Disclaimers: Naruto is someone else's, this is purely a fanfic using someone else's characters.
Warnings: This story includes strong language, violence, angst, hopefully some decent jokes, and (of course) beautiful SasuNaru love.
Chapter 10: Romance & Ramen
"Just heat it and eat it."
-Adeena Sussman
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So many thoughts and questions spun through his head when Sasuke kissed him like that, but when their lips finally parted, he couldn't think of a single thing to say. They just stared at each other, eyes dropping to scan blushing faces, soft lips, burning eyes.
"I don't know what to say" he finally got out.
"That doesn't surprise me."
"Always the romantic, Sasuke."
"You haven't seen the half of it."
Naruto blushed. Sasuke stood, grabbed Naruto's hand and pulled him to his feet. They channeled their chakra to their feet- a habit at this point- before walking down the tree's bark and back down to solid ground.
"So, this really isn't just you trying to stop the curse? You just.. wanted to?" Naruto asked, fingers still tangled with Sasuke's. He led him over to the huge wooden porch that wrapped around the exterior of the Uchiha manor. They sat down and turned to look at one another.
"I honestly don't know how else to spell it out for you, dobe."
Naruto rolled his eyes. When he looked down, he noticed one of Sasuke's hands resting on his thigh. He swallowed. "It's just.. hard to believe. I mean- are you sure it's not-"
"It's not the curse, Naruto", Sasuke interrupted, already knowing where this was going. "I felt like this before the curse. I just.. didn't want to admit it to myself."
Naruto stiffened. "You didn't want to admit it..?" he repeated, his stomach sinking.
Sasuke studied his face, saw his worry. He gently reached out and ran his thumb along his jawline. "Being honest about it wasn't worth losing you."
Naruto bit his lip.
"The real question is how do you feel about all of this. I'm the one who's been pinning you down all week, which you definitely fought me on."
When Naruto looked like he was about to argue, he added- "You fucking decked me the first time I tried to kiss you."
Naruto turned bright red. How can he talk about this so casually?! I mean- all of this JUST happened, and he's so comfortable with it- like we've been like this for years!
"Well- I was a little fucking overwhelmed, ok! Besides- it felt.. wrong. Like I was taking advantage of you." He looked up, meeting dark watchful eyes.
"I didn't think you'd feel this way, Sasuke. I thought you'd just be grossed out and I.. and I wouldn't be." He ran his fingers through his hair as he looked away again. "Just because I am a monster doesn't mean I want to feel like one.." he mumbled.
Sasuke's eyes flared, his jaw clenched. "'I'm tired of you saying shit like that" he snapped. "You're not a goddamn monster- you've just been around a lot of idiots. Don't become one."
Sasuke paused. "Well.. don't become a bigger one."
"God, you're such a-"
Sasuke suddenly grabbed him and pulled him in for another kiss. This time his lips mashed down violently, moving against him, driven with passion and anger and longing. "Mmmnnffh!" Naruto pushed at Sasuke's chest, but his muffled sounds and half-hearted, or so Sasuke hoped, resistance went ignored. A pale hand wrapped around the back of his neck to pull him closer, but he moved his face away. "Sasuke- wait."
The Uchiha sighed. "Why?"
"Because- well because this is new for me, ok? I've never.." he moved his hands between them. "Why are you so comfortable with this??"
"You're my best friend" he replied, cool and collected, not even a hint of the self-conscious jittery feelings that were rushing through Naruto. "We have been pretty comfortable with each other for a while now."
"It's not the same."
"Besides, you know I have always liked being close to you" he whispered, moving his hand further up the blonde's thigh, watching beautiful blue eyes widen.
"Not this close.." he breathed.
Sasuke leaned in, his lips just barely brushing against Naruto's. "It's never been close enough.."
And then, once more, he caught his lips. And this time, Naruto let him.
They spent the night holding each other, kissing each other, testing each other's limits- well that was more Sasuke's doing- and making fun of each other to break up the intensity.
And it felt.. right.
Naruto was relieved that the truth was finally out there and that Sasuke didn't hate him for it, and Sasuke was glad that he could finally breathe easy as far as the curse was concerned. His person would never experience that pain again- he'd make sure of it.
They had been going back and forth between being almost-lovers and the closest friends for hours when Naruto suddenly leapt up, a ridiculous ball of energy, and pointed at Sasuke. "You haven't fed me all damn day, Sasuke! I need food and I demand that you come with me to Ichiraku."
Sasuke sighed. "You're lucky I like you so much."
Naruto cheered and pulled Sasuke after him, chanting "ramen, ramen, ramen!" as they walked. Sasuke was pretty sure he was going insane. Or was dangerously close to it. He looked over at the blonde who was now leaping all over the place as he chanted.
"Naruto- for the love of God, stop."
"Sasuke, ramen, buys me, ramen!" he chanted, more enthusiastic than ever.
His eyebrow pulsed. "I will murder you."
"Won't kill, ramen, will eat, ramen!"
Sasuke narrowed his eyes on the idiot. "That's it." He lunged at him and threw him up against the wall of an empty building. Before he could sing about that too, Sasuke clapped a hand over his mouth. "I cannot handle another second of-"
"Sasuke!"
He gritted his teeth and looked over to the side at the newest nuisance. Of course she'd be here, he thought- immediately irritated.
"What are you doing to Naruto?"
Sasuke looked back at the blonde he had pinned against the wall, one of his hands still pressed firmly against his mouth. "Educating."
Sakura nodded as she tucked a strand of pepto bismol hair behind an ear. "He could probably use it. What did the idiot do this time?"
Sasuke glared. "Did you need something?" he asked. Naruto tried pulling at the hand covering his mouth, but Sasuke just bore down harder.
"Oh, ummm.. I just saw you and thought.." she blushed. Sasuke could already tell he was going to hate where this was going. "Well, maybe you'd want to go somewhere.. with me."
"No" he stated coldly.
"Mmmnnph!" Naruto tried, and failed, to respond.
Sakura glared at the blonde. "Come on, Sasuke. Just leave him here- you shouldn't have to deal with him all the time."
Sasuke glanced at Naruto and saw that familiar sadness settle into those blue eyes. "Sakura" he said, his voice stern, "You are the one I don't want to deal with right now."
She looked up at him, eyes wide and filled with tears. Which didn't bother him in the slightest. "But, Sasuke-"
Dark eyes snapped towards her. "We are in the middle of something, Sakura."
She swallowed and nodded her head. "Yeah, ok.." She shot daggers at the blonde for getting between her and her Sasuke, before stepping away and heading back the way she came.
Sasuke slowly lowered his hands, and Naruto immediately, angrily, pushed him away. "You didn't have to be so cold to her, Sasuke."
He studied his face. "Yes, I did."
He grabbed Naruto's wrist before he could comment further, and started tugging him closer to town. "Come on, dobe. Let me treat you to some ramen."
Naruto begrudgingly let Sasuke drag him away, mostly because he couldn't resist a free bowl of ramen. "Fine, but I'm getting more than one."
Sasuke smirked over at him. "That doesn't surprise me."
Naruto rolled his eyes at his reused comment and jogged ahead of him. "Let's go then! I want to make it before they close!"
Sasuke followed as- once again- his ridiculous, beautiful, idiot blonde flounced around and jogged onward, eager to get to his favorite comfort food.
"What even is your body?"
Naruto smirked around a mouthful of noodles. "You know you love it."
"Doesn't make it any easier to watch this horror show."
Sasuke watched him slurp up a stray noodle, which should not have turned him on, but was definitely doing something.
Naruto blushed. Does he.. love me? I mean- he cares about me, and he's obviously attracted to me- which is still seriously hard to believe. But- love?? Like LOVE love?
"What's that ramen-filled brain of yours thinking about?" Sasuke asked, tilting his head as he looked over at him.
Naruto blushed a shade darker. Observant bastard.
"Nothing" he replied, trying to sound casual.
"Most days, yes."
Naruto glared.
"But tonight- it's obvious that something's on your mind."
"I don't have to tell you everything, you know."
Sasuke watched him closely. "I could make you."
Naruto stared at him, horrified. "Don't you fucking dare."
"Jesus- I was kidding." He took in Naruto's clenched fists and pissed off face. "Too soon..?"
"Fucking jerk.." Naruto grumbled. The blonde's anger faded into disappointment. "Hmmphhh. You ruined my appetite" he pouted.
"No, Naruto-" Sasuke paid the bill and pushed away from the counter, "I think it was the eight bowls of ramen that did that."
Naruto laughed lightly and, stretching, joined the raven-haired Teme as he left the ramen-stand.
Their walk back started off peaceful, the two feeling full and content, but as they moved further away from Ichiraku Sasuke felt a prickling sensation run up the back of his neck. He felt like they were being watched. He activated his sharingan and scanned the area around them, startling Naruto.
"Sasuke..?" He looked around them too. "What's wrong?"
The Uchiha focused his gaze on the buildings, the villagers, the woods nearby, but didn't see anything suspicious. "It's nothing.." Naruto didn't believe him, but he kept quiet for now. Sasuke tried to shake the feeling, but it lingered all the way back to the manor, until they were safely indoors.
An undetected shadow watched them step inside before pulling away, deeper into the dense forest. The night hid him well, that is until the moon's glare pulled free of dark clouds- just enough to reveal devilish eyes and a cruel twisted smile.
"Time's up."