly smirk from his face – and as much of the man's face as he could manage to rip off as well. However, a clothed shoulder intercepted him as Itachi positioned himself between the two.

"It's time for you to leave, Orochimaru. Business deal or not, you've overstayed your welcome." Orochimaru finally accepted that his fun was over, and left the door without a word.

It was a soft clawing at his back that extinguished all anger from his body; he quickly turned around, taking his terrified boyfriend into his arms. Naruto shook in fear, eyes wide – his muscles frozen as the tears washed down his cheeks without the sobs that should have accompanied them.

Sasuke held him close, moving him to the couch. Itachi was close behind them, silent. By the time Sasuke reached the couch, the grip on his shirt had weakened to a loose hold, and Naruto was asleep as soon as Sasuke pulled him against him as he sat on the couch. Naruto's body was cold, his tanned skin pale.

"Is he alright?"

"No."

"What hap –"

"He raped him." Itachi immediately understood, not surprised that one of the many rumors surrounding the sexual proclivities of "The Snake Man" would be true – most of the business world was familiar with stories about his sadism, his pedophilia; he knew better than to believe all rumors, such as that he enjoyed slitting the throats of sheep and raping their dead bodies, covering himself in their blood as he thrust into them while he lay in the pool that drained from them. But he wasn't at all surprised that some of the lesser stories were true – but he certainly hadn't expected to find one be proven true right in front of him.

"He's cold." Itachi nodded, watching his brother gently pet the exhausted body in his arms. Sasuke's voice was quiet – sad and tired, much like it sounded when he was young; when he felt guitly that his parents didn't love him. It tugged at his heart – he wanted nothing more for his brother to be happy, and his parents had made that hard. He'd watched his brother grow up in a house completely void of love, except for the love they'd shared as brothers. And now, once he'd found something he could open up to, it was set back.

"You should probably get him to bed. He probably wants to feel safe." Sasuke nodded in understanding.

"I know, but I want a blanket to wrap him in while I get him to the apartment." Itachi met the eyes staring at him – pain, a pain he'd seen in those eyes far too many times, filled the dark orbs. He nodded quietly and moved to get a blanket from the nearby lounging room. Grabbing the thickest blanket, he moved back, stopping to listen to Sasuke's quiet hushing as Naruto sobbed in his sleep. He finally decided he'd heard enough, and approached, handing the blankets to Sasuke and helping to wrap up the sleep man.

Sasuke scooped him up gently and headed deeper into the mansion, towards the connecting hallway between the basement of Sasuke's apartment and the main building of the compound. Itachi headed into his bedroom as sank on the bed, tired from the night. It wouldn't even be an hour before Kisame would be home, and he could forget all what had happened – be it a passionate round of rough sex, pounding all sense out of him, or simply by holding him in strong arms, letting him lose himself in the warmth of the broad chest and tight embrace, Kisame could always make him forget.

Thinking of it only for a moment, Itachi smiled at the thought of Sasuke being Naruto's Kisame. But he didn't dwell on it, instead closing his tired eyes and waiting in the darkness.

Wrapped in the blanket, Sasuke had a hard time peeling off Naruto's clothes. Finally, after struggling for a few minutes, he managed to undress Naruto down to his boxers. He set him on the couch, turning to lock the doors and turn off the lights, but a pathetic whine at the loss of touch had him pulling his fox close against him, carrying him as he went about his nightly routine.

Once finished, he moved to the bedroom, where he quickly stripped himself down to his own boxers. He brought the other man with him beneath the thick, dark blue blankets, only loosely wrapped in the blanket he'd been carried in.

Sasuke wrapped an arm around his waist, and tucked another beneath the head of blond hair. He snaked the arm up his back, to his shoulders, and pulled the other man against his chest. Soft, hot puffs blew against his chest – the sensation making his head foggy with emotion. Happiness swelled, and rolled into a painful grief. He found himself crying into the soft, sunshine hair. The body beside him stirred, and reddened eyes looked up at him. He quickly wiped away the salty tears still on his cheeks, but Naruto had already known.

" 'suke? Why're you crying?" The voice was small and tired, broken from the earlier events. But fear drove his concern to surpass his own weakness. Sasuke only shook his head.

"It's nothing. You need sleep, Naruto. Go back to sleep." Naruto shook his head, sitting up shakily.

"What'd I do? Sasuke, I'm sorry for whatever I did! I didn't mean to! Please, Sa –" He was quick to cut him off, silencing the rising terror he could already seen in the other's worn eyes.

"It wasn't you, Naruto. Shhh... it wasn't you."

"Th-then wh –"

"I let you down. That's all."

"N-no... no, Sasuke..." Naruto was shaking his head violently, grabbing on to Sasuke's shoulders as he buried himself deeper into his chest.

"I shouldn't have let him get that close to you. I should have protected you better." Sasuke realized as he said it that he was being irrational, but he couldn't help the guilt tugging at him.

"You didn't know! Please, Sasuke, you didn't know! Please, don't feel bad, Sasuke, please! It's OK! I forgive you! Just please!" The voice cracked as the emotional begging whined from his raw throat. Sasuke held him as he began crying harder, rubbing his back. All he'd needed to hear was that he was forgiven, even if he hadn't done anything wrong. He felt the guilt drain out of him, and he regained the strength he'd felt earlier.

"You're right, I'm sorry. I feel better now."

"Promise?" Sasuke smiled at the childish question.

"I promise. Thank you."

Naruto nodded before he fell quiet, gently slipping into sleep.

Sasuke smiled as soft snores tickled his chest. He joined Naruto in sleep not long after.

Author's Note: So yeah. Sorry it's not so great. Hope you enjoyed it anyways though :)