Disclaimer: Naruto does not belong to me.
Ages:
Naruto: 19
Sasuke: 21
Beat The Odds
Chapter 2: Saying I Love You
April 15 2007 - 7 months together
His cell phone never felt as heavy as it did today. He stared at the message and sighed, before twirling the phone carelessly in his hand.
Maybe instead of texting it to Sasuke he should have called. Would that make it more impactful? He wasn't even sure where Sasuke was right now- possibly in class. It was early afternoon, it made sense that he would be too pre-occupied to respond instantly to his message.
Naruto puffed out his cheeks and swallowed down his anxiety. What was done was done; he can't undo a text message. He wasn't sure if he wanted to even undo it, but maybe he should have sent it with more thought and class instead of a quick decision without really weighing what the effect would be.
I love you. [11:20pm]
He had finally said- well texted- it to Sasuke. It was seven months into their relationship and he had finally said the words that he felt.
A part of him felt ridiculous. He never even met Sasuke yet, and yet it was possible to feel such a strong connection to him? He almost felt kind of silly loving someone he didn't physically know, and that kind of scared him. If Sasuke wanted to end their relationship the simplicity of ending it was clawing at the back of Naruto's mind. Sasuke could just vanish and he would never know what happened or why.
The small sound of a duck quacking drew his attention back to the black phone in his hand. He saw the sender's name and it brought a smile to his face. He quickly swiped his finger across the screen to reveal the reply to his confession.
Hn. [11:30pm]
That was all it said. Naruto frowned. Here he was pouring his heart out, his emotions to his boyfriend and he got that simple one word reply. He sighed and turned his phone off and placed it his iPhone dock. His mind stormed and he squished down the disappointment and hurt that filled his chest.
Maybe Sasuke was just not that into him?
He closed his eyes and tried to conceal how much pain he was in. It was amazing and terryfing that he was this crippled from a single word.
May 1 2007 - 8 months together
Naruto shivered pulling his coat closer to his body. It would be this cold when he had to use the washroom and the closet building was across a long stretch of parking lot. He picked up his pace and mentally cheered as he reached the heavy metal doors blocking him off from the east side of Konoha campus.
He opened the door and ignored the sound of his phone alerting him of a new text message as he turned the corner heading towards the bathrooms. He practically ran through the doors and to the urinals. He heard his phone sound again, reminding him of his message. He quickly finished his business and made his way towards the automatic sinks, rinsed his hands, and dried his hands with paper towel before taking his phone out of his coat and checking his messages.
Going out. [3:32pm]
Naruto smiled and quickly replied.
Be safe, hands to yourself! Love you. [3:42pm]
Just as he was about to pocket his phone, it sounded again in his hand.
Always. Love you too. [3:42pm]
He froze and reread the message. It was still there. Without thought, screw long distance charges, he pressed his finger over the contact list and pulled up Sasuke's information. He brought the phone to his ear and could hear his heart hammering in his chest.
"This is new." A slightly amused voice answered from the other end. His voice was always so sensual and Naruto always craved to hear more of it.
"I like to be different."
"Hn."
Naruto smiled and closed his eyes. God he just wanted to hear Sasuke say those words to him, with that deep comforting voice he had. He was desperate for it.
"Say it." He commanded. He needed to hear Sasuke say the words and let them wash over him. The proof that he was loved by the man that he loved.
It had agonized him for weeks when Sasuke never respond back with those words. It physically hurt to think that this man who he loved so dearly did not feel the same way. A part of him hated Sasuke for it- for making him feel so dead and heartbroken.
Slowly through the muddled pain Naruto realized that Sasuke not saying it was much sweeter. When he would hear those precious words, he knew that Sasuke would mean every single one of them and was not just saying it. Sasuke would mean it and Naruto found himself excited for the day he would be honoured to hear those words.
"I'm not saying it." It was clipped and slightly embarrassed and Naruto couldn't help the chuckle that escaped his lips.
"Please?"
"No."
"Pretty please with a cherry?" Naruto sing-singed and batted his eyes at himself in the mirror in the bathroom.
"Still not happening."
Naruto let the silence wash over him for a few minutes, before he took a calming breath. Now that he thought about it, he never said those words out loud to Sasuke. Suddenly he felt like a high school kid at prom not knowing what to do.
He opened his mouth, and shut it quickly. He frowned, not liking how hard it was to do considering he felt like he was in love with Sasuke. He was, wasn't he? Then why was it so hard? He took a deep breath and studied himself int he mirror mentally cheering himself on.
"I love you." He whispered but knew Sasuke had heard him from the intake of breath that it drew from the other. Naruto smiled. He felt like a pressure was off his chest for saying the words. Suddenly, he wanted to say them again and again. It felt great to say.
"I love you too," the other murmured, so low that Naruto almost didn't catch it. He smiled softly and felt his heartbeat quicken like he was drunk off the words.
"Why is my voice echoing?" Sasuke curiously questioned.
Naruto hummed quietly, "Oh I'm in the washroom." He shrugged out and before he could open his mouth to say anything else Sasuke had hung up on him.
He chuckled and pulled the phone away from his ear and pocketed it in his coat. He turned to regard himself in the mirror and the smile would not leave his face. He was loved by Sasuke and he felt complete in that moment.