Happy Update Day Darlings!

Did I start writing something I hope to publish soon instead of this chapter? Yes, yes I did. I'm sorry I couldn't help myself. Did I also re-write a third of this chapter about three times? Yes, yes I did.

But I did not feel as guilty because there was no cliffhanger on the last one and we ended up on pretty good terms so that's a win in my book. On a life update-If just went through a transition at work and find myself having to clock in at eight in the morning and working Fridays. You all know my insomnia is relentless? what was I thinking when I took this offer? We'll see how this new schedule affects the writing.

As always I hope you enjoy reading this one my darlings, thank you so much for the kudos, comments, and likes, all the love and support tend to make my day.

Ps. I keep thinking about Panic at the Disco every time I read the chapter title...? it was so fitting tho!

Rating: M (Explicit)

Disclaimer: They are not mine ok? Any characters portrayed in this fic belong to Masashi Kishimoto. I just use my writing powers to right his wrongs...mainly the fact that he never made Sasuke and Naru Canon.

Falling Hard

Chapter 12: Death of a Bachelor

Naruto was up before Sasuke, the slight headache hovering over him didn't do much to spoil the surge of warm and fuzzy that ran through his body when he realized Sasuke's arm was looped around his waist. He sat up, his eyes trailing the sleeping raven next to him, he felt the heat rise to his face as Sasuke shifted, still sound asleep, his long lashes looking soft and so curled they almost touched his eyelids, then his eyes trailed the long neck until they fell on his bite.

His

Like really his…he blushed harder, he shouldn't be so proud, he'd totally overstepped, he'd bit the raven out of…need & fear. It wasn't a bonding bite, it would fade, if anything it would only allow him to linger on the raven for a couple of extra days if they ended up splitting.

"Mom seriously!" He said outraged as he sputtered a bit of his coffee back into his cup in response to his mom casually mentioning they needed to talk about what would happen when he decided to share a heat with someone. He spotted his dad about to walk into the kitchen and diligently turning around and walking away, his cheeks sporting a blistering red blush. This was not a conversation he was ready to hear without losing it, he'd end up telling the blonde to stay home and never leave.

"You're moving into your apartment soon sweetheart, away from us. We need to talk about this"

"But we already had the talk" he groaned remembering how detailed his mom had been when she sat him down the first time he told them he was dating.

"You taught me how to track my heats mom, I'm always careful, and you even put me on birth control as soon as I got a boyfriend" he blushed, nobody could say Kushina Uzumaki wasn't thorough with her son's safety.

"Yes hon, but humor me for a bit here, and play along, what are some of the reasons your heat could shift?"

"Stress, extreme life changes, having an alpha partner" he answered unamused, knowing his mom wasn't going to let the subject drop.

She smirked at him "stress? Life changes? Partners? Sounds like all the things they talked to us at that 'preparing your child for University' workshop your counselors hosted"

He rolled his eyes "I told you not to go, they make it sound like we all lose our minds the moment we step on campus"

She gave him a knowing smile, her son had always tried to remain rational when it came to relationships, would try to smother his omega, water it down as much as he could. It angered him that he never knew if people were being honest or just reacting to his pheromones. Her baby could run but eventually, he would crash into someone that would tear all of his defenses down.

She fondly thought about her husband for a second before she leaned over brushing some hair off her son's face "You're going to fall hard and fast one day and you'll love them so much, need them so much you won't be able to bear the idea of spending your heat without them. But even if it isn't out of love I'd understand if you just wanted some help hon. It has definitely been a little easier being here at home having me"

He blushed remembering the time Gaara had paced outside his house every day after school during one of his heats. He could hear his dad growling and grumbling whenever he was lucid, and his mom turned him back around and into his room more than once when he tried going outside to call for the redhead. Gaara told him his uncle threatened to cuff him to the kitchen counter if he left the house again on the third day. It was all part of their growth, of learning to control and contain their needs.

It was his mom that brought him food, made sure he drank water, changed his sheets, and held him as he gasped begging her to let Gaara in. He'd hated himself for it after he'd come out of the haze, he was so embarrassed, even though his mom had told him it was natural, and that her job was guiding him through it all.

"I know you're perfectly capable of handling it on your own sweetheart but if and when you trust an alpha enough to help you through a heat, make sure they are strong enough to hold back. One wrong bite at the right time will solidify a bond for life. And believe me when I tell you you'll both be tempted to claim. They can bite other spots, just not the scent gland, and in case they do, make sure you're strong enough not to bite back, not unless you went into that heat with the intention of bonding, but I'll be very upset if you show back home with a bondmark and I haven't met the alpha" she chided at the end.

He brought his legs up to his chest his arm reaching out, fingers gingerly moving soft black hair off the raven's face.

He allowed himself to fantasize about what it would be like for Sasuke to become such a necessity in his life he'd be willing to tether himself to the raven permanently. He hugged his legs to his chest closer and buried his face in his knees, overwhelmed for a second at the image of Sasuke sporting a faded bondmark. This is what his mom had meant. He understood now. The need to be Sasuke's burned, and he guessed it would only amplify unbearably while in heat.

He made a little sound on the back of his throat—stupid, it took the man months to agree to become your boyfriend. Temper your expectations and stop thinking about such embarrassing things!

"You good?" The low sultry voice cut through and his head whipped up "Yup, peachy, starving too, I'm going to get started on breakfast" He muttered as he made to get off the bed, he must have looked beyond flustered because Sasuke smirked, sitting up and pulling the blonde back and under him in one fluid motion.

"Now baby boy, tell the truth" He leaned down sniffing the tan neck, his eyes pooling "What dirty things were you imagining?"

'Oh you know sharing a heat with you, it was actually you that trigged mine early last semester and I can't even begin to imagine how I'll feel when I go into my next one which should be due very soon'

Nope, he wasn't going to say that…not yet.

"I bit you," He said instead, which was equally embarrassing but had already happened and the proof was smacking him in the face every time he looked at the raven.

Sasuke grinned pulling back and leaning against the wall, opening his legs to make space for the blonde to settle between them "Come here" he nudged as he dragged the blonde over between his legs "wanna know a secret" Naru's back settled against his chest "I liked it" he said voice sliding over Naruto like liquid.

He let out a little gasp "You didn't bite back" he muttered.

Sasuke leaned down, his teeth scraping his neck and he shuddered "I was a little too busy losing my mind" he nipped along his neck scenting him heavily "You felt so fucking god baby boy"

He felt himself melt entirely into the raven "I've never felt like that' he muttered.

"Flatterer" he gaped pressing himself against the raven harder "Next you're going to say I'm the best you've ever had" it seemed he was still in a bit of a petty mood.

Sasuke's hands had been trailing the hem of his pants and he seemed to freeze at the comment "Was it good for you? You didn't say anything after" he pulled his hand back "Did it hurt? I'll get better at it"

The blonde stilled for a few seconds, the implication of what Sasuke just said fully sinking in. He whirled so he could look the raven in the eyes, he was lying—had to be, he would always ask him, tempt him into letting him knot him.

"Wait" he turned, kneeling in front of the raven and looking him in the eyes "Sasuke you've never?"

For the first time since he'd met him the overly confident raven seemed slightly ashamed "Doing that with just anyone would just be trou—" he got cut off as Naruto leaned over kissing him, letting out a small giggle, Sasuke pushed him back into the bed and climbing over him "Don't laugh at me" he admonished as he leaned over sucking on the blonde's neck "You have?" he asked half a growl.

But the giggles continued, Naruto felt like someone had opened a jar full of butterflies in his stomach "Don't be upset" he let out between giggles "I'm happy" he added as he flipped them sitting on top of the raven "You're telling me that Sasuke Uchiha king of fuckboys has never knotted anyone and I was his first?" He leaned over landing his lips on Sasuke's "I wasn't aware you still had firsts to give" another small kiss "and I hadn't" he blushed answering the raven's question "I wanted it to be you, just wasn't holding out any hope I'd be all that special to you"

Sasuke reached out, cupping the blondes face "Baby boy anything I do with you is special"

"I liked it, a lot—a little too much" he blushed remembering how upset he'd been that Sasuke had been wearing a condom, he frowned reaching over to grab a pillow hitting the raven's chest with it "Hey, I thought we were having a moment" Sasuke muttered

"Why did you have a condom with you last night?" Naru asked with a pout.

"Because" he sat up holding the blonde to him so he wouldn't fall off "I had every intention of coming over after, and then you showed up looking like a snack and I then had every intention of fucking you in the bathroom before shit hit the fan" the blonde leaned over biting the raven's shoulder lightly "Liar, you just wanted to be safe, in case the opportunity presented itself didn't you" he mumbled against Sasuke's shoulder.

Sasuke's hand ran up and down the blonde's back in a soothing motion "I put it in my pocket out of habit, baby" he said at last "But I didn't plan on using it, I told you didn't I? I haven't done this with anyone else since you and I started seeing each other"

"Say that again won't you" Naru whispered softly burying his face in the raven's neck.

He was trying not to pout, as the raven changed. He knew Sasuke had studying to do, he'd tried reviewing his notes on Naruto's tablet the day before while the blonde worked on the laptop, but only ended up putting it to the side and dragging the blonde back to bed after he'd caught him biting the top of his pen for the tenth time as he stared at his assignment on the screen.

"I'll call after I'm done," Sasuke said with a knowing smile, leaning over to kiss the blonde "You can spend the night and we can head to school together tomorrow" he perked up at that and nodded enthusiastically at the raven "Deal"

Sasuke's eyes trailed to the spackled lovebites on the blonde's neck and he smirked, leaning over to smell the blonde one last time, his cheek rubbing against Naru's. Then he somehow convinced himself to be on his way before he gave in to his need to keep claiming the blonde.

When he opened the door to the apartment he stopped for a second for the first time ever he was slightly bothered by the predominant strawberry smell permeating the place. When he stepped in he noticed Juugo, Karin, and Suigetsu scattered in the living room. Books, notes, and prints were strewn over the coffee table and floor. Karin looked up at him definitely upset "You do know we have midterms coming up, we were supposed to party Friday then study the rest of the weekend"

"Well I'm here right" Sasuke replied rolling his eyes as he walked over to the kitchen "Is there coffee?" all three of his friends turned to him with that 'duh' expression on their faces.

"You keep clothes at his place" Karin mentioned, as her eyes took in the sweats and t-shirt, they fit Sasuke too well to be Naruto's. He put the cup he'd grabbed down on the counter and turned over locking eyes with the redhead "We need to talk"

Juugo and Suigetsu looked at each other and looked right back down at the notes they'd been reviewing. Sasuke walked down the hallway and into his room, he didn't have to look back to know Karin was following closely behind.

"Listen I was just teasing him a bi—" she stopped as her eyes fell on the bite on the back of the raven's neck and she was just—beyond fucking furious.

"Karin," the raven said warningly at the shift in pheromones, she walked by into the room and waited until the door clicked shut before she turned around to look at the raven, "I thought you weren't into biting anymore"

"No, I asked you not to bite me, and you still did by the way" Sasuke responded he could hear her barely holding in a growl.

"For god's sake Sasuke, he was just some omega playing hard to get, you got him, make a fucking victory lap and move on, who the fuck even are you right now?"

"You know he's different, you've known so why are you taking every damm chance to chase him away? You think what you did the other night was cute?"

She walked up to the raven and shoved him "It's because you did it all fucking wrong, I'm here, I've been here, and I know you! I'm supposed to just hand you over to some doe-eyed omega that knows nothing? You were supposed to pick me!"

Silence filled the room "K, I never"

"Made any promises? That's fine, it was all fine because you treated us all the same, but now you're playing favorites, you think I'm the only one that's going to get angry?"

"We're dating and it isn't a game for me, as my friend I'm asking you to respect that. And if you can't then—"

"I've known you for three years and you'd cut ties with me?"

"If we can't be on the same page then yeah" she scoffed as she crossed her arms, her eyes staring daggers at the floor.

"He's not right for you, and you know that, you make it official and everyone will eat him alive" She spit out.

The raven walked up to her predatorily "I think you're underestimating him, but I find out you have anything to do with him getting picked on; it might not be words we'll be exchanging" she shuddered under the hard stare.

She turned around opening the door " I don't need to do anything, his feelings will get hurt all on their own when he starts wondering if he can measure up to everything you're giving up" she walked out and he could hear her shuffling about the living room before the door slammed shut.

He sighed, walking back out, hand rubbing the back of his neck "She'll get over it man" Juugo said

"Mazel tov" Suigetsu snickered tipping his coffee cup his way "Never thought I'd see the day" They'd obviously been loud enough for the guys int the living room to hear.

He rolled his eyes at the beta and dropped on the floor, reaching for the notes on the table "Told you to stop sleeping with her" Juugo said unapologetically "and I told her that if your feelings were going to change they would have done so already so it's both your faults"

"I know" he leaned against the wall "I know it's on me"

'He's not right for you, and you know that, you make it official and everyone will eat him alive'

It couldn't really be that big of a deal right? So what if he stopped sleeping around, he'd already stopped just hadn't made it official, it's not like he was the only alpha at school.

"Naru" the raven said softly

"No" was the quick response and he laughed "You're the one that's going to be late I don't have lecture for another hour and a half"

The blonde turned on the bed, his eyes falling on Sasuke, it looked like he'd gotten up earlier to keep studying, he sat up rubbing his eyes "you shouldn't have called me over if you were still busy"

He dropped onto the raven's lap and reached for the coffee cup on the desk before he frowned "No milk?" before he put the cup down "Does it even have sugar you psychopath?" the raven laughed nuzzling the blonde's neck before he leaned up for a quick kiss "There's more in the kitchen"

"If I change quickly can we stop by Starbucks? I want an iced coffee" the raven smiled "Fine" he tapped the blonde's thigh "get moving then" and Naru was digging through his bag in record time to get his clothes and toiletries out.

He went about organizing his notes and closing any tabs he didn't need anymore on his laptop. He sat there for a second, trying to figure out what it is that he was feeling. When the blonde walked back he watched him move about the room as he made make he'd put everything back in his backpack the night before.

Sasuke stood walking over to the blonde and pulling him close "Sas?"

"I really like having you around," he said softly, his hands falling gingerly on the omega's hips, his baby boy giggled, eyes soft "Well I would hope that was the case boyfriend "

"How about instead boyfriend you call me alpha, princess," Sasuke said with a smirk "I move to request your presence at my apartment more often" he whispered in Naru's ear.

The blonde blushed "Motion to strike the request, your honor, the defense can't seem to keep his hands to himself and it's awfully embarrassing to run into his roommate in the morning"

Sasuke laughed, pulling the blonde close and nuzzling his cheek "That's what I get for doing practice runs with you, let's go get you that coffee baby boy"

Sasuke resisted the urge to roll his eyes at the people that would look at them and cluster together, whispering conspiratorially. He saw the blonde's eyes moving about before they landed back on him.

"Umm is it us?" his baby boy asked as he looked down at their locked hands. The raven was irritated that the soft blush that had filled Naru's cheeks when he'd first reached out was replaced by embarrassment, not at them, but at being stared at.

"Yeah, I'm guessing it's because of the party" people had been taking videos. Some kept their eyes on the blonde, others on the raven, and they'd seen the whole thing unfold from beginning to end.

"It's going to die down, they'll move on to the next thing soon enough," he said as he squeezed the blonde's hand trying to reassure him.

Naru wasn't used to it, he didn't particularly enjoy being the center of attention, he'd found his baby boy by accident. Hidden behind a bundle of books. To this date, he still dreamt of the myriad of emotions that had crossed the azure eyes when their eyes met for the first time.

"Him?"

"look they're holding hands"

"Given his options, I'm surprised the blonde came out on top"

"But did he?'"

A giggle followed.

"Don't you think some people are complete shit at whispering?" Sasuke asked loudly turning to the blonde as they stood by the counter waiting for Naru's drink. The voices completely died down at the comment. The blonde's eyes shot up from the spot on the floor he'd been staring at, settling on the raven. Why was he staying quiet? The raven made sure to wear a shirt that put the healing bite on display, held his hand all through campus, and had no problem calling out the people around them that were talking shit. He wasn't everybody's anymore...Sasuke was his alpha, and he was dating no pushover omega.

He leaned up, his lips touching Sasuke's, hand gripping the back of the raven's neck slightly.

"Venti iced mocha for Naruto" He stepped back, walking up to the counter and grabbing his drink. When they walked by the trio of friends that had been gossiping the blonde stopped right in front of them "Hope you were able to catch my name just now, might make for better gossip if you did" He could feel Sasuke smirking next to him, all three friends blushed looking around as if looking for a spot to hide.

He let out a breath as they left the coffee shop, the raven laughed, leaning in to whisper by the blonde's ear "That was hot"

Naruto shoved him, growing completely red "Shut up"

"I should have known the moment you ordered a mocha instead of your regular vanilla latte that you'd chosen violence this morning,"

The blonde fell into a fit of giggles next to him before he leaned over to give the raven a quick kiss on the cheek "Thank you" he said with a warm smile, knowing very well that Sasuke was not only distracting him but letting him know:

It's ok. You can do this, I am yours, and you chase them away however you want.

Ok, it's past eleven here and not only do I still have to shower but I still need to have a very serious conversation with my brain about the necessity for sleep-stubborn asshole.

As always I cannot wait to hear your thoughts! As I told everyone in the comments on the previous chapter. I heard you all lovelies loud and clear. I will kind of close this one out for peace of mind 1 or 2 more chapters maybe? Then will regroup all the little voices in my head and we'll come up with ideas and a rough outline for a sequel (though you have all provided so much already!)

Until the next one my darlings,

Chio~