Hey guys. How'd you like the last chapter? I worked hard on the flashbacks, and I went crazy because it's so easy to draw them at ease with each other. I didn't want it to seem too at ease though, if you know.
Omigod. I found the perfect song for them, not that there's not like a billion for them. Look up Stroke 9-So Good on youtube, and you'll see!
Hopefully, you do. So, Hope you like this one.
Alert: Let me know if you've seen misleading data that says Naru is only sixteen or seventeen. These are errors. He is infact nineteen in my story, so tell me if you see this. It might not be a huge deal to you, but I don't want anyone being confused. Just let me know via review, or mail me on Fanfiction. No e-mailing, seeing as I don't check it too often. Just tell me which chapter, and I'll reread it and fix the mistakes.
Thank you and enjoy.
'Just The Way You Are' by Bruno Mars
He woke up slowly, loving the relaxing heat that surrounded him. His body started to dully ache, and he grimaced as he moved his eyes, a headeache somehow already in place.
Wait...was that a hand? And an arm?
He began to glance around, curious.
He felt a blush come up and his ears burn. He was firmly inside the warm circle of Sasuke's arms, one lying beneath his head, the other looped around his waist.
The blonde could even feel the other's stomach pressed gently against his back, fluctuating with the other's breathing. He could feel the soft breath blown onto his neck, and his feet were swirled around one of the raven's legs, the considerable height difference obvious.
He took a deep, shuddery breath of his own, and let it hiss out, calming himself down. And snuggled backward subconsciously, still in love with the comforting heat that kept away his nightmares.
"Are you awake?" an almost inaudible whisper flickered past his ear and he blinked. If Sasuke was awake, why hadn't he moved?
He thought about that question, seriously considering. His headache was still present, so he guessed he was.
He nodded, and tried to lift himself up. He shrieked in new-found pain, and collapsed back into the raven's chest. An 'oof' came as a grunt and the mumbled, "Dobe," was a relief. He hadn't hurt his friend. But he, on the other hand, was a different planet away from unhurt. His arm was throbbing, now that he'd become alert to it.
"Don't move until it quits hurting," the rough whisper came again, whisping slivers of Naruto's hair to the front of his ears softly. His ears burned harder. Sasuke chuckled.
Apparently, this very compromising situation was only amusing, not embarrassing to the dark-haired boy.
Naruto relaxed.
If he wasn't angry, the blonde was going to enjoy the feeling of saftey here in the the other's strong, wiry, warm arms.
He had no clue that the raven was doing the same.
When Sasuke had woken up thirty mintues before, he'd been surprised, but not displeased, by their predicament.
He didn't freak out, but hugged the smaller boy tighter, loving the way his spiky hair was so soft and bright, even in the dim light of the bedroom.
He wasn't one to deny whatever he decided on, even if all of himself wasn't too sure about the deciding. Only his pride was in question about him loving the small blonde, but it had long been overruled in matter's concerning Naruto. For nearly a year, the raven had obstinately put aside his pride when dealing with him.
All in all, he felt as if a huge wieght had been lifted from his shoulders. He felt now like he was reassured in Naruto's future.
No one will ever hurt him again. He's mine to protect now, and I won't fail him.
They stayed that way for about an hour, but finally Naruto had to admit that his arm didn't hurt anymore, when the raven reluctantly asked him.
"No, It's fine now," he mumbled, sad to feel his heater go away, as Sasuke retracted his long, pale arms from around the blonde.
Why do I feel like this...?
Naruto sighed softly, and Sasuke secretly did the same, finally flicking off the television, the buzz fading after a moment. He then put a hand on the blonde's back, whispering sadly, "Bath?"
The other stiffened, but then relaxed. The Uchiha's eyes widened, and he looked at him fully, disbelieving.
"Sure." I don't care. If you're the one who does it.
"What did you say?" Sasuke murmured swiftly, needing to hear it again.
"I trust you."
The raven blinked and reaquired his mask, nodding though Naruto couldn't see him do it. He carefully dragged the blanket's from the other's body, blushing lightly as he did so.
Naruto was covered only in bandages, otherwise naked completely.
Around this time, the blonde also seemed to realize this, hesitating once more as the raven's hand came to rest on his arm. He let the tension out, and when his arm when slack, Sasuke went over to his side of the bed, lifting him gently into the cove between his arms, head resting directly below his chin, wild blonde locks brushing his throat.
He sighed and sunk deeper into the raven's strong hold, a fluttery feeling in the pit of his stomach throwing warmth over him as he did so. He felt the inevitable question rise, but ignored it, shutting his eyes, a faint blush on the tips of his ears.
As the rounded the bed, Sasuke began to hum, so quietly Naruto could only feel him do so. He didn't recognize the tune, but he listened calmly, as they slowly made thier way to the bathroom, Sasuke silently blushing like a crazed fangirl(hint hint). He could feel every goosebump on the blonde's perfect legs and arms, caused by his chilly room.
He rounded into the bathroom, finally, and laid the blonde down on the counter again. The earlier nights' bandages were piled in a corner, and Naruto eyed them sadly.
"Dobe..." Sasuke seemed to know what the other's was doing, even as he shuffled below for a set of fresh towels.
He pulled out several black, fluffy cloths and set them beside the blonde.
"Did you tell Shikamaru?" Naruto couldn't help but ask, as he looked down, ashamed that he doubted his best friend, but afraid the other would be angry at him for his little nearly-lethal stunt once reminded of it.
The raven sighed, and shook his head. His dark, amber-flecked eyes searched the blonde's face, seeing pent-up tears behind his strong cerulean eyes, retrained by his will power.
"No," he whispered, and he could tell that a breath had been released from the smaller nineteen year old, "I think he just knows that you're staying here. Nothing else." His voice was softer on the last note.
Naruto was silent, but he nodded sideways, his head on the counter. Sasuke lifted it and placed a towel under, and then lifted the pads from the blonde's bruised cheeks, careful not to harm him.
They peeled off easily enough, but a tiny piece of the developing scab was torn off, and a small bead of blood appeared, just like before, and Sasuke brushed it off, his fingers burning where they touched Naruto's skin, pulsing just under the skin.
"Why were you crying?"
The question came so suddenly that the small blonde gasped in surprise, and turned his head away quickly, avoiding the question, and the resulting answer that he felt rise up from the pit of his stomach. Sasuke's face was shadowed, and he was looking at the ground, hesitation obvious. He didn't want to upset his blonde. He stiffened, and a shudder went through him, making him smile crookedly and turn his gaze to Naruto.
My blonde...
The other's ears were bathed in vibrant pink, and his face was open and shy at the same time.
A breath caught in the raven's throat.
Cute...how did I never notice before?
Sasuke ignored the lack of answering, and kept going, gently unwrapping each of the blonde's injuries, until his toes were before his fingers, bandaids tightly around them. He sighed, and looked at the growing pile of bandages.
I'm going to have to find a way to get more.
As he watched the blonde, his mind was absorbed in the problem, he didn't notice the question the first question, or the fact the he was actually staring at the other's naked, but bruised and torn body.
He blushed and shook his head, letting a nervous chuckle slide out by mistake. Naruto smiled back, and asked once more, "Do I get a bath today?"
A teasing lilt to his voice made another low, husky laugh crawl from the deep recesses of Sasuke's heart, creeping past the indignant pride on the way out.
"Hn," he nodded slightly, dismissing his thoughts. He wrapped is arms back around the blonde again and lifted him, turning to the bathtub.
"Would you like to stand?" he offered gently.
Naruto nodded, eyes shamed and looking away.
None of this is your fault. Sasuke whispered in his mind.
But the blonde wasn't looking, and the mesage was wasted.
Sighing again, he flipped open the toilet lid, placing a shy Naruto on top. Proud secretly of his improvosation, the raven turned away and flipped the water on, testing it until it was an okay temperature he judged for the blonde.
Then, pulling the curtain, he took off his shirt and pants, picking the other back up.
Confused now, Naruto put a thin hand on Sasuke's arm, and asked, "What're you gonna do now? Why'd you take those off?"
Hesitating and realizing he probably should've asked first, Sasuke looked straight at him and questioned, "Do you mind? It's easier if I just go in with you."
Blushing desperately, and finally understanding, the other cleared his throat and shook his head, mumbling, "I don't mind."
Nodding, the other put his mouth on the blonde's golden head, and murmured into his hair gently, "I promised I'd protect you. I won't do anything. Try to stay with me, dobe." I couldn't take it if it happened again.
Even without having looked or heard the silent words, the blonde seemed to understand, nodding as he looked away again, "I'll try."
As they stepped closer, Sasuke gently, slowly, reluctantly let Naruto stand on his own, one fist clenched on the raven's arm, the other on the shower wall.
He faltered for a moment and the Uchiha nearly fainted right then and there, frantically diving for someone who'd already re-balanced themselves. He groaned, and shuddered, relieved.
I only get this frazzled around him...did I really not notice before...or was it never this intense a sensation?
As the raven squeezed out shampoo into his palm, he rubbed his hands together, lathering them up, thick suds slipping from his pale fingers. Then, moving clser to the blonde, he massaged the soap into Naruto's hair, marveling once again at the springy spikes, soft and silky even when being soaked in a shower. As the long golden strands wound around his fingers, he sighed, and kept scrubbing gently, careful to keep it from the other's crystal clear blue eyes.
"Sasuke?" he paused, glancing down at the blonde.
"Hn," he mumbled, signaling he was paying attention. He kept rubbing.
"You don't think he'll tell anyone, do you?" The raven was already shaking his shaggy, soaked head, wet from the droplets bouncing off the blonde's body. His boxers were clinging to his slender, lean hips, standing out strongly against his pale, flat tummy. And the thin trail of black hair on his stomach led to the wide "V" right above the elastic holding his soaked clothes on. Fine muscles were defined and chisled from his wiry body, dripping water and soap.
(Yes, that's right. I am teasing you. Hahahaha! Poor poor fangirls and fanguys! Mop up that river of drool coming from yo mouth!XD)
He shook once more, flinging more water. He murmured, "First, he wouldn't dare do that," an evil tone shone through his voice in those words, but disappeared in the next, "And I don't think he really knows anything other than you're staying with me, and that's not too out of the ordinary as it is.
Having gotten comfort food for thought, Naruto nodded, Sasuke's finger's following his now sudsy hair, the look on the raven's face making the blonde giggle and grip Sasuke's arm tighter, and his other hand slipped, making him lean closer.
His nose accidently brushed against the raven's and quickly retracted, apologizing as he flinched in the pain from moving too fast.
Bolts shot up the Uchiha's spine, settling in his brain as gush.
Having no clue that he'd just made Sasuke's pride wither and die, because just that simple touch had made the other go absolutely faint with flutters, Naruto looked up into the raven's murky, glazed-over eyes.
A blush rose on his face, as he realized how very close they were. In the shower. Lathery and soapy, with Sasuke's arms almost looping around him, fingers wrapped in his golden locks, and his own hand clutching at the raven's lean, muscular arm.
He gasped, and blushed harder, trying to back up. He slipped, falling forward into the other's warm hold. His back bent, his chest touching Sasuke's and suddenly, thier lips met, gently and explosively...
"Sasuke? Are you alright?" Naruto waved the wall hand in front of his face and tried to snap, grimacing as three or four cuts rubbed together by mistake.
(Oh snap! Show of hands! Who fell for it? LolXD Suckers! Come on, no pouting. I swear, it'll happen. Maybe not like that, but similar. Promise. Read on!)
The raven sighed, and switched places with his friend, letting the shampoo soak, even though it wasn't nessessary. He let himself admitt it. He had just fantasized.
As he lathered his own head, he noticed Naruto's gaze on him, and blushed, carefully keeping his eyes away. He watched the soap on the wall from him mistakenly flinging it, and it slid slowly down, till it was swept away by the rushing hot water.
Across from him, the blonde was looking at him, thinking about what he had been feeling yesterday. He didn't really know what he felt, but he did know that the only logical answer he had he wasn't ever going to admit to. For all he cared, these feelings could go bother someone else. It wouldn't matter, even if he had admitted them, he thought privately to himself, tearing his gaze away from the strikingly handsome nineteen year old across from him.
He didn't know that it's hard for people like them to fall out of love so quickly.
He made his way down the hall, the bag with new bandiads and gauze tape slung over his shoulder along with his extra shirts and a pair of sweats.
He'd officially been demoted, as far as he was concerned.
He'd been called to the office, and ordered to take Kakashi's things to his room, because he was going 'shopping' for his staying at Sasuke's place. Why was he going there anyways? Nobody told him, and they'd made it clear he wasn't going to ask.
How troublesome, Shikamaru gumbled to himself, hefting the bag lower and letting it dangle.
As he rinsed out the other's spikes, he chuckled.
A large blob of sud was trekking down Naruto's cheek, and the blonde was trying to watch it's progress from the corner of his eyes, twitching his nose.
As his own hair staying drenched in conditioner, Sasuke gently massaged the lathers from Naruto's scalp, wiping away any that threatened to drip into his eyes. His cheeks were pink, and his brilliant eyes were staring obtusely at the blob, as it slid over his cuts.
He flinched then, and the raven hurriedly wiped it off, putting water where it'd stung the half-fresh wound.
A faint knocking interrupted his thoughts, and he paused, making the other look up with a question.
What is it?
"Hn," he shrugged, and basically said that he didn't know. Then, continuing, he brushed some hair out of the blonde's face, smoothing it silently back against his head.
Knock Knock Knock.
Sasuke cursed this time, recognizing what it was.
"Naruto, stay here for a second. I'll be right back," he whispered, his voice just rising over the pounding if the water all around them.
A look of panic came to the bright cerulean eyes, and Sasuke shh-ed him gently, saying it was just the door being knocked on.
He cursed again, and got out, giving Naruto instructions to hold onto the back of the toilet, a little over three inches from the tub. As his tanned fingers wrapped around the curved porcelain surface, he watched the towel-wrapped butt disappear from sight, shutting the door. The steam-fogged-mirror did little to help the blonde's sudden anxiety.
He heaved a sigh, and watched the door.
As the suds dripped from his hair onto his shoulders, cheeks, and the already stained beige carpeting, Sasuke flung the lock off and the door opened to reveal a somewhat angry Shikamaru. His gaze relaxed, and he nodded, murmuring, "This is becoming a regular thing, isn't it, Nara?"
"What happened?" Sasuke stiffened, and averted his eyes, remaining silent. Then, spotting the sack Shika was carrying, he reached over, only to have it lifted from his grasp. He scowled darkly, but the brunette was unaffected, and his gaze didn't waver.
"Hand it over, Shikamaru," he muttered, still not looking at the other in the face. Instead, he tightened his towel again, and scanned the hallway cautiously for girls, a little wary. The pitch black towel was still wound tightly around his waist, but you could never be too careful. He didn't want to see thier reaction if...fuck. He remembered he was wearing boxers anyways, and whipped the towel off, exasperated.
At this the brunette raised a brow and then asked softly, "Please. What happened?"
Sasuke knew what he meant, but remained quiet, not looking at him.
The other sighed, nodded and said, "Then at least tell me why he's staying here."
Silence.
"Then tell me why no one will tell me."
The raven finally looked up, staring neutrally at the brunette. He moved his lips, but didn't voice it.
"What?"
"Because it's not your concern," he murmured, then smiled grimly, "I'm sure you've just about figured it out by now anyways, Nara."
"That doesn't mean I don't like confirmation," he smiled thinly, and hefted the bag over gently, letting Sasuke grab it from him quickly. As the other ten began to close the door though, a foot wedged it to stop it, and Shikmaru leaned to the crack and mumbled, just loud enough to hear, "Take care of him, Uchiha."
Sasuke nodded slowly, a wry smile on his face, and whispered back, "Thank you."
His pride was taking quite a beating this week. Naruto, Tsunade, and Kakashi had been the only one's to ever receive a thank you from Mr. Sasuke Uchiha. They'd probably have died being the last, when Shikamaru saved both him and Naruto the day before. That deserved a thank you.
Before the stunned teen could say anything back, he shut the door, effectively stomping on the brunette's foot and removing it. There. Killing two birds with one stone. His guilt over not telling someone who obviously cared about his blonde, coupled with his wounded pride. Thanked and stomped.
As he locked the door, he heard a loud crash and groan from the bathroom.
His head and body turned, less than a millisecond behind his feet as all three dropped the bag and opened the bathroom door up, panic clear in his deep, masculine voice as he asked loudly, "Naruto? What happened?"
Silence. A whimper.
Sasuke swallowed, and stepped in, closing the door so the room would stay warm. He got closer, and another whimper sounded from inside. He realized it was coming from the bottom of the tub, and whipped the curtain back.
He gasped, sighed, and blushed crimson all at once.
Apparently, from what he could gather without asking and therefore bursting into very un-Uchiha-like giggles, Naruto he tried to wash out the conditioner from his own hair, and slipped on the resulting soap that gathered on the floor. He must've grabbed the bottle by accident as he tried to get hold of the shower rod to stop his fall. It'd hit the ground, and the lid popped open, thick white conditioner squirting on the blonde's face.
"Sasuke?" He asked, big, creamy white blobs of hair soap dripping off and running down his scratched up face. His cheeks were red, and he was sprawled, basically spread-eagle on the bathtub floor.
Blushing harder, the raven grabbed a towel and began to wipe off the smears of white. He could suppress his urges, he knew, but he also knew that no matter how much of a tight-ass you were (which I like to think he knows he is), there was sometimes no pushing down somethings. (Hope you got that:P)
He finished, and helped the blonde up, jumping back into the shower, and asking softly, "Did you finish, or is there still soap in?"
Naruto shook his head, spikes glistening and dripping. Sasuke lifted him and sat down in the tub, Naruto in his lap, putting the towel he'd used on the bottom of the tub, letting it get wet, soft, and full of moisture before setting the other down on it. He flinched, but then sighed and relaxed, sitting straight up, careful not to lean back into the raven, who was privately laughing at the blonde's valiant effort, and would've appreciated it...if it hadn't been counterproductive to his happiness.
He gently wrapped his arm around the other's waist, and carefully tugged, making the blonde lean back into his chest. His body shuddered, and he sighed, hands going up to Naruto's hair and began to scrub, fat streaks of soap slipping out from deep in the crevasses of his golden mane. Sasuke leaned his legs against the sides of the tub and murmured, "Are you alright?"
The other nodded and he smiled secretly, keeping up his scrubbing. Finally no more came out and he remembered his own hair. He cursed at himself, and wondered how he was gonna maneuver this one.
"Teme?" The blonde's voice was soft, like the sun on new snow, and the raven's eyes eased, thoughts flitting from his mind, paying attention.
"Hn?" He kept massaging Naruto's scalp, and the other didn't say anything for a moment, but then a chuckle came and he muttered gently, "What about your hair?"
Damn. Sasuke sighed, and nodded.
"I realize your point. I uh...thought of this," he improvised and hoped Naruto didn't pick at it.
"Well...what did you think of?"
Silence.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"Sasuke? How are we supposed to get up from here?"
Dunno. "We don't have to get up right now, do we?"
"I'm hungry." The blonde's voice had a teasing lilt.
We have pizza. "Just a moment, let me finish your hair before I start on mine.
Gotta think o' somethin'! Think, Sasuke, think, damn you! Think!
"Sasuke?" the other voice was sickly sweet now, and he was smiling widely, grin hurting his cheeks but revealing two very large canines. The raven bowed his head in defeat, forehead touching the back of Naruto's golden hair. Water muffled thier speaking, and drowned out the outside world, making it just them.
"Hn?" he asked miserably.
"You have no plan, do you, teme?" The shred of pride the Uchiha had remaining rose up and defended its master.
No, but here goes the ol' improvisation. "Yes, baka, I do. I'll grab the rim of the tub and stand, and then rinse my hair. Then I'll get a towel for you and drip dry as I dry you off."
Proud of his tiny pride, the raven nearly puffed up his chest, but instead just remained silent, letting the other stew in defeat.
"Come on then," Naruto unexpectedly said.
Without a word, Sasuke employed his brilliant plot and stood, black boxers gleaming with moisture and clinging tightly to his lower half, raven hairs leading mysteriously down into the front elastic. Naruto swallowed and blushed hot pink, blue eyes crackling.
"Hurry, Sasuke," he whined, acting more like himself, "I'm hunnngrryyy!"
He bit his bottom lip and pouted, one singular canine sticking out to hold the firm, full lip in place while also letting it quiver. Overcome with the cute factor, the raven looked hurriedly away and began to rinse out his own hair, scrubbing his visible body as best he could.
Then, remembering, he helped Naruto up and started to lather his palms up with the body wash, smearing it over the other's tanned stomach and chest, moving on to his back, careful to avoid the mutli-colored bruises and pulsing lacerations, half-raw from the steaming hot bath water that was continuously beating down on it. Then, after checking with Naruto first, he washed the blonde's butt and groin, gentle and non-blushing, knowing it just had to be done.
"Sasuke?" The other murmured, his hands resting on the shower wall, fingers splayed and gripping the spiky concrete between the tiles.
"Hn."
"I still have bandages on my toes, you know."
Sasuke looked down, surprised, and saw that there were, infact, band aids still wrapped tightly around the blonde's tiny digits, hugging them protectively.
Well I'll be damned.
Then, suddenly thinking of something from the earlier night, the raven leaned forward and slowly turned Naruto to face him, the other's tanned fingers gripping his arms tightly.
Sasuke closed the distance between them and...
Hugged the blonde, smiling his special 'Naruto smile', and whispered into the kitling's ear, "Thank you for not letting me be lonely again."