Naruto © Masashi Kishimoto.

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Sasuke lets out a breath, but says nothing. It's Wednesday. Strangely enough, the day was quiet. I guess Ino didn't spill the beans. Surprising. She's got a big mouth when it comes to secrets.

"Are you okay?" I ask. We're sitting in the living room at my house. Tonight is the night. We're going to tell our parents. Mikoto and Fugaku are coming over for dinner, so we'll be letting our relationship be known. It's probably going to get awkward.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Sasuke wonders airily.

"I don't know," I mutter. There are lots of reasons. He has about a hundred reasons to feel like total shit, but… he continues to insist he's doing just fine.

"Yes, you do," he calls me out. "Spill it. What's on your mind?"

"Something really fucking bad happened to you," I say quietly.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah!" I insist. "I mean, for fuck's sake… you were hardly fazed by it when the ordeal was over. It's the worst crime in the world. It's complete degradation and humiliation. It's using someone's body against them. That fucking happened to you… but you're okay with it?"

"I'm not okay with it," he snaps. "I just don't want to fucking think about it. It's something that happened, just like you said. Past tense, Naruto. It happened. What do you expect me to do? Dwell? Cry about it forever and be afraid to be touched? Everyone is different. This is how I'm going to deal with it, okay? So, just drop it."

"Fine," I murmur, but I think I get it now. He'll never say it aloud and I really don't want to believe it could be true, but it probably wasn't the first time he got hurt like that. Nonetheless, I swear it's going to be the last. He dances around certain topics. I noticed it when I asked what happened to him at Kiba's party. He tip toed around the details. Maybe he really did forget what went down… but I feel like he remembers more than he's willing to admit.

Kiba won't ever know, either. I know his heart would probably break if he found out something that awful happened in his own house.

"I've been doing stupid things for so damn long it's almost gotten easy," Sasuke says, closing his eyes. "I relax my body. I distract my mind. I think about things that don't make me sick to my stomach. I accept it for what it is… and when it's over, I forget."

"It shouldn't be easy," I tell him weakly. "That's so fucking sad… You know, it's not something you should get used to. It's not. It's fucking wrong."

"I know," he says. "It's pretty stupid, but it's all I can do."

"You got cocaine from him," I recall.

"My one true weakness," Sasuke jokes somewhat sadly. "You should start keeping a leash on me."

I nudge him lightly. "How many times did it happen?" I ask.

"What?"

"How many times were you forced?" I specify awkwardly, whispering the last word.

"I don't know," he admits. "What counts?"

"Any time you've said no," I start. "Any time you've remained silent. Every time you've been coerced. Every time you've been drugged. Any time you've felt afraid for your life or afraid to protest."

"Hn," he scoffs. "No. We're not going to have this conversation, Naruto."

"Why the hell not?" I ask.

"You'll just get angry."

"I'd love to know why you aren't angry," I mutter.

"Because," he starts, "I'm used to it."

"You shouldn't be…" It makes me sick to my fucking stomach. "You've been wronged. Don't you want justice? Revenge?"

"I used to," he admits, "but now… I don't think there's really a point."

"Why?" I ask desperately. I don't fucking understand him at all.

"He might go to prison if I told, but he'd get out eventually," Sasuke says. "They don't lock people away for violent crimes against other people. Things like that aren't a priority for the government."

"Mm…" I mumble, annoyed because I know he's right. That sick pervert better hope I never see him around town, because if I do I might snap.

He laughs and shakes his head. Fuck, I wonder how he does it. He laughs. He smiles. I really wonder how the fuck he does it.

"Fine," I sigh. "We don't have to talk anymore."

"My parents should be here soon anyway," he tells me.

When his parents eventually do arrive, everyone gathers in the kitchen, per usual. Me and Sasuke stand in the archway and I say, "Uh, we have something to say." When our parents all look at us, I announce, "Me and Sasuke are dating."

My mom doesn't look surprised. Neither does my dad. Naturally. They simply smile. Fugaku, on the other hand, looks like he just heard an outrageous story and Mikoto just nods thoughtfully. "When did this happen?"

"Er…" I start, "development was, uh, slow… but it started a while ago."

"Ah," Mikoto laughs. I think she gets what we mean by that. "Well, you have my blessing."

"Thanks," I chuckle.

"Hrm," Fugaku grunts, making typical dad-noises. "So, you're the one who has been giving my son hickeys."

"Er…" I trail off. "Yeah… sorry." At least, I'm one of them…

"Well, all right."

I guess that's as good as we're going to get from him. He's not the most sentimental guy around. But as long as he's not chasing me down the street, I guess it's okay.

The night is unceremonious at best. It isn't as stressful or awkward as I thought it would be and the rest of the night goes without a hitch. I'm glad. At the end, Sasuke leaves with his parents. We kiss before parting ways and our parents – sans Fugaku – all coo at us.

The following day, as school finishes, I decide to ask Sasuke if he ended up breaking things off with the men he was sleeping with. He insists he did, so I guess this is exclusive. "Did they take it well?" I ask.

"They understood," he tells me.

"So… you don't see any of them anymore?" I continue to pry. I think even if he did, I'd be okay having an open relationship with him for a while.

He sighs wearily. "You're the only person fucking me, Naruto… but I still see one of them. He was never somebody I slept with, though. Do you want to meet him?"

"Er… is he important to you?"

"Yes."

"Then, sure."

He simply nods. "Come, then."

"Where?" I question.

"He's picking me up," Sasuke says. "I'll introduce you to him now."

I feel a little uneasy about the situation. "Why do you still see him if you're not sleeping with him"

"Like I already told you, I never slept with him," Sasuke promises. "Remember a while ago, I told you that there was somebody I met with who lost everyone he cared about? This is him. We met at a bar. He kind of knew I was too young, so when I asked him to buy me a drink he ordered me a soda. That kind of pissed me off… but there was something about him I liked."

"Oh," I murmur. I suppose it'd be unfair and cold of me to try to get Sasuke to stop seeing him. He's allowed to hang out with people that aren't me… but for some reason, the thought of it does make me a little jealous. I wonder if he tells this guy things he doesn't feel like he can tell me…

We exit the school and Sasuke squints as he surveys the area. "Ah, there," he points to a car I find familiar. As we approach, I see that the driver is also familiar. It's the silver-haired man who picked Sasuke up a while ago.

Sasuke knocks on the car door and the man inside steps out. He smiles warmly at Sasuke, who does the same. He's pretty handsome for an old guy.

"Naruto," Sasuke says my name before introducing us. "This is Kakashi Hatake. Kakashi… this is Naruto, my boyfriend."

The Kakashi guy holds out his hand. I accept and give it a firm shake. "Nice t'meet yah," I tell him.

"Likewise," he says. "Sasuke hasn't introduced me to anyone in his life before. You must be special."

"I hope so," I say with a little laugh.

"Anyway," Sasuke says with a sigh. He nods at Kakashi and says, "Let's head out." He then waves me off and opens the car door.

"You're not going to kiss him goodbye?" Kakashi asks lightly.

"We don't do that," I admit.

"Why not?" he pries.

"People will see?" I shrug.

He gives a long, understanding nod. "So, it's like that, then…"

"Yeah," I frown.

Sasuke clicks his tongue at me, turning around. "Tch… idiot," he mutters before leaning forward and pecking me on the lips.

"I wonder if anyone saw…" I glance around.

"You don't care, do you?" he asks knowingly.

"No, but you do," I respond. That's why I don't push… but to be honest, I wouldn't mind if people saw. Then they'd know that he's mine.

"I need to get over it, right?" he sighs. "So, it's okay if people saw us."

"All right," I shove my hands in my pocket. "See yah."

He offers me a small smile before getting into the car. Kakashi says, "It was nice to meet you."

"You as well," I tell him. A moment later, I watch the car drive off and then I begin walking to my own car. Halfway across the parking lot, Karin is scurrying towards me with ferocious speed. Yikes.

"Naruto!" she shrieks at me.

"What?" I ask, cringing at the high pitch of her voice.

"I was standing with Suigetsu and Juugo when suddenly Juugo points. I looked and saw you and Sasuke with your lips fastened!" she exclaims. "You were kissing him!"

"So, what?" I ask, getting into my car.

She follows, hopping in the passenger's seat. "So, what the hell?"

"What?" I snort. "Ask the question that's on the tip of your tongue, Karin. If not, get the hell out."

"Drive me home, I don't want to take the bus," she whines.

"Fine," I mutter. I start my car and pull out of my parking space.

Once we leave the lot, Karin lets out a whiny sigh. "You… you're dating him, aren't you?" she finally asks.

"Yeah," I tell her.

"I thought you were straight," she mutters.

"So did I," I laugh.

"How'd it happen?" she pries.

"We became friends," I start simply. "We got drunk one night and hooked up in my basement and then we began doing it regularly… and, I don't fucking know… I guess feelings got involved. I confessed and he threw it in my face… but he eventually returned my feelings and now here we are."

"So weird," she murmurs.

"I know," I agree. "I doubt anyone saw it coming… least of all me and Sasuke."

"Treat him well," she says quietly. I understand the request. She's known Sasuke for about as long as I have. We're family, after all.

"I do," I tell her, even though it might be a lie. Sometimes I get angry and I make mistakes… I upset him. I upset myself. Sometimes I'm an idiot and I can't control myself… but I'm trying.

She lets out another whiny sigh. "You're so lucky…"

"I know," I snicker.

"Does everyone know?" she asks.

"No," I say. "We're not going to make a big announcement or anything… but we're also not going to hide it anymore. Kiba is the first person who knew, followed by Sakura, Ino, Sai and then our parents. I guess it's out in the open now, huh? I'm sure people will start talking soon enough."

"Probably," she agrees.

"Don't be too sour," I tell her.

"When he said he was dating, I never thought it would be you," she says.

"To be fair, we were only fucking at that point," I admit. "I didn't feel the way I do now."

"So many girls are going to be crazy jealous of you for getting into his pants," she laughs.

"I know," I snort. "I'm a pretty damn lucky guy. Funny, the guy every girl wants ended up settling for a dumbass like me."

"You have a good heart," Karin says.

I only smile. Soon, we turn onto her street and I pull into her driveway. She thanks me and I wave her off before continuing home. Once I'm in, I check my cellphone. I've got a bunch of text messages –

Kiba I: so its all out in the open huh yuo lil slut

Sakura H: Heads up, everyone is talking about you and Sasuke.

Ino Y: everyone knows and i wasn't the one to spill the beans!

Hinata H: Naruto, I'm really happy for you!

Suigetsu H: WTF I SAW YUO KISSING SASKEH

I let out a chuckle before responding to everyone.

Come morning, I drive Sasuke to school and we enter the building hand in hand. Naturally, eyes are on us upon entrance.

"Hi, guys!" Ino shouts an unceremonious greeting before walking right past us like everything is completely normal. Sai nods at us before doing the same and following his girlfriend to class.

Kiba and Hinata appear at our side moments later. Hinata is beaming at me, probably happy to see that my blatant homophobia wasn't sincere.

"Shall we head to history?" Kiba asks.

"Let's go," I say.

We stroll down the hall like it's no big deal. By the end of the day, we'll be old news.