After digging around in his dresser, Sasuke found some longer Under Armour shorts for himself and Naruto. He tossed him a shirt if he wanted it, too. Sasuke usually ran without one when he was only jogging around the neighborhood. He changed quickly, and before Naruto had even slipped off his sweater, Sasuke mumbled something about going to ask Itachi if they could borrow his MP3 player. He didn't give Naruto enough time to respond before he was out the door.

He ended up finding Itachi in his room, on the computer.

"Going for a run?" Itachi asked.

"Yeah. Can Naruto borrow your iPod and armband? We're just going around the neighborhood."

"Sure, of course." He opened one of the desk drawers and pulled it out. It was all nicely tied together with the earbud wires. "Are you alright? You're sweating a lot."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "I'm fine. Are your friends coming tonight?"

"Yes, a few of them. Is that alright?"

He glanced at the blank screen on the MP3 player. "Yeah, I think that would be good. By the way," he looked up at his brother. "If father mentions anything strange to you, about... me or Naruto, will you let me know?"

"Sasuke," Itachi shut his laptop. "Is there something I should know about?"

He sighed. "I'm not sure. He mentioned he wanted to talk about a rumor he heard at work. I assume it's about the fight Naruto got into. The boy he punched was the son of his boss."

"I see. I thought maybe you meant he walked in on the two of you doing something inappropriate."

Sasuke averted his gaze.

"Really, now? Do tell."

Sasuke glared at him. "When did you decide to start acting like a gossiping teenage girl?"

"I assure you women gossip at all ages, not just when they're in high school. I won't ask any more questions, but if father mentions anything to me, I'll let you know. Or, you could tell him that you prefer boys. Wouldn't that make life so much easier?"

"Maybe if you want me to be kicked out of the house, sure. Just do what I asked you to for once."

"Only if you ask me nicely." Itachi smirked, which was fucking irritating because he knew how upsetting it was for him to have to keep this a secret.

Before he could give him a scathing reminder, there was a knock on the door.

"Sasuke, are you in there?" Without waiting for an answer, Naruto opened the door and peeked his head in. "There you are, I've been waitin' for, like, five minutes now."

"Naruto, why don't you come inside here and close the door behind you?" asked Itachi.

"Sure." Naruto came in and shut the door. He went to stand beside Sasuke.

"You wouldn't let anything happen to my only little brother, would you?" Itachi asked him.

"Itachi, shut up," said Sasuke.

"Uh, not if I could help it?" Naruto crossed his arms. "Why, what's up?" He looked back and forth between the two brothers.

"Nothing," said Sasuke. "My brother likes to make a habit of sticking his nose in my business."

"He is your brother, Sasuke," Naruto pointed out matter-of-factly as if it was a perfectly valid explanation.

Sasuke glared at him, too. "Here," he shoved the MP3 player at Naruto. "I'll get mine and then we can go." He walked toward the door and stopped. "Do you want a bottled water?"

"Nah, I should be okay."

He left the room. Naruto didn't follow him out, and he almost felt wary of leaving the two of them alone. Naruto wasn't the type to run his mouth, though, so he knew he wouldn't say anything he didn't need to, even if Itachi interrogated him. Still, he went quickly to get his own MP3 player and armband. He also grabbed Naruto's pair of sunglasses he'd left on top of the dresser. By the time he put on the armband and left the bedroom, Naruto was in the entranceway slipping on his orange and black sneakers.

"Here," he said, handing Naruto the glasses. "Thought you might want these."

"Ah, thanks." Naruto took them and set them atop his head.

Sasuke informed his mother that they were going for a run, and then she waved them off and told them to be careful of traffic. They went out through the front door. Naruto was fumbling with the armband, so Sasuke helped attach it.

"Did you and my brother talk about anything special?" he asked.

"Not really," answered Naruto. "What was that about anyway? Did you tell him about your dad walkin' in on us? I still don't think it's that big of a deal."

"I thought we were going to talk about it after we run."

"Sure," said Naruto, putting in the earbuds. "If that's what you want."

"Hopefully you'll find something in his music you'll like. He's into a lot of classic rock."

"That's cool. I like classic rock. I'll look through and find somethin'." He did just that, searching through the categories until he apparently found what he wanted. Sasuke was busy searching through his own (a mix of alternative stuff like The Prodigy, System of a Down, and Rage Against the Machine), and then he was ready.

"I figure in about 50 minutes we can do about 15 laps around the road surrounding the gated part of the community."

"Sure. Whatever you want. Is it gonna distract you if I take my shirt off?" Naruto asked while smirking.

"I'm not in the mood."

That came out more callous than he'd intended. What he'd meant to say was that he wasn't really in the mood to banter like they usually did because he was feeling a little shitty to say the least.

Naruto blinked at him. "I was only kidding."

Sasuke stared at him and bit his lip. "Sorry," he said. "I... in case you haven't noticed, I have some issues with my father. I don't like the idea of disappointing him."

"I guess I don't see how bein' yourself would disappoint him."

"I think you do know," he said. "But you don't want to believe it. Even so, that's the reality of it."

"I'm not gonna tell you what to do with your life," Naruto replied. "But I can tell you that I'm here if you wanna talk about it. Plus, I'm always gonna be on your side. No matter what."

For the first time in the last 15 minutes, Sasuke smiled, though it was tentative. "I suppose if you really want to, you can take off your shirt."

Naruto grinned back at him. "Should I run a few feet in front of you, too? So you can check out my ass?"

He squinted at him in the sunlight. "If you think you can keep up the pace."

"I've never had anyone question my stamina before," Naruto remarked, and taking out the earbuds, he pulled his shirt off over his head, folded it, and set it on the porch. "Ready?"

Sasuke swept his gaze down Naruto's chest. The black shorts he gave him hung low on his waist. He looked up when he heard Naruto's laughter.

"What?"

Naruto slid the sunglasses down. "Nothin'. Sometimes I think bein' with you has really caused my self-confidence to spike. Even as many times as you call me stupid and say I'm only physically tolerable, and that I'm not your type. Oh, and that thing you said where you wouldn't even kiss me if someone paid you."

"Did I say all of that?" He smirked and saw his reflection in the lenses of the glasses.

"Tch. Jerk." Naruto shook his head. "I'm takin' off. Try to keep up with me, old man." He started jogging down the driveway.

Sasuke followed after him. "Old man?" He asked. "When is your birthday exactly?"

"October," replied Naruto. "October 10. When's yours?"

"July 23," he answered.

Talking about their birthdays reminded him of what Naruto had said about his first time being around then. Sasuke had last gone to Stanford around Labor Day, so it was interesting that their first times occurred about a month apart, even though he'd at least been 16 by then. Naruto'd been even younger. It didn't mean much to him in the scheme of things, but, somehow, it felt like it put them on an even playing field in terms of experience.

Once they were out of his driveway and following the long road that looped around the entirety of the neighborhood, he turned on his music. Naruto had probably done the same already. They were running side by side, at a decent pace. Every once in a while, he glanced at the other boy out of the corner of his eye. Naruto's expression was focused. He was hardly sweating. Even with the sun out, the temperature was cool. However, after about 10 minutes, it could easily start to feel like a sauna. Looking at Naruto, he was a light olive in complexion, with no visible tanlines. He wondered if he'd get even darker during the summer months.

Sasuke knew he was being kind of obvious at this point and tried to stop checking the other teen out. He was used to running beside Naruto while he was in his gym clothes, but with those tighter shorts hugging the muscles of his thighs, calves, and ass, it was slightly distracting. Add on the fact that he was shirtless and extremely well built... Wasn't the whole point of them coming out here so that he could clear his head?

Surely, they would need to talk, but they could do it later when they were guaranteed privacy. Unfortunately, living in a house with three other people – that could prove difficult. He didn't want them to get interrupted again, and, dammit, now he was starting to think about being downstairs on the couch with Naruto. How much he'd wanted to kiss him then. How it looked like Naruto would've let him and maybe been a willing participant. What did that mean anyway? Had he just been caught up in the moment, too? Did it mean something to him at all? Or was Sasuke the only one who felt something here?

Shit. This wasn't helping.

He turned up the volume on the music until it became impossible to think. Except, seconds later, Naruto sped up to where he was a few feet in front, and, knowingly, looked over his shoulder to flash a smirk. Sasuke glared at him, causing the other boy to laugh. He did, however, allow his gaze to linger on Naruto's backside for a minute or two before he decided to catch up.

So much for this being a relaxing workout that could help him stop thinking about Naruto and all things sexual. At this rate, he wouldn't have much choice other than to relieve some serious tension with a shower. What if he started fantasizing about Naruto joining him in there, a lot like the dream that occurred after the first day they'd met? Except, maybe instead of Naruto pressing him against the wall, they could reverse their positions, and he could capture Naruto's lips as he used his hand to bring him off. Like what happened on the couch, Naruto's lids would lower as he looked at him, and he'd ask Sasuke to say something sexy in his ear...

Fuck.

As if it wasn't already hard enough to be a gay teenager, the universe had to go and throw someone like Naruto his way.

He let Naruto continue to take the lead for a while, especially because all of his dirty thoughts were starting to have an effect on his...shorts.

But, thankfully Naruto was too competitive to even notice him lagging, so he seemed content to stay ahead of him.


When they got back from running, Sasuke tried to keep it casual as he searched around for some clothes to wear after maybe not so subtly insisting that he shower first.

"What? But I stink. And I take way shorter showers than you do," argued Naruto. At least he'd put his (Sasuke's actually) shirt back on, but there were still sweat stains around the chest and collar.

Sasuke kept having to shoo him out of the way. Naruto was decent enough not to try and sit on any of his furniture. There were other showers, one attached to his parents' bedroom, and one next to Itachi's, but he also didn't like the idea of them showering at the same time.

"Why are you bein' weird?" Naruto asked. "I don't think you even spoke a word to me in the last 15 minutes we were running."

"I was concentrating," Sasuke replied exasperatedly.

"Is this because you don't wanna talk to me about stuff? I'm not gonna hound you about it. Hell, we don't even have to talk about anything if it's that big of a deal."

Sasuke sighed as he stared at the pile of clothes he'd collected and set on the corner of the bed. "What do you want to talk about exactly?"

"Er..."

"That's what I thought."

"Fine," Naruto huffed and started taking off his shirt. "Go shower. What do I care?"

Sasuke was torn between ogling him again and the desire to somehow comfort him. Tell him he wasn't angry or avoiding him and that he did want to talk, but he was also about 10 seconds away from a certain inconvenience. Naruto, perhaps without realizing it, began yanking down his shorts right in front of him.

Almost in a panic, he mumbled something totally incoherent, grabbed his things, and practically ran into the bathroom. He leaned against the door, immediately locking it.

What the hell was wrong with him? He was embarrassing himself. It was probably his fault for letting it build up. He'd spent all of Friday with Naruto, they'd shared the damn bed, he'd practically molested Naruto in the middle of the night, and then the almost kiss on the couch. Then, watching that stupid blond prance around in a near state of nakedness for 50 minutes -

Sasuke took a deep breath. Hormones fucking sucked. For the most part, he was a very rational and reserved person. He should be somewhat above basic human urges. Then again, isn't that how he lost his virginity in the first place? Truthfully, all he really needed to think about in order to calm down was his father nearly walking in on him and Naruto. What his dad had said about him wasting his time on music...how nothing was ever good enough.

He bit his lip as he set his clothes on the corner of the sink.

And... that should do it.

Sasuke got in the shower, without the slightest inclination to do more than wash himself. Maybe this thing with Naruto would go away. Maybe there wasn't anything to talk about. He should tell him it was a dumb mistake, and he'd just been caught up in the moment. If he'd ever entertained the thought Naruto would've kissed him back, it was all in his head. In fact, he started to convince himself that what Narutoreally wanted to talk about was how much he didn't appreciate Sasuke always coming on to him.

It was stupid to ever think Naruto could be interested in someone like him. He was a nice person, much nicer than Sasuke could ever pretend to be. He probably didn't even know how to tell Sasuke that it made him uncomfortable. Not to mention Naruto was straight. He flirted with girls, he talked about girls, he never did anything more than tease. There'd never been an indication that Naruto could like another boy.

Resolved to make it clear that it didn't mean anything, or at least to pretend none of it meant anything, Sasuke felt as though a weight had been lifted off of his shoulders. Suddenly, the hot water falling on his tired body felt relaxing. He could breathe, and nothing was lost because he was convinced Naruto had never felt anything more than friendship toward him.

And that was okay.

Because high school was only a preliminary step toward whatever path his father wanted him to follow. So long as he understood that, then everyone would be happy. All he had to do was go back to the person he was before Naruto showed up in homeroom with that stupid smile that only faltered when he spoke of his mom or if he got his feelings hurt, and those stupid blue eyes that let him know when he was happy or sad or angry, and that dumb blond hair that felt so soft between his fingers... and that even dumber laugh of his that caused his stomach to flip and his heart to race.

It was a stupid infatuation with someone who could never love him back, and considering the coward he was, he, frankly, couldn't blame Naruto in the slightest for not being able to love someone like him that way.

He'd always been okay with being gay on a personal level, but this was the first time he wanted to be anything else. It was difficult and unfair... why was it so easy for them? For Naruto to so easily flirt with a girl in class and no one gave a shit, but if someone like him found someone he liked... and pursued it... wouldn't he end up like Sai? With someone telling him he was a cocksucking faggot?

Wouldn't it be so fitting if the first person to say that to his face was his father?

Before he knew it, Sasuke's knees buckled and his legs gave out from underneath him. He caught himself on the edge of the tub, but only after banging his elbow against the metal part of the shower door. With the water hitting his face, he shakily lowered himself to the shower floor. Sasuke hugged his knees to his chest and rested his head on his arms. It had been a long, long time that he'd ever felt sorry for himself.

Even longer since he'd cried.

This wasn't the outlet he'd been expecting for himself.

But there it was. And the shower would turn out not to be as short as he'd promised Naruto.


After maybe 15 minutes of sitting there, thinking absolutely nothing, and feeling only the water as it started to turn cold, Sasuke rose to his feet, turned off the shower, and wrapped the towel around his waist. He picked up his clothes and walked across the hall into his bedroom. He didn't so much as make eye contact with Naruto, who was sitting on his desk chair, clad only in some boxers.

"Hey, I thought you said you'd be - "

Sasuke looked at him, and it was enough to make Naruto stop mid-sentence.

"What's wrong?" Naruto got up from the chair, but seeing him worried only pissed Sasuke off.

"Nothing," he said. "I thought you wanted to take a shower."

"Sasuke." Naruto's gaze dropped. "What the hell did you do to your elbow?" He snatched Sasuke's arm to get a better look at it.

Sasuke yanked it out of his hold. "Haven't you heard of personal space? You're as bad as Sai."

"What?" Naruto tried to reach for him again. "You're bleeding. Did you cut yourself? Let me - "

"Shut up, Naruto. And just..." He was so angry. A part of him knew it wasn't Naruto's fault, but who else could he blame? "Can you just... please go take a shower. I want to get dressed."

Naruto searched his face before nodding. "Okay. But... at least take care of that."

It felt like Naruto was pitying him. He felt sorry for Sasuke. Wasn't it enough that he already felt like a fucking failure for feeling sorry for himself? Naruto had to feel sorry for him, too?

"You're just like Itachi," he accused angrily. "You never mind your own goddam business. Why do you all try to tell me what to do?"

"Sasuke," said Naruto. He looked hurt and confused. "Fine. Obviously you need some space, so I'll let you have it." Without looking at Sasuke again, he grabbed his clothes and left the bedroom, shutting the door - not with a slam - but a quiet click.

Sasuke stared at the door, and then he sat down on the foot of the bed. He lay back on the comforter, not knowing what the fuck was wrong with him, and covered his eyes with his hands. He decided not to let the moment last much longer before he got dressed and, very decidedly, went in search of his father.


Sasuke found him in the garage. His father had a passion for wood carvings. It had been a hobby of his for a long time. He remembered hearing a story about his grandfather having been a toy maker in a small village in the southern part of Japan - until he joined the military at the start of World War II. Despite his American citizenship, despite the fact they were living in America, his father was still very nationalistic, very proud of his own father for flying warplanes and bombing the Allies.

As a family, they'd traveled to Japan together. Itachi had spent several summers with their cousin's family. He'd always thought that his dad's pride, his traditionalist ways... it was all a product of the conservative Japanese culture he grew up in. Sasuke had also grown up in a similar environment, even though they lived a very Western lifestyle.

It was complicated at times for him to be a Japanese-American, to live under the thumb of his father, to be a teenager, and to be gay. It was slightly easier when Itachi lived at home, but clearly it was becoming harder to keep up the facade. He always thought that if he could endure it, at least until college, it would be worth it. He didn't want to disappoint his father. It's not as if what Naruto told him earlier hadn't ever occurred to him. Why would a father love a son any less for being himself?

But. If he loved his father, if he loved his family... why would he want to fracture that for the sake of his own desire for happiness or to express himself? When you come from a culture that doesn't think like that, when the individual isn't nearly as important as the group, it wasn't his place to put his needs before others', especially not his family whom he loved. Because, Sasuke had never once hated his father. He had never once resented him. He used to think that Itachi was the favorite son - and of course being the eldest in Japanese culture was significant - but there had always seemed to be higher expectations for his brother. However, eventually Sasuke came to realize that it was not necessarily the case. That the reason his father had such high expectations for them, for him, was because he wanted what was best for his sons. He'd lived a hard life, as had his father, and family pride was very important to the Uchiha.

Sasuke knew all this. He knew. He also knew what Naruto had meant, too.

However, just like the past few days where he'd entertained the idea of getting closer to Naruto - the likelihood of being able to set down his own path in this world... it was all delusional. It could never happen so long as his father existed in this world, and Sasuke would never wish for anything to happen to either of his parents.

For the same reason he refused to come out to them.

Sometimes he thought maybe he'd rather die than disappoint them.

It was the first time it occurred to him why Naruto punched that window. Funny how it was so very clear now.

"Father," said Sasuke when Fugaku set the sander onto the workbench and removed his protective glasses. "You wanted to talk to me about something?"

"Did you have a good run?" Asked his Dad. "You must have just come out of the shower. You should have dried your hair, Sasuke. I wouldn't want you to catch cold. Weren't you not feeling well earlier this week?"

Unconsciously, Sasuke drew his arm to his chest, covering his elbow with his other hand. "I'm fine."

"Is Naruto feeling better?"

"Yes, he's fine. I think he was just... tired. I wanted to talk about... whatever you might've heard at work."

"Of course." Fugaku set the glasses next to the sander. "I was made aware that an incident took place the other day at school. I was called in by my supervisor, and I shouldn't have to tell you I was very embarrassed that you didn't inform me of this beforehand."

"I'm sorry, father," he said, bowing his head. "It was a misunderstanding that got taken care of. I didn't realize that it would cause you trouble at work."

"Sasuke," Fugaku said gruffly. "It didn't cause me trouble. He and I are adults. We had a laugh about it. Rather, I'm proud of you. I heard that you broke up the fight, but, unfortunately, I was made to believe that Naruto was the cause of it."

"That's not - "

Fugaku narrowed his eyes. "I was told that upon investigation into Naruto's records that he's got a history of causing trouble at school, getting into fights. I only hope that any friendship you may have with this boy won't interfere with your goals."

Sasuke lifted his head. "What happened had nothing to do with Naruto being a troublemaker. Hot-headed, yes, but he was defending a friend."

"A friend?" His father repeated dubiously. "I was under the impression he was defending a young homosexual boy in your class. I wouldn't propose that those two were, perhaps, more than friends..." He drew this question out as if expecting Sasuke to confess or contradict him.

Rather, Sasuke was too shocked by the insinuation to say anything at all.

"I figured as much since I didn't think a son of mine would be the type to put himself in a situation that could draw any negative attention."

Sasuke opened his mouth and then closed it. Not sure whether he wanted to break something or burst into tears. His father always made him feel like such a child. It was hard to talk back, to say anything against him. It was so hard... even though he knew his father was wrong. But if this was about Naruto, he needed to make sure the matter was clear.

"Naruto's not gay, father," he said.

"I didn't think so," said Fugaku. "He doesn't come off that way from what I can tell. Do you think they'd let someone like that on the varsity baseball team if it was true? Even if Naruto simply sympathized with this...boy... those types can bring trouble. People who'll start fights over every perceived injustice."

By this point, Sasuke was biting his lip so hard, it must've surely been bleeding.

"What would you have me do then, father?" He asked, barely able to keep the tremor out of his voice. "Should I not be friends with him?"

"That's not at all what I'm asking you to do," said Fugaku, raising an eyebrow at him. "The boy just lost his mother. He's obviously confused and may be lashing out. Perhaps spending time with you will be a good influence on him. At the very least, keep him away from that other boy. We wouldn't want him to wander any further down the wrong path now, would we?"

I hate you.

He wanted to say it. He wanted to say it and believe it.

But he couldn't.

It must've been his fault somehow. It must've been his fault that he was this way. His fault that he couldn't live up to his father's expectations.

"Lunch should be ready soon, shouldn't it?" Fugaku asked while putting his glasses back on. "I wonder what's taking your mother so long? You would think she's never made ramen before."

Sasuke turned away from him and left the garage. On the way up the stairs, he spotted Itachi in the hallway, but he said nothing to him, even when his brother called after him. He made his way to the bedroom, barely even registering it as he walked in and found Naruto just about to drop the towel he wore around his waist. He clutched it at the last second upon seeing Sasuke.

"Jesus, Sasuke. Don't you ever knock?" Naruto glared at him.

Sasuke shut the door behind him, leaned against it, and let his head fall so that his bangs covered his eyes. "It's my room, idiot."

Slowly, Naruto approached him, having reknotted the towel so that it hung snuggly at his waist.

"Sasuke? What has gotten into you?" Naruto asked. "Did you take care of your elbow?"

"Shut up."

"Listen to me. I only wanna help, so - "

Sharply, he lifted his head. "Shut up, I said."

Naruto's eyes narrowed dangerously at first, but just as quickly, his expression softened. "Sasuke," he said pleadingly. "Tell me what's wrong."

Biting his lip, he lowered his head again, shaking it.

Naruto put a hand on his upper arm. "Sasuke. Please. Talk to me."

Unable to hold it in anymore, he wrapped his arms around Naruto's shoulders and leaned into him.

"Hey," Naruto said near his ear. "What the fuck happened? Is it me? Is it somethin' I did?"

"I went to talk to my father," he commented quietly, vaguely noting the smell of his own shampoo and soap on Naruto's skin. He was still a little damp from the shower, but he felt warm.

"Oh. Is this about the fight? Did he get mad at you? Did you tell him it was my fault? Should I go talk to him?"

"No," Sasuke said immediately and clutched the other boy tighter. "He wasn't mad."

"Then what?" Naruto pushed him back against the door and searched his face. "What's made you so upset?"

Sasuke let his head fall against the door. "He wants me to keep you away from Sai."

"Huh?" Naruto still held onto his forearm; hearing what Sasuke'd said, his grip became tight enough to almost hurt.

"He was curious as to why you were defending the homosexual boy in our class, and didn't you know that standing up for him would attract negative attention?"

"Sasuke, I'm so - "

Sasuke put a hand up. "It's fine. I'm used to it. There's only so many times I can get upset about it. In fact, I've made my peace with it. I was just thinking in the shower that I'd been so selfish lately..."

"No." Naruto's hand slipped further up his arm, grabbing him at the elbow.

Sasuke winced and let out a hiss.

"Shit," said Naruto. "I'm sorry. Why are you so stubborn even over this? Let me put a bandage on it."

"I'm fine," he murmured. "It doesn't even hurt."

"Yes, it does hurt. You're clearly in pain." He took hold of Sasuke's wrist and dragged him to the bed, forcing him to sit. "Do you have a first-aid kit somewhere? Something I can wrap it with?"

"Maybe. There might be one under the sink in the bathroom."

"Okay, sit there. I'll be right back."

However, the second Naruto moved away from him, almost as if it was an instinct, Sasuke grabbed for his hand.

Naruto stopped and turned toward him.

"Naruto," he said. "It hurts."

"I'm about 10 seconds away from kickin' your father's ass, I swear to God, Sasuke, but before that, let me go get some bandages and take care of your arm."

Sasuke blinked at him several times, and for whatever deranged reason, he started to smirk. "You couldn't take my father."

"Maybe not, but that wouldn't be the point. I'll be right back."

Sasuke let him go, though he didn't really want to. While Naruto was gone, he crawled up the bed and lay on the side that Naruto'd slept on last night. He thought maybe the pillows might smell like him, but they really didn't. Only a couple of minutes went by before Naruto returned. He pushed the door closed and had a roll of bandages in hand.

"Take your shirt off, will you?" He nearly barked at Sasuke.

"No."

Naruto took a seat on the edge of the bed. "I will do this forcefully if I have to."

Since he was in a mood to be difficult, he replied, "Doesn't bother me any. Maybe that's the way I like it?"

Naruto sighed irritably. "You're friggin' bi-polar today. Fine then. Have it your way." He climbed on top of the bed, and the image of him moving like a lion across the duvet wasn't so very terrible. Willingly, Sasuke sat up. Naruto started to remove the shirt by grabbing the bottom, but when he got as far as Sasuke's arms, it stung to get it over his elbow.

"Let me do it," Naruto whispered. "I'll be gentle."

Moving behind him on the bed, Naruto slipped his hands under his shirt and, very slowly, started to tug it off, pinching the fabric near the elbow so it didn't rub as much against the cut. Naruto's hands, his fingers sliding over his skin, was enough to distract him from the minor discomfort. With a furrowed brow, the other boy set the shirt to the side and picked up the roll of bandages. He proceeded to wrap the area, taking his time. He was so methodical about it, Sasuke wondered if he'd done this a lot before? Maybe he'd even done it to his own hand after punching it through the glass.

When finished, Naruto still sat behind him, and Sasuke was almost propped against his chest. It was odd to feel Naruto's bare skin against his. Not sexual... just odd. He felt tired, and after everything, it was hard to think of something like that anyway.

Still, it was nice. Naruto hummed as he examined his work, picking up Sasuke's arm again and straightening out a crooked part of the bandage. After a while, he must've slumped against the headboard. The motion caused Sasuke to lean back with him. Then, the same time as Naruto wrapped his arms around his waist, he also settled his chin on Sasuke's shoulder.

It caused his breath to hitch. Naruto's fingers, curled at first like a claw against his stomach, spread out until the hand flattened, and he felt the boy's warm palm pressed to his stomach. It was a protective gesture, he knew. Rather than fight it, he felt grateful, and so he smiled.

"You know," Naruto said, and as he spoke, it was close enough to his ear that it raised the hairs on the back of his neck, "You haven't done anything wrong. I'm not thrilled with your dad right now, but I know he's your dad and that you love him."

Sasuke didn't say anything. What could he possibly say?

"I wish that we lived in a world where you bein' gay wasn't an issue. Maybe if he knew, he'd feel differently."

"I'm not ready to tell him," he said in a hoarse voice.

"Okay," Naruto replied gently, and, very softly and very briefly, he brushed his lips across Sasuke's shoulder, causing him to shut his eyes.

"Don't be so good to me," he whispered.

"Why wouldn't I be good to you?" Naruto said in a low voice.

"Because."

"Because why?" The hand on his stomach shifted, moved upward, and then around in a circle.

Sasuke inhaled sharply. Again, Naruto's lips brushed the top of his shoulder, all the way to the base of his neck.

"Stop," and he said it like it hurt, like it was burning him.

Naruto did stop, but the arms around him tightened. "Don't be afraid," he said. "I won't hurt you."

"It already hurts, Naruto."

Naruto hugged him tight enough that it almost felt like he couldn't breathe, but it wasn't really Naruto doing it to him. It was something else... something breaking inside of him, and yet it was so hard to fall. So hard to lose himself to the darkness when Naruto was right there, holding him in his arms.

"You can cry if you want to," Naruto told him. "I'm right here."

He wasn't ready to let it all go, but almost immediately, the tears slipped down his cheeks. Only a few. Some of them landed on his chest, others slid down Naruto's arms.

Who knows how long they lay like that? He had no idea. Minutes? 10? 20? Eventually, there was a knock at the door, but he didn't have the strength to move, and Naruto continued to hold him. There was another knock, and then Itachi announced that it was him.

"Come in," Naruto said, but Sasuke remembered thinking how hoarse his voice sounded, as if he'd been screaming for hours.

Itachi cracked open the door, saw them, was clearly surprised and then must've determined it was something serious. He came in quickly, shutting the door behind, and even locking it.

"Sasuke," he said, walking to the bed. "What's wrong?"

"He's okay," said Naruto. "I think he fell in the shower."

"Are you not feeling well?" Itachi asked, clearly concerned. "Did you faint?"

"I'm fine," he replied. "I feel tired."

"You looked upset when you came up the stairs. Did something happen with father?" Itachi went to the other side of the bed and examined Sasuke's arm, but Naruto batted him away, which he found highly amusing.

"I told you that father can't accept me for who I am."

"Did you - "

Sasuke shook his head. "I didn't tell him. There was no point. He made it clear how he feels about people like me."

Naruto settled his chin on Sasuke's shoulder again, perhaps as a sign of support. Or maybe just comfort.

"Do you want me to speak with him?" Itachi asked, starting to appear genuinely angry.

"No. Please don't. I just... need to rest."

"Should I bring you something? I was to tell you that lunch is ready, but if you're not feeling well, I'll bring you a bit of soup and something to drink."

He pouted childishly. "But Naruto helped make it." He heard Naruto chuckle and was able to feel his body shake against him when he did it.

"Don't laugh at me," Sasuke warned.

"M'sorry." He went quiet again, but it almost felt as if lips brushed the back of his head, and then Naruto's chin was resting on his other shoulder. "I'll get dressed and have lunch with them. That way you can stay in here and rest."

"I don't want you to leave," he said in a very low voice.

"I'll do whatever you want."

"Well, for now let me go explain to mom and dad that you're ill so that they don't barge in here and wonder what's going on." Itachi stared at the both of them a long while. He didn't know what Naruto's expression was, but his brother seemed to look at him for a long time before finally leaving them alone again.

Naruto nudged him. "If I'm going to stay, maybe I should get dressed."

"No."

"What do you mean 'no'?"

Sasuke looked behind at him. Naruto didn't flinch or move, even though their faces were so very close. Close enough that he could've easily kissed him, and, yes, he found he wanted to, but he didn't want to take advantage of Naruto either. Hadn't he determined in the shower that he'd stop this one-sided infatuation?

"Stop thinking whatever you're thinking," Naruto told him, and there was something so intimate about the sound of his voice, as if they were long-time lovers who knew each other inside and out.

"What am I thinking?" He asked, eyes narrowed at Naruto's lips.

"Well, now you're thinking something entirely different."

"Am I? Are you a mind reader now?" Sasuke turned in his arms; Naruto let go of him, looking up only when Sasuke got to his knees. He lifted one leg long enough that he could push Naruto's together and straddle his thighs.

Naruto's eyes, intense and so very blue, stared up at him as Sasuke settled himself more comfortably in his lap. He grabbed for Naruto's right hand and placed it at his waist, then he grabbed the other, placing it at his other side. Then he let go, leaving Naruto with a choice.

The hands slipped lower, to his hips, and Naruto pulled him forward more. He moved a hand to Sasuke's stomach, keeping it flat as he let it skim from above the waistband of his jeans to his chest. All the while, he had his head cocked to the side, lips parted enough to catch a glimpse of his tongue as he ran it across his teeth. Naruto broke their gaze to watch his hand travel in circles around Sasuke's abs. When he glanced up again, he was biting his lip.

"What do you want, Sasuke?" He asked earnestly.

Sasuke leaned in, and with a sad smile, cupped the side of Naruto's face. "What I can't have."