A/N: I do not own Naruto or its characters. I'm simply borrowing them.
The next morning, Mikoto returned to the hospital, smiling softly at the redhead who was sound asleep by Itachi's side. As if sensing there was someone else in the room, honey eyes fluttered open, slightly clouded with sleep as he took the woman in. "Good morning, Mikoto." He greeted her fondly, sitting up and running a hand through his messy hair.
"Good morning." She hummed in return, going to place a gentle kiss to the still sleeping raven's forehead. "I brought you some breakfast." She placed a little bag pull of food on the counter. "And a change of clothes." She handed them to the confused looking teen. "They're Itachi's, but I'm sure he wont mind too much. If you don't hurry, you'll be late for school."
A pattern formed with that over the next few days. After school Sasori would go straight to the hospital after school. About an hour later, after Sasuke got out of school, the mini raven would stop by with their mother until it got late. The redhead would spend the night, then the routine would begin again in the morning. It was by the third night that the artist was sitting awake- his insomnia getting the better of him- that the teen realized that the Uchiha's father hadn't stopped by once since that first night. Why was that?
Four days ticked by, and it was late in the evening before you ill raven finally awoke from his slumber. Sasori looked up from his school work as Itachi's dark eyes fluttered open with a small whimper of protest. The teen glanced around the room, confusion flashing across the worn down orbs. "Sasori?" Came his weak, horse voice. "What happened? Why are you here? Where's mom and dad?" As he became more alert to everything, his voice started to become frantic.
"Shh, Uchiha, calm down!" Sasori prompted soothingly, pushing the raven's shoulder back down as he was trying to sit up. "I'll explain everything, but first you need to calm down." He spoke to the other as if he were a small child
The younger teen took a deep breath, his eyes falling closed again as he rested his head back against the pillow. "Alright... I'm calm... Could you please tell me what's going on now?" Dark eyes opened again, both pleading and desperate. Sasori had never seen the Uchiha look so vulnerable and young. He fought to keep it hidden, but the look in his secret love's eyes completely shattered his heart.
"Well, you passed out in class the other day..." Sasori explained wearily, unsure how much the younger remembered. "So I brought you here... Hm..." He hummed in thought, trying to recall exactly what the problem had been. "The doctor said something about your last surgery and it not being a success." Understanding overtook the raven's features at the other's words. "Your mother just took Sasuke home for the night, but she'll be back tomorrow morning. And your father... Well I suppose he's at work, but I don't know for sure..."
"What about you?" The raven demanded weakly, his dark eyes clearly trying to hide something. But what? Fear? Sorrow? He didn't know why he felt the way he did, but he felt as if there was a lot of pain hiding behind those days eyes. "Why are you here, Sasori?" He asked again, for the teen had gotten so lost in the bottomless black eyes that he had forgotten to answer.
"M- me?"The older teen ran a hand through his messy scarlet locks, a nervous habit of his. "I just... wanted to make sure you were alright." He battled himself internally on whether he should admit to the Uchiha the truth or save it for another day. Cowardice was starting to get the better of him, but he tried to force it away. When he looked down at the dark eyes looking up at him, he saw the confusion in them and froze. 'Because I like you.' That was all the redhead needed to say. Four simple words.
"B- because-" Damn it... How could four little words be so hard to say?! Screw it, he thought to himself, before he swiftly leaned down, capturing the raven's slightly parted lips in a kiss. Onyx eyes widened slightly in shock, a soft gasp escaping into the kiss. The longest second of Sasori's life ticked by before Itachi's eyes slipped closed and the younger teen started kissing back. Not wanting to push the ill teen too far, the kiss didn't last long.
A soft look was in Itachi's eyes when they reopened, a small whisper saying the words the Sasori didn't seem to be able to, "Because I like you."
XxXxXx Ten Year Later xXxXxX
Itachi carried two glasses of water into the room he know he'd find Sasori in: his little painting studio, where he'd been working on a painting all day and night for a few days straight. "Maybe you should take a break." The raven offered, placing one of the glasses down on the table next to the redhead.
With a small shake of his head, eyes never leaving the paper, the older man continued to work on adding little details with now more than a quiet reply of. "No time. Almost done."
"You've been working on that for days." Itachi complained slightly, giving the man a look that said it was time for a break and they both knew it.
He let out a small sigh before setting his pencil down and looking up at the raven. ''Fine, but only a short one.'' He knew he had been so caught up with the project that he had ignored the raven a bit, so that was why he was willing to take a small break.
"Thank you." he said with a small smile. He took a seat near the other, intending to take advantage of the little time he was granted. "We haven't really been speaking these past few days. Do you think when this is all done, we could do something together? Or do you have another project to start?" The raven was understanding of the redheads ambitions and all, but he had been feeling neglected lately.
Guilt gnawed at the redhead slightly, knowing that the raven had probably been feeling neglected or lonely or even both. The truth was, the redhead DID have another project he had to set to work on once this one was finished, but he decided to push it off for a month. ''I don't have any upcoming projects, so sure.'' He gave him a small smile before sipping on the water, not having realized how thirsty he had been until he began to drink it.
"Really?!" His eyes lit up noticeably, a huge smile breaking across his face. "That's wonderful news, but you're lying to me, aren't you?" he could always tell when the other lied. It was a gift.
''Not exactly,'' He gave him a sheepish smile, knowing that he should have known better than to try to lie to the raven ''I do have a project, but it can be postponed for a little while.''
He nodded in understanding. "Just as long as you don't end up stressing because you put it off. I don't mind waiting a little longer if you need to get it done."
''No, its fine.'' He kissed the raven's pale cheek gently.
He smiled softly, anticipation clear in his eyes. "So what shall we do when you're done?"
He pondered this with a thoughtful look in his eyes. ''A vacation perhaps?"
"Vacation?" his eyes lit up. "Sounds fun. Where to?"
''You pick.'' He gave him a small smile.
"We should go to Italy!" he exclaimed happily
''Okay.'' He agreed easily. ''Venice?"
"Or maybe Rome." he suggested with a grin.
''That would be fine with me.'' He told him before taking a long drink of his water, saying after, ''We could even do both.''
"Can we really?!" His eyes were wide in disbelief. Surely the other was just telling him what he wanted to hear so the redhead could work in peace.
He couldn't help but smile at the other's disbelief. He sat his cup down on the desk and said honestly, ''If that's what you want.''
"Are you sure you're not just trying to keep me quiet long enough so you can finish your work?" he questioned with a soft, joking laugh.
He rolled his eyes lightly in amusement. ''You caught me,'' He said dryly, joking right back.
"I should let you get back, shouldn't I?" his smile grew slightly sad at the thought.
He hesitated at saying yes, his heart clenching in with guilt at the other's sad smile. ''I can spare a little more time.''
"Lair." He accused lightly, leaving his own full glass for the other to drink as well as he stood up. "Do what you've got to do."
He gave the other a small, thankful smile, glad that the other understood and so easily accepted his need to finish the project. ''I should be done by tonight.''
"Take your time." he said over his shoulder as he exited the room, glancing back only once to give the redhead a sweet smile.
He smiled back at him before picking up his pencil and resuming his work, silently thinking about how lucky and grateful he was that the raven wasn't the type to get angry at him for spending so much time working. The raven understood how much art meant to him and he was grateful for that.
Once outside the redhead's work shop, Itachi allowed his fake smile to fade. He understood how important his art was to Sasori, but that couldn't stop him from wishing they could spend more time together, though. He shook his head, clearing it of such selfish thoughts.
The raven walked down the hallway, pausing for a moment in front of a picture of the two of then on the beach together. He traced his fingers along the frame, willing his past self not to take that precious time for granted.
He took the picture down from the wall, bringing it into their shared room and sitting down on the recliner with his knees pulled up to his chest. He rested the picture against his thighs, smiling at the fond memory before closing his eyes and taking a small nap while the other finished up.
Completely oblivious to the raven's thoughts, he worked intently on the project, determined to get it done by the time night fell. He added some color to certain areas with his copic markers.
Sasori managed to finish the project after a couple hours, a proud smile on his lips as he looked at his creation before putting it up in a safe area so it wouldn't get ruined. He then began to start looking at hotels in Rome and Venice with a soft smile, looking forward to spending time with his love. It had been awhile since they had been able to do something.
He managed to find a couple good hotels, but didn't book them yet since he wanted the raven's opinion. He got up and left the room as he set out to look for the other, finally finding him in their room, asleep on the recliner. A soft look entered his honey eyes as he approached him, briefly noticing the picture of them that the raven had on his thigh. Smiling softly as he remembered the memory depicted in the picture, he gently picked it up and sat it down on the nightstand before leaning his head down to kiss his sleeping raven's lips.
His eyes fluttered open slowly at the other's kiss, the action taking a moment to register in his sleep clouded mind. Once it had clicked in his mind that the artist was probably finished with his work, he smiled softly, kissing the other back contently.
Sasori smiled softly as the other woke, revealing the beautiful onyx eyes that had stolen his heart back when they has first met senior year of high school. He kissed him gently for a moment, enjoying the contact, before slowly pulling back and saying teasingly, ''Hello Sleeping Beauty.''
He blushed slightly at the other's teasing. "S- sorry." he mumbled softly, then he remembered he had dozed off with a picture on his lap and glanced around for it.
The redhead picked up the picture frame from the nightstand lightly. ''Looking for this?" He questioned with a soft smile.
He took it from the other's hands with a smile. "Do you remember the day we first met? Senior year biology class when we got forced to dissect that cat together because neither of us had a friend in that class." he looked at the two people in the picture, happy and smiling. Two loners brought together by fate.
''Yeah...I also remember we barely said five words to each other even after they made us dissection partners.'' He chuckled softly in remembrance. ''It took us forever to even start up a real conversation.'' It has been an unlikely beginning for the two loners, but thanks to it here they were years later.
"I remember accidentally slicing my finger and you mocking me was about the first, non- cat related conversation we had, wasn't it?" there was an amused smile on his face as he examined the scar left on his finger from the incident.
Amusement danced within the older man's eyes as he nodded with an amused smirk. ''Yeah. And then we didn't talk for a week after because my mocking ''hurt your precious Uchiha pride''."
The Uchiha gave a short, bitter laugh. "Mocking people is not how you make friends, Sasori. No wonder you were a loner."
''Back then I hadn't really put much value in having friends.'' He shrugged lightly. ''Heck, I had barely been able to stand being friends with the brat.''
"How is he doing anyway? It's been a while since he last visited." He pulled his love down to sit on his lap. "He still working on his art?"
The redhead moved his legs to let them drape over the arm rests as he sat sideways on his love's lap. "Last I heard, he was in Paris for some sort of special art gallery at the Louvre. He's planning on stopping by here when he gets back...'' His eyebrow twitched slightly as he added, ''He said he'll be staying with us for a week when he gets back.''
He laughed softly at the redhead's lack of enthusiasm. "I wouldn't mind visiting him in Paris if you'd like to stop by while we're in Europe."
Despite the annoyance in his tone whenever he spoke of the blonde, he couldn't help but enjoy the prospect of seeing his best friend again after over a month. ''I'd like that to be honest...though I might have to murder him if he starts insisting art is fleeting again.''
"Oh, you two and your artistic debates." He shook his head with a smirk, wrapping his arms around the redhead's waist. "Can't you two ever just get along?"
''No.'' He told him bluntly, his face completely serious as he looked the other square in the eye.
He stiffened slightly at the other's serious look, laughing lightly to relieve the tension. "That's fine. Your fights are amusing anyway."
He chuckled slightly in amusement at the other's response. ''Amusing?" He arched an eyebrow slightly at him.
"Sure. I mean, you guys fight all the time, yet you're still best friends." he looked down at the picture still in his hands. "No matter what." he mumbled distantly.
''Yeah.'' A slight smile curved his lips upward at that. There were only two people in his life that he cared about and that was Deidara and Itachi. ''Just like you and I will always be together no matter what.''
"No matter who or what tries to come between us. Even if... we don't talk for a while..." he bit the inside of his cheek roughly, trying to keep more careless words from tumbling from his mouth. The artist didn't need to add guilt to his already stressed mind.
He frowned slightly at the words, his eyes looking up into the other's onyx ones searchingly. ''You know I don't mean to ignore you when a project comes up...'' His voice was softer than it usually was, guilty weighing in on him. He hadn't realized how much it had bothered the other before...
He quickly put a smile on, beaming up at the redhead. "I know that. That's why I don't really get upset about it. I know you have to do what you have to do." his hands clenched softly on the edge of the frame.
The redhead laid a hand gently on the side of the other's face, a pained look of guilt in his eyes. ''You do get upset...but you hide it.'' He murmured softly.
"I wouldn't be upset about something I have no right to get upset over." he objected, his eyes darting away for a moment, then returning happily
''You do have a right to get upset if you feel like I'm ignoring you though.'' He told him gently. He hadn't never meant to make the other feel as if he couldn't tell him when he felt ignored.
"But I don't, so it's a moot point." The frame in his grasp gave a crack, glass shattering before the raven dropped it to the ground, examining his bleeding palm with a frown. "That's a bummer."
He let out a quiet sigh before taking the other's hand gently and observing the cut to the palm. ''Come on to the bathroom so I can clean it out.'' He got off of the other's lap and onto his feet. Silently, he decided that he would tell the art director at the museum and his agent that they were going to have to give him longer deadlines or he would quit...he knew the raven was upset over being ignored, but he also knew the man would never admit to it because he didn't want to make the redhead feel bad.
"Sasori, please don't do something rash just because you think I'm upset." he pleaded softly, afraid of what the redhead might do if he knew the truth. He got to his feet, his other hand clenched around the bleeding one in an attempt not to get anymore blood on the floor.
He gave the other a slightly unreadable look. ''You forget that I know you, Itachi. I don't think you're upset, I know you are.'' He held open the bathroom door for the other with a quiet sigh. ''And I'm not going to do anything rash...I'm going to do something I should have done a while ago.''
The raven stuck his hand in the sink, wincing slightly as he turned on the water. "That's what I'm afraid of. Art is something that you love, and I don't want to be the reason you give all that up."
''I love you more.'' He told him honestly, his voice quiet as he walked over to the sink and took the other's injured hand as he washed it out as gently as he could, knowing that no matter how gentle he was it would still sting the other. He grabbed a small hand towel and gently patted the area around it dry. ''If it ever came down to it, I would pick you.''
"I just want you to be happy." he told him quietly, sincerely meaning it. "I don't want to have to make you choose, because I know you'll pick me, but in the end you won't be happy. You'll always miss your art."
He grabbed the peroxide from the medicine cabinet and poured some onto a cotton ball, gently dabbing it on the wound to thoroughly clean it. After a moment, he told him quietly, ''I can always find a different agency to represent me and go freelance instead of how it is now.''
He winced slightly at the peroxide on his cut. "I didn't mean to lie to you for so long." He mumbled, a sad look in his eyes. "I respect that you have to do what you have to do, just sometimes it's hard, and I feel like we never talk even though we live in the same house. It's like you're worlds away. I don't want to guilt you into giving up something you love just so we can spend more time together, though."
''I want you to feel free to tell me whenever you feel ignored.'' He said quietly as he opened one of the drawers to get some gauze out to wrap the cut with. ''When I start in on a project, you know I get consumed by it and don't realize the passing of time. If I start ignoring you, tell me. Yell at me. Shake me. Something.'' He unfolded the roll of gauze and lifted the other's hand gently as he began to wrap the cut. ''I love spending time with you.'' He said softly. ''So if you feel like I'm spending too much time on work...let me know.''
He kept his eyes on the cut for a long moment, thinking carefully about the other's words. Obviously he meant them, but... The raven figured he could easily just agree to them and then let things continue as they were. That way the redhead wouldn't have to feel guilty anymore. "Alright, that sounds like a plan." He gave the artist a soft smile. "Thanks for helping with the cut."
''You're welcome.'' He leaned forward and kissed the other's cheek gently, his mouth lingering for a moment as he whispered in the other's ear, ''I'm trusting you to tell me if I do.. so please do.'' He pulled back and gave him a small smile.
"I will." He fibbed, carefully avoiding making a promise to the other.
''Promise?" He asked with a small smile on his lips as he looked into the other's eyes, knowing making him promise was the only way to ensure he kept his word.
"Damn..." he muttered, admitting defeat. He hated breaking his promises. Especially ones made to someone so precious. "I promise, I promise." A thousand curse words running through his mind
He had had a feeling the other wasn't going to tell him, which is why he had made him promise. He knew the raven hated breaking promises. ''Good.'' He pecked the other's lips gently before pulling back with a true smile present. ''Now come on. I started looking at hotels, but I need your input.''