By Little Spitfire
Summary: Naruto and Sasuke are to be raised by Iruka and Kakashi. Snapshots of their lives together as a family.
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of Naruto. I just like to borrow them sometimes. No profit is being made off this result of me liking the idea of Iruka and Kakashi raising Sasuke and Naruto.
His body was rebelling against him—his throat closing and his breaths coming in short, shallow pants. He couldn't breathe. His oxygen was cut off and a burning sensation ripped through his chest. His mind began to panic, desperate to fill his physiological need for air.
"Hey," And then there was a soft voice and gentle hands unfolding his curled body, lessening the pressure against his lungs and settling him back against something warm and firm. "Hey. Calm. Let go of your neck; you'll just make it worse."
"Can't—breathe—"
"Yes. Yes, you can. You just need to calm down. Relax. Inhale slowly. Just relax and it'll be easier."
Larger hands held onto his shoulders, grounding him and he opened his eyes—when had they closed?— and saw the canopy of leaves overhead. Cool fingers brushed his hair back from his forehead and he concentrated on the shaky rise and fall of his chest.
Inhaling gradually became easier and easier as his body slowly relaxed and soon the rise and fall of his chest steadied. He swallowed thickly and felt the burning sensation relocate to his eyes and he decidedly refused to blink.
Iruka continued to hold him against his chest and murmur soothing noises and smoothing back his hair. "Now, now, Sasuke-kun. Don't tense up like that. It's okay to cry. It's okay to mourn. Your body will continue with these physical attacks if you don't allow your mind and heart to heal."
"You don't—you don't—know—" and here Sasuke broke off as a sob burst from him and the tears he'd tried so desperately to hold back came rushing forward, spilling over his cheeks.
"Allow yourself to feel the pain Sasuke-kun. Nothing good comes from bottling it up. It'll just explode later, perhaps during a less than opportune moment."
Sasuke automatically turned, curling into Iruka's protective embrace and Iruka held him for as long as he needed, whispering all the while—"It's okay. You're not alone. You're not alone. You're cared for. You're loved, my brave, brave boy."
Later that night after the boys were asleep, Iruka curled up around Kakashi on their bed. Kakashi's head lay on his chest, nuzzling him with an unmasked face.
"I'm going to go stop by the psych ward of the hospital tomorrow before class and see about making him an appointment with one of the psychologists." Iruka murmured, breaking the silence.
Kakashi nodded. "It's not too late for him. And he's been getting better since he's come here."
Iruka hummed. "He needs to let himself mourn though. He's compartmentalizing all his emotions, and while that can be a strength, he needs to deal with them at some point or else the physical effects will get worse."
"Honestly, I'm surprised the panic attacks took so long to surface."
Iruka stayed silent, hugging Kakashi closer.
Kakashi turned in his arms, pressing his lips to Iruka's neck. "It'll be okay. He just needs our support."
"Well. He most certainly has that." Iruka smiled. Sasuke would be okay.
chaptersixfin.