AN: This chapter was very difficult for me to write. If you wonder why it took me so long to update, it's because this was draft #6. -_- I will do my best from now on, but writing will be slow since I am frantically working on cosplay. D: I have too many hobbies...
Negotiated Infidelity Chapter 05
Hitting the Fan
Naruto scuffed the bottom of his shoes against the grass. A small clump of loose earth came up and Naruto's foot came down in a short arc, kicking the lump out of frustration. Kakashi's hand descended onto his shoulder, his palm warm through the thin jersey. It was soothing in a way, and at the same time it was a pointed reminder that now was not the place for his small outbursts. He looked at his coach, but that one visible eye was focused on the scoreboard- on the twin ones mirroring each other on either side.
"You did well out there," his coach assured him. "Better than I expected. Now stop beating up my field and go shake some hands."
Naruto took a deep breath and tried to expel his disappointment with a long drawn out sight. Kakashi's hand slipped away and Naruto walked onto the field, taking it easy on his one knee. His teammates had already begun assembling at the center line, two rows of sweating, huffing players trying to arrange themselves in orderly lines. Naruto brought up the rear, taking his place behind Chouji. He angled his head to peek around the large defender to spy Sasuke further up ahead. Naruto stared at a head of spiky black locks, hoping he would turn and allow Naruto to give him a sympathetic look. But Sasuke did no such thing and noting the harsh line of his shoulders, the tension in his body despite the final whistle not long ago, Naruto realized his partner was angry.
He felt a stab a guilt when he thought of Sasuke playing the whole game while Naruto cooled his heels on the sidelines. His bruises aside, he wondered if he had perhaps failed his team by not accomplishing more.
The referee waited in the center, his head turning to observe Shikamaru as he took his time walking across the field. Naruto turned to look for Suna'a goalie, but the redhead was over on the sidelines, a soccer ball in one arm and his bag in the other. Naruto frowned, but neither the coach nor the referee seemed to notice. What's more, none of Suna's players seemed to care.
When everyone was assembled, the line began moving. Shikamaru lead the line, grasping the hand of the first player and thanking him for a good game. Waiting for the players to reach him, Naruto's attention was fixed on the redhead slowly disappearing beyond the stands. He didn't look back once.
Naruto didn't have time to consider this as the first player approached him. Trying to shake off his dour expression, he forced a smile and a cheerful greeting. Despite his expectations, the greetings from the other side of the line were surprisingly friendly. Suna's players didn't seem too upset by the outcome and after the third and fourth handshake, Naruto found it difficult to pout when they were in such high spirits. He smiled more genuinely, grasping each palm firmly as he thanked them for the good game.
The last player to shake his hand was the tall striker Shikamaru had warned him about. His hands were large and slightly sweaty as they grasped Naruto's fingers. His grip was firm, perhaps a little more than was comfortable and when Naruto tried to pull away, the grip tightened.
"I wanted to say thanks," a deep voice rumbled. Naruto quirked a brow, looking at their still clasped hands in slight confusion. "For looking out for Gaara," the striker added quickly. There was an intensity in his expression that made Naruto think he should have known that name.
Naruto paused, the strength leaving his grip as he tried to pull away again.
"Gaara?" he asked. The striker's bright, brown eyes rounded in his surprise. He looked toward the empty net, and Naruto followed his gaze.
"My brother," he explained, looking a little embarrassed. "It's so rare to see him get hurt, I kind of didn't believe it at first." His sentence devolved into a slight sputter, a nervous laugh that gave Naruto the impression that the clash between he and the goalie had perhaps rattled his teammates more than he realized. Naruto squeezed his hand sympathetically before extracting his fingers from the other's grip.
"Gaara, huh?" Naruto frowned. It felt odd saying it aloud, and Naruto said it again quietly to feel the letters roll off his tongue. The striker observed him, a question written in the lifted brow. "I didn't know his name until now. Even with all the fighting," Naruto smiled.
The striker laughed. "Yeah, he's not very social," he shook his head.
Naruto chortled, thinking of the surly boy he had met in the pub. "So I noticed."
Both players fell silent. The striker stared at the green grass beneath their feet, the corners of his mouth tugging upward as his unseeing gaze was focused elsewhere. Naruto used this opportunity to study his companion, the dark, spiky hair similar to Kiba's and small, dark eyes. Physically he was the opposite of Gaara; tall, broad shouldered and decidedly solid. Though a brief flash of memory reminded him why the striker looked familiar.
"Ah! You were at the pub a few nights ago. I remember because you scowled at me!"
The striker grimaced sheepishly. He glanced over his shoulder as though someone might be watching them before turning back around. "That's because I knew who you were. Coach told us there were two players to look out for at Konoha and you were one of them." He pulled his hand up to his neck and rubbed the base of his skull. His mouth twisted up in a grimace as his gaze slid to Naruto's knees. "Sorry about the ankle. We were told you were fast and some of the guys were a little too eager to stop you. I'll tell them not to be so harsh on you next time."
Naruto opened his mouth, flabbergasted. "You told them to go after me? I was sure Gaara...," he paused, remembering the goalie's absence during half-time.
The striker's laughter rumbled. "Gaara doesn't really involve himself with team strategy. Which I'm sure you noticed. Hell, he won't even let us help him the few times he goes down." He glanced at the empty net again. He squinted as though against the light, his mouth quirked to one side.
"Tell him I'm sorry for smacking into him," Naruto said.
The striker shrugged. "I'll try, but he's probably busy breaking stuff in the locker room right now."
"Poor sport?" Naruto raised a brow.
"You have no idea." They both paused, their eyes meeting as they erupted into smiles. Naruto held his belly as he laughed. He smiled at Suna's striker and thought how much fun it would be to play again. "You know, for the enemy, you're not bad, kid. Anyone crazy enough to take on my brother is okay in my book." The striker stuck out his hand again for another hand shake. "I'm Kankuro," he said.
"Uzumaki Naruto." Naruto shook his hand again.
Kankuro laughed at him. "I know." He grinned and in that moment he thought he saw a slight resemblance to Gaara. Possibly, it was the nose. "I better get back. Captain's duties and all that." Naruto nodded and smiled as Kankuro turned and began jogging to his team.
Naruto watched him for a moment, observing the crowd of Suna players welcoming him back. A few glanced curiously in Naruto's direction and he chuckled to himself, amazed at the sort of easy camaraderie that seemed to exist despite Gaara's reputation. So the team knew who he was. Suna had done their research. It was equally flattering and annoying.
Naruto shook his head and moved slowly to rejoin his team on the edge of the field. He nodded to Sasuke who waited for him a few yards away.
"What was that about?" Sasuke glanced at Kankuro's retreating back suspiciously.
"Spying for the other team, asking me if you're single. The usual," Naruto rattled off easily. He grinned at his grumpy teammate, putting an arm around Sasuke's shoulders casually.
"I'm serious, dobe," Sasuke retorted. He planted his feet in the grass, making it difficult to advance forward. "Two days ago you were trash talking Suna with the rest of us and now today you're tripping over yourself to make friends. What gives?"
Naruto slipped his arm free, turning to meet eye to eye. Sasuke was genuinely angry this time and no amount of joking or smiling would get around that. Naruto sighed and pulled off his head band. He ran a hand through his damp locks, making a show of fixing his hair.
"That was their captain just now, thanking me for checking on their goalie, his brother," he added, though Sasuke didn't seem impressed. If anything, he seemed even more annoyed. Naruto tried again. "He also apologized for his team targeting my legs. Their coach warned them I would be fast."
Sasuke shook his head. "Whatever, you were the one pointing fingers. I was just looking out for you, dobe. It's what teammates do." There was an edge to that last line and a not so hidden insinuation. Naruto sighed as Sasuke turned to march off the field.
"Why are you mad at me?" Naruto protested, reaching for Sasuke's shoulder. "All I did was check to see if he was hurt. What's wrong with a little sportsmanship?" he said.
Sasuke paused and turned to face him. He took a step forward, close enough for Naruto to see his nostrils flare slightly and the slight wrinkle that began to form in his brow when he frowned.
"I want to know what happened to my partner- my wing man- and why I feel like you're defending another team instead of having my back."
Naruto averted his gaze, his cheeks hot with shame as he was reminded of all the secrets he had kept from his partner. When he looked up, Sasuke was evaluating him, judging his expression. His response alone proved him guilty and Naruto knew there was no wiggling out of this one.
Naruto rounded his lips and let out an audible sigh. He clenched his fingers into a tight ball, forming the sentence in his head, trying to figure out the best way to tell him.
Sasuke was waiting, but there was an anxiety radiating from him, his body tense in a way that made Naruto brace himself. He forced himself to look Sasuke in the eye, trying not flinch with his next words. "That boy I met?" He paused, allowing the silence to sink in, using it as a reprieve before the next confession.
"The captain?" Sasuke asked quickly. His tone was curious, more interested in extracting the facts. He would be clinical about this and to Naruto that was both a relief and a worry.
Naruto shook his head slowly. He watched as Sasuke's expression shifted. The look of fierce concentration melted, his pale features darkening with a moment of surprise. It was brief, hardly noticeable before his expression hardened with understanding.
"I didn't know he was Suna's goalie at the time," Naruto rambled. "I didn't even know he played soccer! And when I got onto the field and saw him in the other goal…"
"Clearly he wasn't as sentimental about the experience," Sasuke replied.
Naruto growled in frustration. "That's not it," Naruto ground out. "Yes we slept together, but that's not why I helped him out today. In fact, it has nothing to do with it!"
"Do you like him?" Sasuke continued. The stormy look in his inky black eyes was startling. Naruto hadn't seen this expression since they were young, and never directed at him.
"Of course not! I told you that already. He helped me after a fight and I was just returning the favor! Just trying to settle the score!"
Sasuke was so still Naruto wondered if he was even breathing. His jaw clenched tightly once and then twice and in the tense minute that followed, Naruto realized his mistake.
Suddenly he felt like he might vomit. Naruto stared down at his feet, his hands suddenly trembling when he realized what he had done. He looked up at Sasuke, certain he saw the terror in his eyes and tried not to hide as he waited for a verbal assault, or maybe a punch to the face. What actually resulted was worse. Sasuke simply shook his head at him, his face ashen with anger as he turned and began marching off the field.
"Wait," Naruto pleaded, "Sasuke, I..." His hand reached for his teammate's shoulder only for it to be quickly smacked away.
"Out with Shikamaru, huh? Too loud in the pub to answer my calls."
The hurt underlying that tone cut right through him. Naruto's hand fell to his side. "Just let me explain," Naruto pleaded softly.
Sasuke snorted and when he turned to look at him, his face was wiped of emotion. Just a blank canvas he had seen reserved for those he didn't care about. "Walk away," Sasuke grit out between his teeth. His lips began moving, shaping other words, but Sasuke paused and swallowed them down. Likely it was something that was meant to hurt and Naruto wanted him to say it, to feel the bite of his anger, but Sasuke's silence was somehow more painful in a very different way.
Naruto closed his eyes, the tied score and the pain in his leg somehow nothing. None of it mattered now. His gaze fell on the back of Sasuke's jersey. His thoughts shifted to the rooftop and the moment when Gaara looked so lonely he wanted to kiss him, to take away the pain. He startled when he recognized that same feeling now. Only it was so much worse than he expected.
Sasuke, his best friend and rival for as long as he could remember. What was Gaara in comparison?
Movement in his peripheral vision caught his attention. He glanced up to see Shikamaru moving slowly toward him, a water bottle in his hand. Naruto offered a week smile in greeting and Shikamaru didn't attempt to console him, simply holding out the bottle.
Naruto grabbed it wordlessly and removed the top, squirting water into his mouth. He had been resting for the past fifteen minutes or so, but this one exchange, this brief battle between he and Sasuke seemed to drain him.
"Yeah, it looked that bad from where I was standing too," Shikamaru offered. Naruto realized he was staring in Sasuke's direction and he stopped himself, forcing himself to look elsewhere.
"You didn't hear us, did you?" Naruto dragged his feet against the grass.
"Nothing important carried," Shikamaru informed him. "But if you would like to delay round two for awhile, Chouji has invited the team to his dad's barbeque shop to celebrate our victory-defeat."
Naruto attempted a smile, but it didn't stick.
They reached the edge of the field where only a few players still lingered. Sasuke was among them, chatting with a boy not much older than him jotting down notes furiously on a legal pad. A camera was hanging around his neck and Naruto realized it was the photographer for the school newspaper.
However, he was unfamiliar with the woman shoving a recorder in his coach's face. She was dressed in a blouse and charcoal pencil skirt just long enough to be considered professional. Her heels seemed uncomfortable given the way they sank into the grass. She had no pen nor paper, just a gleam in her eye and a rather noticeable disregard for personal space.
"Today was a test to see how strong our new team is. Given their performance today, I think I can brag that we are in excellent shape," Kakashi waved with one hand toward the field.
The woman paused briefly to push her glasses back up her nose. "Any aspirations for the Emperor's Cup? Last year Konoha fell short, but the team has traditionally made it to the tournament for many years." She flipped the recorder back in his direction.
"With some focused training, I think it's a possibility," Kakashi said non-comittally. "We have a young team with some very promising players." Her gaze slid to Naruto and her expression changed when she saw him.
"I did my research," she said cautiously, her eyes still focused on Naruto. "And is it true you're coaching the son of Minato Namikaze?"
Naruto looked away. He avoided eye contact with her even as he felt her eyes boring into him.
Kakashi was quiet. "That is correct," he said cautiously.
"And does he show promise of following in his father's footsteps?" the reporter pressed on. Naruto didn't wait to hear his coach's response. Disappointed in himself for the days failures, he grabbed his things and left.
In the end, Naruto took up Shikamaru's invitation. He feigned two hours of cheerfulness, hiding behind mouthfuls of meat until he was so stuffed he was pretty sure he really would vomit. And when he got home, his hand trembling as he turned the key, he opened the door to a dark apartment, and find it so silent it weighed on his ears.
He turned on the light and set down his keys, noticing a slip of bright colored paper on the counter.
Don't wait up. The short line was written in Sasuke's neat hand. Naruto closed his eyes and set the note back down. He looked toward the empty bedroom and realized it was Sasuke's way of saying he wasn't coming home tonight.
He let out a whoosh of air that left him shuddering.
Normally when he fucked up Sasuke settled it quickly with a physical bout. A punch in the face or an all out brawl that usually ended with them naked. He had a feeling this time was different.
He had violated the very first rule they set. No amount of sleeping around compared. He had been jealous and he had done something stupid and now...
Naruto dropped his face into his hands. His chest ached in a way he hadn't experienced in a long time. He folded over and clutched his stomach, realizing it must have been the barbeque as well. He ran for the bathroom, hand clasped over his mouth at the first retch. Bile rose up the back of his throat. He winced as he clamped his mouth shut, bending over as he reached the toilet.
His eyes watered as his body heaved, the contents of his emptied stomach hitting the water with a sickening splash. The smell was atrocious and Naruto gagged again. A second wave hit him and he shut his eyes again.
When it was over, he breathed heavily, his throat burning from the effort. He wiped the moisture from the corner of his eyes, not looking too closely as he flushed the toilet. He turned on the tap and washed his hands, cupping one handful to his mouth to rinse out the aftertaste. When he was done he leaned heavily against the sink. He looked at himself in the mirror, realizing he looked as glum as he felt. His stomach felt better at least, but the ache in his chest had not gone away. Reaching for his toothbrush his fingers brushed against Sasuke's. He paused before grabbing his own, eyes stopping on all the small reminders that his partner was gone.
Naruto forced himself to brush his teeth quickly. The apartment was eerily silent save for the swish swash of the brush. By the time he was done he was already sick of it. He rinsed his mouth quickly and when he left, he went straight for his keys. Grabbing his bag, he flipped off the light and locked the door behind him.
The campus was silent at this time of night. There were few people around save clusters here and there returning from club activities. Naruto went straight for a familiar building, taking the stairs two at a time. Shikamaru would be with Chouji and the others. The rooftop would be his alone tonight.
The plastic bag in his hand rustled, the aluminum foil wrapping his favorite snacks jostling in the process. He was winded by the time he reached the top and he reached for the door only to find a small obstacle had propped it open. There was a noise just outside. The sound of a ball slamming against the wall. Naruto pushed the door open peering behind it only to nearly get smacked by a soccer ball hurling toward him.
He braced himself, ready to catch it with his forehead, only it slid past him and bounced off the wall beside him.
"Hey, watch it!" he said with annoyance. He pushed the door open and waltzed onto the rooftop only to be confronted by an icy stare. Gaara shot him a look of pure loathing before kicking the ball again. It bounced off the wall and he caught it, tossing it this time with enough force to convince Naruto to proceed cautiously.
"Go away," he said. Catching the ball again. When Naruto said nothing the next throw was in his direction. Naruto jumped out of the way and the ball bounced, rolling in the opposite direction.
Gaara crossed his arms over his chest, boring a hole into Naruto with his sharp green eyes. Naruto stayed where he was. The blond took a deep breath and looked up at the sky, wondering if his day could possibly get any worse.
"I was here first," Gaara said. He was watching the ball roll across the rooftop, but he made no move to retrieve it.
"Yeah well, I'm the one who showed this place to you, so I think I get to call dibs." Naruto ignored the murderous aura from the redhead and walked toward the gate. He settled himself on the concrete, opening a bag of curry flavored rice crackers. Gaara continued to glare, but it had lost its edge. Naruto continued to ignore him in favor of his snacks and eventually the other man retrieved his soccer ball and began to pummel the side of the wall again.
Naruto watched him, his eyes following the movement of the ball. The motion was fluid, the momentum behind it channeled with each kick, each smooth throw. His control was incredible, and had he not been a goalie, Naruto was certain Gaara would have proven a fairly decent striker.
Thinking of strikers only made him think of Sasuke again. Naruto finished chewing the rice cracker in his mouth and leaned his head against the fence behind him. He shut his eyes and wondered how he had gotten himself into this mess. Had he just stayed home that night instead of answering Shikamaru's call to the pub; had he just talked to Sasuke instead of throwing a tantrum. Naruto opened his eyes and observed Gaara's lithe form dancing before him.
If Sasuke knew they were up here together, would he care? He knew the answer before he even finished the question. He knew why Sasuke was upset. And he was angry with himself that it had nothing to do with what happened in the hotel room that night. It started with the events that happened after.
The fence rattled behind him and Naruto startled as the ball bounced onto the floor beside him.
"Stop staring at me!" Gaara growled. His cheeks were flushed with exertion.
"What else am I supposed to look at it?" Naruto barked back. Gaara went to pick up the ball and threw it straight at him. Naruto lifted his hand, slapping the ball away. Jumping to his feet he kicked the ball away angrily before Gaara could reach it. He pulled the short boy by the front of his shirt, fisting the material.
"Look, I don't care that you busted up my knee, and I didn't go knocking foreheads with you deliberately. Just hazards of the game, as far as I'm concerned, so whatever this is, whatever frustration you're taking out on me is unfounded as far as I'm concerned. But if you disagree well then go on ahead." Naruto released Gaara's shirt. He turned his cheek, jutting out his chin, waiting for the physical blow he was sure Gaara was itching to throw.
Gaara shoved him away. He retrieved the soccer ball and picked it up, hurling it at the wall again.
"Leave me alone," he said again. Naruto gnashed his teeth. Annoyed, he strode up to Gaara and shoved him from behind.
Gaara turned around and threw a punch. Naruto side stepped it, shoving the goalie from the side.
"You want a fight, I'll give you one."
Gaara's face twisted with anger. He began running toward Naruto, fist arching through the air. Naruto turned his cheek, closing his eyes as he waited for the impact. It never arrived.
When Naruto opened his eyes, Gaara's fist was inches from his face. The anger was still there, but there was a restraint, a look that seemed to be considering something else. Gaara slowly lowered his arm.
"My fight isn't with you," he said, sharp green eyes wandering over his face. "As you said, hazards of the game." His gaze strayed to the visible bump on Naruto's forehead. He grinned, a cruel curve of his mouth before bringing his fist up and slamming into Naruto's cheek.
Naruto let out a grunt of pain as hard knuckles collided with his jaw. He cupped the flesh, wincing at the sting.
"That's for being fucking annoying," Gaara said. He shook his right hand, backing a few steps away to put a safe distance between them. He had the look of a caged animal, like one tensing himself, waiting for the right moment to judge whether to flee or strike.
Naruto launched himself in the other direction, his feet hitting the cement clumsily as he let his anger take over. He caught Gaara somewhere around the middle, the other boy failing to brace himself enough to prevent a few clumsy steps backwards. He pushed back against Naruto, his skinny arms surprisingly strong. But Naruto was taller and heavier, his weight in his favor as he overpowered the goalie and pushed Gaara back a few extra steps. His hands squeezed Gaara's so tight he was sure it must have hurt, and he wanted it to. He was so angry right now that everything was such a mess.
He was so angry he didn't notice when Gaara hooked his foot around Naruto's ankle. Naruto lost his balance, his leg tangled up with Gaara's and he dragged both of them down in his fall. Gaara wasted no time taking advantage of the situation. He scrambled to crawl over Naruto and pin him down with his weight.
Had it been Sasuke, this was the moment when things would have turned playful. They might have even kissed. But when Naruto looked up he saw nostrils flaring and a pair of green eyes as hard as marbles.
Naruto turned his head, trying to focus on anything but the weight pinning him down or the painful way Gaara's fingers were digging into his wrists.
"I fucked up," Naruto said. He thought about where he was, and who he was with and wanted to laugh until he cried. "Today I let down my team because I saw you in that goal and I didn't know how to react. I had this naive idea that we had bonded in some way and that we might play a good clean game. And when that didn't happen, it was my team, it was Sasuke that came in and saved my ass. I'm supposed to be his best friend and I let him down."
The grip on his wrists eased up. Gaara sat up, his weight shifting to someplace lower on Naruto's stomach. He didn't get up entirely, but when Naruto hazarded a look, the other boy was listening.
"Right now, I imagine I feel the same way you do and it fucking sucks. It hurts so bad I don't know how you can live with it everyday. But unlike you, I'm not going to wallow in it and pretend to ignore my team out there as if they don't matter. Because they do, and if I work hard enough I'll earn back their confidence and their trust."
Gaara's expression twisted. He clenched his jaw, the bone jutting out just beneath his pale skin. "I don't have to listen to this," he said, moving to stand up. Naruto caught his wrist and kept him there, tugging him back down.
"Yes you do," he said. Gaara tried to shake him off, but Naruto only held on stronger. "Because as much as you complain that your siblings hate you, you have a brother who is taking care of you in the only way he knows how. He tells the team to give you your space and they do because he's the captain and they respect him. But more importantly, they do it because they also respect you. You're not as scary as you think you are. So next time you want to cry that you're all alone, remember that it was your choice to do nothing to change that."
Gaara had stopped struggling against him. He looked down at Naruto coolly, a familiar touch of cruelty creeping into his eyes.
"Is that what gets you through the night?"
"Fuck you," Naruto spat only to earn a grin that made him blush. He released Gaara's arm, turning to hide his cheeks from the light.
Gaara's weight left him. As soon as he stepped away, Naruto sat up, dusting off his palms.
"As touching as this is, the solution to my problem isn't an emotional co-dependence. Go tell someone who cares," Gaara said. He turned his back on Naruto, walking away slowly.
"No way, nuh uh. You care, whether you're willing to admit or not. That's why you gave me that sob story the other day. You make yourself out to be this big, tough, loner and then your brother, yes your brother, thanks me personally today for trying to look out for you. Your team keeps away from you because they think that's what you want. Your brother tells them that's what you want and while you beat yourself up they're out there celebrating or mourning their losses while you stay up here kicking a frigging soccer ball all by yourself."
"And what's your excuse?" Gaara retorted. Naruto opened his mouth only to clamp it shut.
Gaara came back to squat next to him. His expression was a blank; the same closed off look he had encountered in the pub.
"I'm going to do you a favor and spell something out for you. What you call a team, I call dead weight. I don't need them, you don't need them, and as soon as I sign pro I can get the fuck out of here and leave all this shit behind."
"Bullshit," Naruto said to his face. "A team is there to back you up. To be there for you when you're in trouble. Your team, not you, scored that goal on us. And if Sasuke hadn't worked with me that time, we wouldn't have scored against you either. If you ever decided to stop feeling sorry for yourself, you would start working with your team instead of blaming them when something goes wrong."
"Is that what you're doing up here?" Gaara lifted a brow. "Celebrating your good team work? And did your teammate tell you the scout I was talking to blew me off to take him out to dinner?"
Naruto's mouth fell. He felt like the wind had been knocked out of him. He shook his head to deny it. Sasuke wouldn't do that to him. Even if he was pissed, he wouldn't go that far.
"Judging by your expression, I'm going to say no. So tell me again about celebrating team work. How is that working for you and Uchiha?"
Naruto placed his hands in his lap, fingers twisting round and round. It couldn't be true. Naruto refused to believe it. It was a mistake, or a misunderstanding.
He remembered the school newspaper reporter interviewing Sasuke after the game.
"I'm sure he'll tell me soon enough. We just haven't had time to talk," Naruto said petulantly. Sasuke was angry and it was only a matter of course before he began to forgive Naruto. It was likely his way of lashing out, to let Naruto have a taste of his own medicine.
"Because you two are so honest with each other," Gaara said sarcastically.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Naruto said.
Gaara laughed, a harsh sound that put his teeth on edge.
"I heard you were his pet. This was before we met, before I figured out who you were. But I remember thinking it odd at the time. Why would someone supposedly so talented be content to live in another's shadow? And when I heard the guys speculating, taking wagers on which one could sleep with Uchiha, I couldn't imagine what sort of idiot was willing to share his boyfriend too. But I guess it goes both ways for you guys, doesn't it? Or was that not Uchiha calling you when you had my dick in your mouth?"
"You bastard," Naruto growled.
Gaara smirked and climbed back onto his feet. He calmly picked up his soccer ball and tucked it under his arm.
"And maybe you should get your shit together before lecturing other people."
Gaara grinned over his shoulder, pausing long enough for Naruto to retort. He seemed to wait for it, expecting some sort of protest or attempt to fight back. But Naruto found that despite his limbs shaking with anger, he had nothing to say.