Chapter Two

The next day, Sasuke was wary—rightfully so—about the not so subtle knocking on the door, which was hurriedly unlocked before he had a chance to reach for the knob. He was only somewhat relieved it was an impatient Sakura making use of her spare key that was only supposed to be used sparingly and not (as his luck would have it) another little Naruto, which, despite the kid's apparent attraction to him, Sasuke was sure he wouldn't have been able to take.

He much less wanted to entertain the idea of finding a younger version of himself on the other side.

Without preamble, Sakura let herself inside, wearing a large, pale green and pink tote bag over her shoulder, a suspiciously wide smile on her face, and one of the most cheerful and energetic renditions of good morning that did nothing but grate on Sasuke's ears. Quickly closing and locking the door behind her, Sakura grabbed a hold of his arm, and Sasuke could only follow haplessly as he was dragged away from the door and toward the kitchen.

Normally, he would have made some kind of protest, but he blamed his lack of response on having to stay up with a kid that did anything and everything but go to sleep last night. It wasn't that he was unfamiliar with kids. This was far from the first time, but it was easy to forget how much attention they needed when he only spent a certain amount of time with them during the school day.

He'd been helping Iruka with the youngest groups of students in the Academy for the past two years. On paper, he was—as Iruka liked to call him—an assistant of sorts. Unofficially, the position was the most flattering upgrade from being on constant surveillance and placed on house arrest. However, it was also a big step from death or isolated confinement after being a missing-nin, much of which had to do with Naruto's insistence.

If Iruka wasn't the one who had offered him the job, Sasuke would have called it an attempt to humiliate him while simultaneously, albeit slowly, integrating him back into the village with little more than what he left with. Initially, he was stuck with stamping smiley faces on papers and running small errands for Iruka, but after a while Iruka began to force him to help in the classroom, participate in lesson plans, actually interact with students, and Sasuke couldn't say it was the worst thing he'd done. Five years ago, he wouldn't have imagined himself in this position. Then again, five years ago, Sasuke didn't expect to survive.

But while working with Iruka was an experience that hadn't quite left Sasuke humbled, it certainly helped him learn to cope with the person he used to be and learn to accept the person he'd become. A form of rehabilitation that more or less that forced him to come to terms with himself, with his past…too many things. It was probably why most people didn't have many qualms with the idea of him watching their kids. For the time being, Sasuke was effectively restrained, so to speak, no longer a threat, and someone people could easily look down upon. With an indefinite seal that severely limited access to his chakra and the effects of Orochimaru's mark lingering in the back of his mind if no longer on his body, it wasn't as if he had much of a choice.

Tsunade had seen to that, and personally, Sasuke felt she held it over his head, like a shroud of his combined self-loathing and hatred that he still wasn't able to let go of. It was disgusting how he let her use it against him. Whether it was true or not didn't matter. Either way, he couldn't let go, and it had spiralled into to an almost selfish suspicion of everything she did. Yesterday was no different; though, Sasuke could say Naruto wasn't as susceptible as he was a few years back and no longer took Tsunade's words at face value.

But because yesterday things between Sasuke and Tsunade felt more strained than usual that even Naruto took notice of it, Sasuke had yet to bring it up, and by the time they came home, Sasuke had all but forgotten about it. The kid's groping episode behind them, it was late, the kid was asleep, and Sasuke carried him into the guest room—that sometimes doubled as Sakura's room—across the hall from the main bedroom. Less than half an hour later, before Sasuke even had a chance to fall asleep, he woke up to a series of slight tugs on his shirt and large dark eyes staring at him. The kid had to use the bathroom and wouldn't do it without Sasuke present, which was great considering he and Naruto wouldn't have to deal with that stage of getting the kid to actually aim in the toilet.

However, it seemed the kid wouldn't go back to sleep, and it wasn't until after midnight that Sasuke eventually dragged the kid into his bed, placing him between himself and Naruto. Truly out cold, Naruto was dead to the world no matter how many times Sasuke tried to wake him.

Only a few hours after Sasuke had fallen asleep, Naruto woke up. He also woke Sasuke in the process, complaining about the kid interrupting their morning routine, which Naruto claimed was supposed to consist of the sex that would make up for yesterday. But Sasuke couldn't have cared less at that point because Naruto managed to sleep while Sasuke hadn't. He of course told Naruto such and threw a pillow at Naruto before curling under the covers and closing his eyes.

Though, at least that had meant Sasuke could sleep in a little longer for once, and Naruto was pissed off enough to take out his frustration by making breakfast, which was something he rarely did. Usually, for the sake of time and not wanting to do the dishes, he put together something quick like ramen because it was more convenient, and he had yet to kick the habit.

Stifling a yawn, Sasuke let Sakura continue to lead him to the kitchen, where Naruto was sitting with the kid. Naruto was trying to teach the kid how to pick up rice with chopsticks and apparently not really going anywhere with the attempt.

"Sakura-chan," Naruto said in surprise, at the same time the kid called out for Sasuke.

Sakura put a hand over her mouth, not doing well to hide the small gasp that escaped her. "When I first heard about it…"

"Heard about what?" Naruto said, looking to Sasuke nervously. He stood in front of the kid, unsuccessfully trying to hide him from Sakura.

Sasuke could only shrug as he sat down next to the kid, who immediately reached for him. Sakura already knew about his and Naruto's relationship, so it wouldn't have made that much of a difference if she knew about the kid, too. That and it was no use trying to deny the fact that there was a kid in the kitchen when Sakura had already seen him.

Sakura rolled her eyes. "I can still see him, Naruto. Besides, Tsunade-sama already told me about him. She sent me here.

"For what?" Naruto asked.

"To check on your…" Sakura began, taking a seat next to Naruto and setting her tote bag on the floor. She looked uncomfortable, struggling to the find the right word to say.

Naruto put a finger up. "Ah, before you say anything, he's not ours, all right. No matter what this looks like."

"Naruto." Sakura sighed. "You can't say something like that. Not when he can hear you. He probably understands everything you're saying."

Sasuke could feel Sakura's eyes on him, almost pleading, as though he should have said something. Honestly, he couldn't categorise the kid either and was more concerned about making sure the kid was fed rather than what the kid was supposed to be to Naruto and him. Those kinds of decisions would come later, if they came at all, and Sasuke wasn't too confident he'd be able to make them if they did.

Naruto made a noise in disagreement. "Well, it's true. Besides, the old hag already said he was fine yesterday."

"I wish you'd stop calling her that," Sakura said, her voice more weary than admonishing. "Besides, it never hurts to check again, especially when it comes to children."

"He's still eating," Sasuke said.

Sakura turned to the kid, who was slowly chewing a mouthful of rice, and sent an apologetic glance Sasuke's way. "Sorry, I didn't mean to come by so early. I just wanted to—well, you don't mind if I stay a little while longer, do you?"

Naruto shrugged. "I cooked," he said, motioning to the food on the table as he began to eat from a bowl he fixed for himself. "Help yourself."

"Something edible that's not ramen?" Sakura teased, raising her eyebrows. "From you?"

"Hey, it's really not that bad."

"Anymore," Sasuke said.

"Yeah, but you still eat it," Naruto pointed out.

Sasuke didn't argue. Food was food as long as it was edible, and he wasn't one to complain. He couldn't when he didn't have to do the work, and Naruto was in the mood to make real food.

"That's okay," Sakura said with a polite shake of her head. "I already ate."

Naruto looked at her sceptically. "So you say."

"Believe what you want, but I only came to see him for my own eyes." Sakura smiled softly at the kid. "He looks just like a younger version of you, Naruto."

"Hard not to notice," Sasuke said, guiding the chopsticks in the kid's hand and helping him pick up a few grains of sticky, white rice.

"Not that he doesn't remind me of you, Sasuke," Sakura added quickly, and Sasuke rolled his eyes at the fact that she didn't even hesitate to come to his defence. "He definitely has your nose and your eyes."

"Only you would notice something like that," Naruto said.

"Well it's true." Sakura frowned. "Even though I don't understand how this is possible. I still can't wrap my mind around it."

"Don't try to," Sasuke offered, not in the least trying to be helpful. Opening his mouth wide, the kid released his hold on the chopsticks, waiting to be fed, and Sasuke found himself mentally debating whether or not it would be easier to let the kid eat with his fingers.

He turned when he caught Sakura watching him, her gaze scrutinising. "What?"

"Don't you know you're spoiling him?" she said mischievously.

"Now that you mention it…" Naruto peered at Sasuke. "Scary, isn't it?"

Sasuke, purposely not paying attention to Sakura and Naruto, went back to feeding the kid. He didn't see how helping the kid eat was spoiling him. "Whatever."

When Sasuke didn't respond to her teasing, Sakura didn't make another attempt. "Maybe I should just give it a little more time. It's only been a day, and you two are taking this surprisingly well." She paused, looking between Sasuke and Naruto. "Although I can't decide which is more surprising, the idea of you two taking care of a child together or the idea of a little Naruto running around?"

Naruto objected with a half-hearted protest that made Sakura laugh.

"Really, I'm kidding, but despite the fact that he looks so much like Naruto," Sakura continued, smiling widely at the kid. "I still can't help but think he's adorable."

Naruto preened, disregarding the backhanded compliment. "Really, Sakura-chan? You really think the fruit of my loins—that is, theoretically speaking, I mean, if he was—is adorable?"

"It's because he reminds me of both you and Sasuke. Speaking of which, what's his name?"

"He doesn't have one," Naruto said, unprepared for the sudden pain in the back of his head that followed.

"Don't be stupid, Naruto," Sakura said, and Sasuke winced at the sudden rise in her voice. "Of course he has a name."

"T-t-t-t-t…." Naruto gasped, the noise dissipating into a hissing sound as he began to rub the back of his head. "What'd you do that for?"

Sakura looked at Naruto and shook her head in disappointment. "Have you even asked him?"

Naruto let out a pitiful groan but otherwise looked unhurt. Sasuke knew Sakura was well aware of her strength, so he doubted Naruto wasn't just being dramatic.

"Of course we did," Naruto shot back. "But he just ignores us. Even Sasuke. Watch." Waving a hand in front of the kid's face, Naruto asked, "Hey, kid, what's your name?"

The kid made a displeased face, shoved the hand away, and returned his attention to Sasuke and his food.

Naruto shrugged his shoulders. "See?"

"Maybe he'd respond to you better if you didn't call him kid," Sakura said flatly.

Rolling his eyes, Sasuke decided to intervene before he fulfilled the urge to kick both of them outside. "Considering the circumstances, he may not even have one. But if he does, he'll probably say something sooner or later."

Naruto nodded. "And that's what I said."

"No, it wasn't."

"Che. What difference do a few more words make?" Naruto brushed the comment aside with a wave of his hand. "But I'm telling you the kid is picking favourites. It's not like he doesn't already tell Sasuke everything else, but I pay half the bills for this place, too."

"Like paying bills has anything to do with it."

"Sasuke…" Naruto rested his head on Sasuke's shoulder, voice muffled in the fabric of Sasuke's shirt as he tried to make room for himself without pushing the kid off Sasuke's lap. "Are you trying to start something?"

"Later." Sasuke grunted, nudging Naruto away with his shoulder. "Get off me, Naruto. I'm trying to make sure the kid eats."

Interrupting the two, Sakura broke into a small fit of laughter. "You two are such…such boys."

"Men," Naruto corrected, separating himself from Sasuke. "Men, is what you meant to say."

Shaking her head, Sakura reached for Naruto's hand but directed her gaze to Sasuke. "But age doesn't make that much of a difference, does it?" She looked at him fondly, nostalgic for a time that no longer existed, and Sasuke could almost remember the Sakura he left behind when they were thirteen.

"Sakura-chan..." Naruto looked between the two of them, his concern causing Sakura to pull her hand away from Naruto's.

"Please don't mind me," she said quickly, letting go of Naruto's hand and passing off the slight glassiness of her eyes with a forced laughter. "I suppose I should know better than to expect the two of you to change, though, right?"

There was a renewed smile on her face that took away from her previous mood. "You said he doesn't have a name...wouldn't it make sense to at least give him one? And I don't mean the first thing that comes to mind. You have to think—"

"Mostly, we call him kid," Naruto said. "Sometimes, bra—"

Sasuke kicked Naruto under the table, the action not interfering with him helping the kid finish the rest of his food. "I told you not to call him that."

"Damn it, Sasuke." Naruto hissed in pain, nursing his ankle. "I wasn't being serious."

Sakura looked at Sasuke. "Does he really...?"

Sasuke was almost surprised Sakura even needed to ask. She knew Naruto almost as well as he did. "Yes."

"Don't side with that abusive bastard, Sakura-chan."

"Maybe you shouldn't behave so harshly around him," Sakura suggested as she watched the kid, who seemed oblivious to anything that didn't have to do with eating. It caused Sasuke to snort, considering she had no problems calling Naruto stupid and hitting him.

"See?" Naruto looked at Sakura in exasperation. "This is exactly what I'm talking about. I know I'm not the best with kids, but it'd be nice if both of you didn't hold it against me."

"It's not a matter of taking sides," Sakura said, trying to reassure him. "And no one is holding anything against you. Not to mention you can't just keep calling him...kid for the rest of his life."

Naruto groaned, mumbling about something Sasuke was choosing not to pay attention to.

"Look, I know you mean well and all, but we're just not ready for this kind of stuff. We don't know anything about..." Naruto glanced at Sasuke. "Okay, so maybe I'm not ready for this kind of stuff."

"Don't be so hard on yourself, Naruto," Sakura said. "I don't think anybody is prepared for something like raising a child. I probably wouldn't have said something like this before, but it's not like Sasuke is perfect at something like this, either, and at least you kind of have a head start, right?"

Naruto sighed. "Well, I guess…" he said, trailing off into a brief lag of conversation that was picked up by Sakura.

"Hey, Sasuke…"

Sasuke turned to face a surprisingly nervous looking Sakura.

"Since he's almost finished eating, do you mind…?" Sakura took a deep breath and pursed her lips. "May I hold him?"

Sasuke raised his eyebrows, catching Naruto doing the same out of the corner of his eye.

"Sakura-chan," Naruto began hesitantly, "I'm not sure…"

"I promise I'll be careful," Sakura said, reaching out with the intention of picking up the kid. "Naruto and Sasuke haven't given you a name, but I'm just going to call you Aka-chan, if that's all right with you," she cooed. "You're just so—"

Fervently, the kid began shaking his head, pulling away from Sakura's outstretched arms and clenching his hands around the gathered material of Sasuke's shirt. Although he anticipated the kid's reaction, Sasuke was unable hide a groan at the slight kick unintentionally aimed at his stomach. At least the kid wasn't crying like he did when he first saw Naruto.

Sakura recoiled at the kid's unwillingness to go to her, and Naruto looked at her apologetically. "That's kind of what happens when you're not Sasuke or don't have big breasts. Not that your breasts are exactly small, or I even look at your breasts enough to tell, but…"

If Sakura minded the fact that Naruto was openly discussing the size of her breasts, she gracefully ignored it and settled on leaning back in her chair. She cleared her throat, her cheeks slightly pink from her embarrassment at being rejected by the kid.

"Well, if you had any worries before, I can definitely assure you he's your kid, too, Sasuke," she said dryly. "Lack of social skills included."

In that obnoxious way of his, Naruto laughed at her response, overtly boisterous, and Sasuke barely resisted the urge to kick him under the table again. He wasn't bothered by what Sakura said but rather Naruto's reaction to it.

"Yeah, I'm still trying to decide whether or not that's a good thing. A kid that looks like me but with Sasuke's attitude could be bad for my reputation," Naruto said jokingly but backed away from the table when he noticed the look he received from Sasuke and the similar expression on the kid's face, which was offset by the grains of rice sticking on his bottom lip. Naruto smiled sheepishly. "I mean, not that it's a bad thing, you know, because it's uh…it's uh…"

Sakura snorted. "You should probably stop talking now."

Naruto closed his mouth, and while he was no longer laughing, he still had a smile on his face.

"Oh," Sakura said suddenly, eyes widening. "And before I forget…" She picked up the tote bag she placed on the floor earlier and set it in her lap. "I brought some things I thought you two might like. Of course, you'll have to go out and get your own. Until then, I don't know what size he is, but hopefully this will be okay." She placed two pairs of small pants on table, followed by three small shirts, a pair of socks, and a light green plastic turtle with a dark brown shell.

"My cousin still has his old clothes in the house. My aunt kept it for him, even after such a long time. These are just a few things to get you started. I know it's not new, and it's not much, but..."

"Sakura-chan…" Carefully, Naruto put an arm around Sakura, only to be thrown back into his chair when she lashed at him.s

"I absolutely refuse to go shopping for you when something like this is your responsibility. So don't ask me to do it for you."

The side of his mouth twitching, Naruto gaped at her fearfully, raising an arm to cover his face in a protective gesture. "How did—how'd you know I was going to ask?"

...

It turned out Sakura couldn't find anything wrong, but Naruto had a feeling she'd only used her medical experience as an excuse to see the kid. She didn't seem angry, though, about the kid's reaction to her. She was more amused than anything. After seeing that the kid was fine, she helped herself to the food that she turned down earlier, taking a plastic container out of the cabinet to put the food in and take home so she would, as she put it, have something to eat when she didn't feel like cooking.

Borrowed container in hand and tote bag over her shoulder, Sakura then left with a suspicious looking smile, purposely ignoring Naruto's pleas of her not to tell anyone else about the kid as she let herself out the door. Sasuke didn't seem to care that Sakura probably wouldn't keep her knowledge of the kid to herself. And comforted only by a small bowl of cold rice, Naruto had no choice but to mull over the idea that it was becoming more and more likely the kid was going to become a permanent addition in his life.

At least the kid didn't cry around Naruto anymore, which was a feat in itself considering it'd only been a day since the screaming incident in the bathroom. But the kid was surprisingly complacent. As long as he knew Sasuke was around, he was even agreeable with Naruto, going as far as calling Naruto by name and letting Naruto feed him this morning while Sasuke was still asleep.

In a way, it was funny how the kid seemed reluctant to let Sasuke out of his sight. Cute possibly, and it would have been more amusing if that didn't mean Naruto couldn't get Sasuke alone.

After Sakura left, they'd had what Naruto referred to as a lazy day. The kind of day he took for granted as a kid. It was just the right amount of humidity to be comfortable, all the windows in the house open and the cool breeze that would tickle his skin just enough so it wouldn't be too hot. He was free to forget about that mission report he still had to finish, what he'd seen during the mission that made an outbreak of war between the hidden villages seem that much more inevitable—free to lounge on the couch with Sasuke and pretend it was only just the two of them until he had to face reality tomorrow.

Except, in the reality now, what was supposed to be just him and Sasuke on the couch turned into him and Sasuke plus one on the couch. The kid ended up sleeping in between them, snoring pretty loudly for someone his size and almost loud enough to drown out the TV.

And that was how the rest of the day had passed, too, with the kid's head in Sasuke's lap, his short legs extended and feet pushing against Naruto's thigh, seemingly trying to keep some kind of distance between Naruto and Sasuke despite the progress Naruto thought he'd made with the kid during breakfast. Surprisingly, throughout most of it Naruto found himself staring at the kid, having reoccurring moments where he couldn't look away from that round face with those dark eyes. Because, ignoring the hair and the cheeks, the kid actually did look like Sasuke, especially from the side. He looked a lot more like Sasuke than Naruto initially realised. If he and Sasuke could actually have a kid of their own, he or she would probably have looked pretty similar to the kid who took up way too much space on the couch.

It was disturbing, more so that he was even thinking about something like that, and, nine hours later, Naruto still couldn't get the scenario out of his mind.

Because that was the real problem he had with the kid and why he felt so conflicted with the kid being so close to Sasuke.

No, Naruto wasn't jealous of a kid who happened to look like him and seemed to be permanently attached to Sasuke. And in no way was he beginning to draw parallels between himself and the kid. Yes, the kid made him feel uncomfortable, anxious, so many things at once, but it was Sasuke's reaction to the kid that really made him nervous.

He prided himself on being the only who knew so much about Sasuke. He was used to being the only one Sasuke could see, and maybe over the years he had taken advantage of the fact that Sasuke really didn't have anyone else beside him. But this was one thing he didn't know, the one thing he was forced to admit where he wasn't sure about Sasuke's stance, and Naruto couldn't say he appreciated it.

They hadn't really talked about having kids. Biologically, they couldn't have any, and adoption hadn't really come up, either. It was something Naruto preferred to avoid since the subject of having kids also brought up the issue of how long their relationship would last. It was like a taunt string between them; they both knew it was there but were afraid to pull at it in case it snapped. While he wasn't looking forward to having a kid anytime soon, even if he could, Naruto hadn't looked that far into the future anyway. But because the subject of having kids hadn't really come up, Naruto didn't know how Sasuke felt about it.

Two days ago, Naruto wouldn't have thought about it—that despite Sasuke's experience working with Iruka, having kids would ever be an issue for them. But after seeing how Sasuke seemed so at ease with the kid, after seeing Sasuke in that face that held so much in common with Naruto's own, Naruto could no longer claim he knew Sasuke as well as he once thought he did.

"And what does how the kid looks have to do with it?" Sasuke asked, rolling over from his position on the bed to face Naruto.

"Doesn't that—I don't know—bother you?" Naruto said. "Or shouldn't you at least be bothered by it?"

Sasuke frowned. "Are you trying to get out of this?"

"No," Naruto said loudly, lowering his voice when he remembered the kid was sleeping in the room across from them. "I mean, no, but come on, Sasuke."

"You know I have a mission in a few days."

"You can't really expect me to look after the kid on my own."

Sasuke shot a disapproving look at Naruto. "I'm not repeating myself."

"It's freaking me out, okay. Is that what you wanted to hear? Because it sure as hell isn't making me comfortable having him around."

Slowly, in a voice that was almost threatening, Sasuke said, "Deal with it."

However, far from intimidated, Naruto narrowed his eyes. "Let's just put it this way. Who's going to take care of the bra—kid, when you're gone, huh? He won't go to anyone else except the hag, and that's only because of her—"

"You seem to be forgetting that you live here, too; therefore, he's not just my responsibility. Besides, you're the one he looks like."

"Yeah," Naruto reluctantly agreed. It wasn't exactly something he could deny, but that wasn't the problem. "But the brat only likes you, and it's not like I can drop him off with someone else while you're gone."

"I already told you not to call him that."

Naruto sighed, not understanding why Sasuke was so picky about the name situation or lack thereof when it was the kid himself that Sasuke should have been more concerned about. "It's a low-ranked mission anyway. I'll talk to Tsunade again, and we'll figure something out. Okay?"

"It doesn't matter how demeaning it is. You know why I have to go." Sasuke's eyebrows were furrowed, features tense. It was a subtle shift in expression, but it was enough that Naruto could see he was upset. "And you can't let me have…" Scoffing, Sasuke turned away from Naruto. "I'm not going through this with you."

"Sasuke…" Feeling contrite, Naruto bit his lip. He knew he wasn't being fair by dumping his own insecurities on Sasuke. The mission was just delivering a scroll, but it was the first mission Sasuke had since he'd left Konoha.

Honestly, after being forced to come back, Naruto didn't know what made Sasuke stay. Sometimes, he wanted to think he was the reason, although he wasn't that conceited. Part of the reason maybe, which was more than good enough for him. But the day he found Sasuke, the day Sasuke finally came back, Sasuke had wanted Naruto to kill him. Not fighting to his full potential, Sasuke was asking to die, and Naruto had been so angry at the time that he almost did kill Sasuke. Naruto was sure Sasuke would have died then if Kakashi hadn't found them, but Naruto could only remember blacking out and waking up next to Sasuke a few days later.

It'd been five years since then, five years and while Sasuke hadn't exactly become the most modest person in that time, he had taken a sizeable blow to his pride by staying here trying to make up for his own past mistakes in addition to the faults of his family on his shoulders. His name and reputation were shattered. The people who'd once said he held so much promise now couldn't be bothered to spit at him. But Sasuke…

So Naruto did understand how important that scroll was. He understood it wasn't the scroll itself but that Sasuke would be delivering it as a representative of Konoha, something he hadn't been in a long time.

"Look…" Naruto sighed. "I'm sorry, all right."

After a substantial pause, the sheets rustled as Sasuke turned back around. He didn't seem too impressed with Naruto's apology.

Despite the annoyance on Sasuke's face, Naruto still took it as a sign of being forgiven if only because Sasuke hadn't ignored him completely. He still had his questionable moments, true, but Naruto could be perceptive from time to time, and fortunately it was something Sasuke realised, too, without either of them having to bring it out in the open.

"I do get it. It just wasn't supposed to come out that way."

"You're still missing the point."

"No, I'm not missing the point." Naruto said steadily, repositioning himself on the bed so that he was straddling Sasuke. Leaning closer, he snorted at the bored look on Sasuke's face. "Of course, I'm not saying that you have to believe me or anything."

"Already that sure of yourself?"

"Well…as a matter of fact, I'm so sure," Naruto began playfully, "that I'm going prove to you just how much I'm not missing the point." He held Sasuke's cheek in his palm, the calluses on his hand resting against soft skin.

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "Since when?"

"Since I'm the only one who really understands you," Naruto said, punctuating each word with a chaste kiss on Sasuke's face.

Seizing a fistful of Naruto's hair, Sasuke pulled Naruto away from his face. His eyes peered into Naruto's, challenging Naruto's words. "You think so?"

Naruto kept Sasuke's gaze, barely able to suppress a whimper when Sasuke pulled on his hair again. It wasn't the first time Sasuke had done it, but it hurt. It was painful to the point he was almost convinced he'd be missing strands of hair when he looked in the mirror and Sasuke knew it, too because he pulled hard enough that Naruto felt the blood rushing to his scalp.

But then Sasuke let go and cupped the back of Naruto's head. He pulled Naruto back down with a harsh jerk, crushing their lips together, and Naruto let out a moan when Sasuke opened his mouth.

They drew back from the kiss too soon, and Sasuke looked up at him with a smirk, placing his arm around Naruto's neck. "Still sure?"

"…yeah, I'm still sure," Naruto breathed. Their faces were too close without touching, Naruto's lips hovering over Sasuke's, the distance between them almost nonexistent, and Naruto curled his toes when Sasuke wrapped a leg around his waist.

He stilled, trying his best not to move as Sasuke tightened his hold around him. To let go now would be too quick, too embarrassing considering he'd just gotten hard, and something Sasuke would never let him live down.

Swallowing, he lowered his head on Sasuke's shoulder, inhaled and then exhaled. He couldn't believe he was already sweating. The room felt incredibly damp, like he'd been huddled under a sheet with Sasuke the whole time, but instead the sheet was clinging to his skin, trapped between his back and Sasuke's leg. He could feel the moisture from his body seeping into the thin material. The sheet was making him hot, making the friction between him and Sasuke that much more unbearable, and even though he wanted nothing more than to get it off, Naruto was almost afraid to move. Every muscle was clenched, his body tight, and he hissed when Sasuke lifted his hips and brushed his erection over Naruto's stomach.

Naruto had forgotten how long a month without Sasuke actually was, had almost forgotten how much he missed this. The warm breath in his ear, the fingers pressing against the nape of his neck, and damn if just being this close to Sasuke was all it took to get off.

Gritting his teeth, he used his weight to press Sasuke back into the bed, enjoying Sasuke's gasp of surprise but silently wondering how long he'd be able to keep Sasuke down. He moved further in between Sasuke's legs, slipping his hand beneath Sasuke's shirt.

Seeing he wasn't the only one tense, Naruto smiled into the juncture of Sasuke's neck when Sasuke arched against him. His fingers trailed down Sasuke's body slowly, light touches on sensitive skin as he traced a line to the small of Sasuke's back. Cheeks flushed, he thrust into Sasuke, pinning him to the bed when his fingers reached Sasuke's briefs. Hand lingering around the waistband, he paused, hissing when Sasuke returned the thrust and wrapped his other leg around Naruto.

A minute couldn't have gone by, but Naruto had held out longer than he thought he would. He was close now, a few-more-seconds-and-he-was-done kind of close, and Naruto didn't think he could keep it in anymore with the way his erection kept rubbing against Sasuke's. It was like his first time with Sasuke all over again, when Naruto was too excited to not rush into it, and the only thing he could think about was how good it felt. How good it was to—

"…Sasuke?"

Like he'd been burned, Naruto immediately scrambled away from Sasuke, nearly rolling off the bed. That voice was more than enough to deflate any desire to have sex, and apparently it was enough to take Sasuke out of the mood, too.

His erection waning, Naruto looked in the direction of the source of the interruption. He distinctly remembered closing the door before he got into bed. Now it was wide open, the light from the hallway flooding into the room, and the kid was standing expectantly in the doorway.

It was almost embarrassing getting caught in the act by the kid, and Naruto was grateful he hadn't removed the sheet that was covering his back. What he and Sasuke were doing was not something he wanted to explain to the kid if the kid thought to ask. The kid was already wary of when Naruto got too close to Sasuke, and sex was as physically close as two people could get.

"Sasuke?" the kid called again and took a tentative step toward the bed. He was wearing one of Naruto's old shirts, dragging the bottom across the floor as he put another foot forward.

Sasuke muttered a curse before running a hand through his hair, pushing away the strands that clung to his forehead. He put his legs over the edge of the bed, and the mattress dipped when Sasuke stood.

"Sasuke, I need…" Seeing Sasuke out of the bed, the kid walked a little faster, small feet making pattering noises on the floor and stopping right before he bumped into Sasuke. "I need to go to the bathroom."

He extended his arms upward, and Sasuke hesitated before sighing and picking the kid up.

Naruto groaned and let himself fall back on the bed. His head hit the pillow with a soft and far from satisfactory thud.