It was during this moment of calm and trusting embrace that Sasuke muttered something unintelligible against Naruto. Concern filling blue eyes, Naruto pushed Sasuke back off him a little to look at him.
"What
was that?"
"I don't deserve you…" Sasuke muttered
softly, eyes dropping to the bed and suddenly finding his own slack
hands very interesting. Confusion filled cerulean eyes as they
scanned their precious person, a hand combing through feathery
strands of hair. Sasuke looked up for a moment, up through his bangs
and Naruto caught a snatch of confusion, hurt, sadness… fear… And
then they were gone, Sasuke having dropped his head again.
"What do you mean, "I don't deserve you" Sasuke?" Naruto asked softly, drawing the trembling boy closer, holding him tightly against himself. He felt wetness against his shoulder, and a deeper shudder, transferred from one body to the other by the close contact. Naruto felt his own eyes become wet.
Finally, Sasuke looked up, eyes wet and tears on his cheeks. It tore at Naruto, to see such heartache and sadness in those eyes tore tiny holes into his just healing heart, at the thought that he had caused such pain.
Sasuke
sniffed, looking up at Naruto slightly, but never meeting his eyes.
"I don't…. I don't deserve your love. You're always…
always so gentle… kind… won't do anything... before asking me
if it's okay first. A-and…" his voice cracked and he choked on
the words, shaking now and sobbing, head in hands.
"Shush… shhh… baby, its okay…" Naruto cooed, cradling Sasuke against him and rocking them gently, playing with strands of hair out of habit.
"You deserve someone like Sakura, or Hinata, or even one of the other boys, but not me. I'll just hurt you more. And… and I can take the pain… b-but I couldn't bear to see you sad… hurt… I have to-"
"Sasuke!" Naruto shouted, startling Sasuke and making him look up suddenly and make eye contact. "Sasuke, listen to me," he continued more softly, caressing his cheeks lightly, "Think for a minute what living without you would be like for me. I love you, and that's it." They just stared at each other for a while, and then Sasuke leaned forward and pressed a kiss to Naruto lips.
Sasuke
pulled back quickly, looking frightened. He'd acted on instinct…
he'd just wanted to kiss him, so he had.
Looking at Naruto for
direction, Sasuke saw love and softness and leant forwards again,
pressing his lips over the other's more surely now. Timidly,
he swept his tongue over Naruto's bottom lip, suddenly absurdly
happy when Naruto moaned and opened his mouth for him. Sasuke
explored the cavern of Naruto's mouth, quick strokes of his tongue.
Naruto's own tongue rose to meet his, and they danced, Naruto
careful to not scare Sasuke back into the submissive role.
The
need for air become great and they broke the kiss. Sasuke was flushed
more then Naruto, though he as beaming, looking happy and excited.
Sasuke blinked and kissed Naruto's cheeks, where the
whisker marks were still dark, and let himself fall again into
Naruto's embrace, fears momentarily brushed aside as the darkness
in the room enveloped and held them.
Sasuke moved first, lying
down on the pillow, looking at Naruto as he gestured to the side of
him. The blonde took the hint and settled down next to him, curling
up at his side, leaning his head against the pale chest and letting
one arm and hand lay over Sasuke's stomach. Arms in turn circled
Naruto's body, pulling him closer and holding him tight.
They fell asleep like that, curled against each other, and when Sakura came to wake them the next morning, after Kakashi turned up before they did, she smiled fondly and couldn't help taking a picture of them with the covers thrown off, tangled together, Sasuke's hand in Naruto's hair and their legs entwined.