So I managed to type this out in one day, which is EXTREMELY rare for me. I guess I was really motivated to get this story back on track! Feedback means so much to me, and it is very helpful with keeping me motivated, which is one of my biggest issues when it comes to writing. Taking a moment to review makes a huge difference, so if you like my work and want me to update faster, please let me know how I'm doing! Feel free to ask me any questions you may have, along with anything you liked specifically. If you spot any grammatical errors, please let me know so I can fix them!
Thanks again, and I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Chapter Text

He's not sure when or how it happened, but at some point, Sai's world became an extension of Naruto's own. Rather, the artist revolves around the blonde, he a dark and dull moon drawn to the sun of a man with each rotation. The blonde's essence, his life force, the glowing spirit radiating from within: every component, every aspect of Naruto, the being that defines him, Sai had latched onto like a leech. Maybe it was in high school or college when he made this one-sided connection. It could've been the day the polar opposites met.

Regardless, Sai doesn't spend much time thinking on the matter, nor does he question if this heavy reliance on Naruto is healthy. What concerns him most is how to create a new bridge to his best friend's heart, to bond on a deeper, mutually entwined foundation and scrap the platonic one they've shared for so long. How does one rise to romance without shattering the carefully constructed link of the past? Can such a pair become involved after so many years of friendship? Would that relationship even be capable of surviving?

Sai has pondered these questions for what seems like millennia, but after so long without his desired, he has to stop overthinking and start doing. Not to mention Sasuke's upcoming return to the town, and of course, Naruto's life. He refuses to lose to that arrogant, selfish excuse of a man. Naruto is living light and deserves to be treated as such. He certainly doesn't need to have the beacon in his soul smothered by Sasuke's bleak, starless night of a soul. Not again. Not while Sai breathes.

-—-

Have you ever felt the need to be completely and utterly fucked? Sasuke's not talking about a dick in the ass (which he'd gladly welcome since what he really needs right now is to get laid), or whatever you like to do to have a good time. Nah, he mean that, after all that you've done, all the shit you've pulled and the seemingly eternal list of lies, you'd expected some sort of repercussions by now. The tower of bad karma that's been piling up in your head that you can no longer see the top of hasn't come crashing down yet, for some reason.

All the time you've spent anxiously wondering when whatever holy eyewitnesses above will strike you down, and how you shall face this judgment. The nights spent crying and screaming and clutching and beating and throwing your pillow feel like wasted tears and more unnecessary bitter memories. You've prepped for the day you finally face the consequences or your crimes, for every pompous act and moment of self control not exerted over violent, irrational, savage instincts. Time has ticked on without a single punishment that would've made you regret these bad choices in the slightest.

You must be sick of it, because Sasuke certainly is. While he was perched on a throne built through deceit not too long ago, the only thing the raven desired was for the world to just fuck him over already. It's still high on his list of demands. There's no good reason why he's escaped any finite form of persecution. It shouldn't be this easy for someone with such a tainted, dark soul to exist. Is it so much to ask that someone or something punish him for all the terrible shit he's done? The Uchiha doesn't want life to fuck him over with its painfully giant cock, but damn, he deserves it.

Whatever, it doesn't really matter. He's usually a top anyway.

Maybe whatever screwed up deities watching him right now decided to take that into account and spare the raven from that, too. On top of every other kick to the balls he's deserved up to now. They just have to let the Uchiha sidestep his verdict again. Why the fuck is that?

It's still a bit hard to swallow, at the very least. Acknowledging what he had, scratch that, has become is pretty much the only difficult part of his entire situation. As Sasuke makes his way towards the blonde's apartment, a thought comes to mind: What exactly is he supposed to tell Naruto? How does he even bring it up, and where would he start? Sasuke is quick to shove these questions into a dark corner where the rest of his thoughts deemed imbecilic serve their eternal punishment. His hands similarly dive deeper into his jeans. There's no way he can let Naruto know any of it. He must be an utter moron for contemplating the idea for a whole second. Once the raven reaches the faded red door, he glares at it with the trivial impertinence that he's best known for. The wooden barrier hides his beloved behind its peeling skin, another nuisance keeping the Uchiha from Naruto even longer.

Putting blame on inanimate objects… Sasuke's not sure if he's transformed into an entirely new person, or if he hasn't changed at all.

Has he always been so petty?

He really should take some time to prepare what he's going to say and all that. This is Naruto Uzumaki after all, the glowing sun in his mind that has kept him sane these past two years. It'd be a shame if he made a fool of himself.

Sasuke can't help but snort. He never would've imagined that a day would come where he worries over looking stupid in front of Naruto, of all people. The man who's known for being an idiot.

A stupid, optimistic, endearing, selfless idiot.

His idiot. No one was going to tell him otherwise.

There he goes again, picking fights with imaginary enemies…
Or would the right word be rivals? Sasuke wouldn't be surprised if the blonde had enticed a new love interest, if not several. The man is caring, upbeat, and ridiculously lovable. Hell, is body alone has probably attracted cavalries of admirers.

Not like any of that matters. Sasuke had engraved his name onto Naruto's heart an eternity ago. Their bond is unbreakable and unique. Not another soul could even come close to replicating the incredible link the two shared. As children, their eyes locked onto each other's differing gazes, one cold and the other passionately ablaze. Since then, they've been deemed soul mates by the godly spectators above. There's not a single force on this earth that could tear their entwined strings apart.

Sasuke enjoys the feeling of a genuine smirk forming on his face. It's been a while since his upturned lips didn't betray the self-doubt he had picked up in the two years he's been gone. Had he really been this confident all the time? No wonder he was such a dick to everyone, he was…is fucking amazing.

His fist thrums against the rough door for three knocks. Is he as confident in himself than he used to be? No, definitely not.

That doesn't mean anyone else has to know.

The prideful expression holds as he waits. It doesn't falter when he picks up sounds of movement inside the apartment. It does flinch at the whine of the turning doorknob, but Sasuke maintains his overall composure. He'll lacerate himself over the flaw later.

With a creak, the door opens slightly, just enough for the occupant to peer through. At the sight of that single blue eye, Sasuke's lips fall. He nearly takes a step back to readjust his stance. His hands scurry out of his pockets out of respect, like he's looking upon a saint.

Naruto's eyes are one of his best physical qualities, but there's something far more to it than that. They served as Sasuke's saviors in the past. He's escaped into their deepness many times, finding himself pleasantly lost and at ease with the world whenever those cerulean gems found his onyx ones. No words leave his gaping mouth, the concept of language forgotten in an instant.

A light chuckle rumbles out of Naruto's concealed form from the spectacle of a flustered Sasuke, returning enough control to said Uchiha for him to snap his jaw back in place. This causes the blonde's laughter to echo through the room behind him. His glee is infectious, as Sasuke finds himself laughing along with him for no other reason at all. For several moments, the two only greet each other with mirthful laughter. Once Naruto stops, Sasuke immediately does the same. The blonde emits one final snort before pushing the door fully aside.

"Welcome back, jackass."

Sasuke loses his composure all over again.