Chapter 9
Summary:
The aftermath of Orochimaru's forced mark!
Notes:
Two updates in three days?
The answer is yes.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
"But the mark has been healed for over two weeks now" Itachi said.
He shot Shisui a text a few hours ago, asking him to give him a call when he had the chance.
He excused himself from Sasuke's apartment and was now in his living room.
Sasuke hated when he or Shisui would discuss his case in front of him, like he wasn't even there, so Itachi knew better than to have this discussion right next to his little brother.
"I know, but it still fucked him up pretty bad. Just because the actual mark is gone doesn't mean that his omega has forgotten" Shisui explained.
Itachi wanted to give Sasuke time to work through things on his own, but it had been almost three months since the incident and he was still hellbent on avoiding Naruto.
He wouldn't answer the blonde's phone calls or texts, even if there weren't all that many anymore.
He would send a simple 'How was your day?', 'I love you', or an 'I miss you'. Naruto was trying his best to give Sasuke the space that he requested, but he was slowly losing his mind.
The only thing keeping him from showing up on Sasuke's doorstep and breaking the door down was Itachi's updates.
Any and all communication between the two had been going through Itachi lately.
Naruto still wanted to know how the baby and Sasuke were doing, and with Sasuke freaking out at the mention of even texting the blonde, they weren't left with many options.
"Shisui, he's having the baby in about two months. He is doing terrible and Naruto is losing it. I'm afraid for him to have the baby in his current state, and all of the stress might send him into preterm labor. He's already preeclamptic" Itachi said, silently begging the universe for some form of mercy.
"I don't know what to tell you, man. At this point it is more or less up to him. He hasn't had any control over his instincts for almost three months, and for Sasuke, that had to be hard. Its understandable that he didn't just pick up the reigns right away. He may be afraid to" Shisui responded.
"What can we even do? Naruto hasn't been to the hospital in a month and Sasuke barely moves from his couch" Itachi said.
"Your guess is as good as mine. I would say that locking them in a room until they kiss and makeup might be the way to go, but Sasuke being pregnant complicates things. We don't want him to be too stressed and send him into labor" was Shisui's answer.
"I know. I'll talk to him and see if I can ease him into at least calling the guy" Itachi said.
"Alright, man. Let me know if there is anything you need from me" he said before Itachi ended the call.
He was never one for great phone etiquette.
He went back over across the hall and found Sasuke exactly where he'd left him.
He was currled up in a makeshift nest of blankets on the couch with some movie playing as he stared off into space.
"I'm not stupid. You don't have to leave to talk about me" Sasuke grumbled from his nest.
So he wasn't entirely spaced out.
"I do have a life" Itachi said.
Sasuke just let out a humorless chuckle.
Even Itachi couldn't deny that it was a blatant lie; he was either at the hospital or home.
Itachi sat back down where he had been beside Sasuke before leaving and Sasuke immediately crawled over to rest his head on his leg.
Sasuke had been craving his alpha since telling him to leave, but he couldn't bring himself to reach out to him after allowing himself to be marked by another alpha.
He was infuriated because, rationally, he knew that he hadn't allowed it, but he couldn't help feeling like he could have done more. If he'd taken Kiba up on his offer to walk him out he would be happily preparing for their daughter's arrival with Naruto right now.
If Sasuke couldn't have his alpha, he was forced to settle for a familar alpha with a comforting scent.
He and Itachi had been inseparable when they were younger; his older brother consoling him countless times, so it put him a little at ease to have him near.
Naruto's scent had long disappeared from his apartment. He had gathered his things like Sasuke asked, but he had left a fair amount of his t-shirts, probably on purpose. Sasuke wouldn't wear any other shirts, even though they no longer smelled like the alpha.
The only trace of Naruto's scent was from his bond mark, but Sasuke's omega was basically blocking it out and masking it with his own. His omega was trying to make him forget, but his fucking brain just wouldn't listen.
"He asked me about you today" Itachi broke the silence as he started to rub Sasuke's hair to stop him from biting his head off for mentioning Naruto.
Sasuke just let out a huff in acknowledgment.
"You think you're ever going to talk to him?" Itachi asked, knowing damn well that he was pushing his luck.
Sasuke didn't say anything. He just stood up and clung to the blankets surrounding him, dragging them behind him as he silently retreated to his bedroom.
Itachi didn't even flinch at the sound of the door slamming shut, far to used to this by now.
He sighed and stood up to get started on dinner.
-
"C'mon, Naruto! I like Sasuke, but if the guy treats you like shit and blocks you out is he really worth it?" Kiba asked, beyond over seeing his friend such a mess.
Naruto had taken a prolonged vacation at the hospital and now spent his days moping around his apartment and drinking himself into a stupor.
It was literally the only way that he was able to fall asleep these days.
He fully blamed himself for Sasuke pushing him away. His mind kept replaying Sasuke's change in demeanor when he let that stupid fucking grimace shine through for just one measly second. If he had been able to hold it in, maybe Sasuke wouldn't have pushed him away.
"You don't know what you're talking about" Naruto said, his voice clipped in a warning tone.
He did not want Kiba speaking of Sasuke like he had knew anything about their situation.
"Once the bond breaks you won't have this pull to him and you'll be thinking clearly. I don't have anything against Sasuke, but look at you, man. You look like you haven't shaved in a week and I've seen you down half of a bottle since I've been here and you're not even drunk. Its only eleven for fuck's sake!" Kiba said, trying to get Naruto to realize that if Sasuke didn't want to be with him, that dwelling on it was clearly doing him more harm than good.
Naruto brought a hand up to rub at his chin, feeling a foreign amount of stubble.
Has it really been a week?
"It won't break" Naruto said, grazing over every other thing Kiba had said.
He said it more to himself than Kiba, trying to reassure himself more than anything. He would be lying if he said that their bond breaking after the baby was born wasn't a fear of his. That fear grew with each passing day.
"I don't really know a whole lot about how all of this prime shit works, but at the end of the day, you have to put happiness over instincts" Kiba said, really trying to not make things worse. Unfortunately, he had a habit of putting his foot in his mouth.
"You think I wasn't happy?" Naruto growled as he snapped his head to look at the other alpha.
Naruto had been having a hard time controlling his baser alpha instincts as of late. He found himself getting irrationally angry and defensive at the smallest things, especially when they pertained to Sasuke.
He stood menacingly and stalked over to Kiba, getting in his face.
"I didn't mean it like that! I just meant that you guys were together for a relatively short amount of time! I get that he is the mother of your child, but how serious could it have gotten!?" Kiba said as he held his hands up with wide eyes.
The last thing that he wanted was to fight with Naruto. Not only because they were friends, but he knew he would lose. Naruto was a giant and an undoubtedly strong alpha.
Naruto's eyes suddenly got less feral at the fearful look on Kiba's face. He shook his head as he backed off.
"Sorry, I've been on edge" Naruto explained as he went back to his chair, embarrassed at his loss of control.
He motioned to the other chair as a sign for Kiba to sit, a silent promise that he wouldn't go all alpha on him again.
Kiba slowly took a seat and watched Naruto wearily.
"I'm very serious about Sasuke" Naruto said as he poured himself another glass.
Why should he care if he looked pathetic, Kiba could clearly already see that he was.
"Bu-" Kiba had started to try and convince him to move on again when Naruto pulled a chain over his head from where it had been hiding underneath his shirt.
He placed it on the glass of the coffee table and slid it over to Kiba while keeping his thousand yard stare out the window.
Kiba put his hand over the chain to stop it when it reached him.
He picked it up with a confused expression and held it up.
It was a simple silver chain with an equally simple, matte black ring threaded on to it. It was just a band, but it was somehow still incredibly beautiful.
Kiba could tell from the unsuspected weight that it was probably expensive.
It was simple, elegant, and dark. Just like Sasuke.
Kiba knew exactly what it was the second he thought that it reminded him of Sasuke.
"Jesus, man. When did you buy this?" He asked, nothing but pity in his voice.
"The day after he marked me" Naruto answered, sounding like a zombie. He subconsciously brought his hand up to lightly run his fingers over the raised lines of his mark. One of the only things still reminding him that Sasuke was real.
Kiba couldn't help that his eyes went a little wide at the admission.
"I was just waiting for a time that felt right. Didn't want to scare him off" Naruto explained when Kiba stayed quiet, something he rarely ever did.
Naruto heard the clink of Kiba setting the chain and ring back down on the glass tabletop as he sighed.
"Shit, I didn't know. I thought it was just the whole pregnancy thing drawing you to him. I'm sorry, man" Kiba said, not really knowing how to process this.
He literally had no idea how to help his friend right now.
"Its alright. I didn't tell anyone. Only one I spoke to about it before was his father" he said sadly.
"You actually spoke to his dad!? Isn't he famous for making alphas cry?" Kiba asked.
Naruto let out a curt, lifeless laugh, because yes he was.
All of the doctors at the hospital dreaded visits from any of the board members, but especially Fugaku Uchiha.
Naruto had been lucky enough to only hear rumors, never meeting him before Sasuke, but he was very much a feared man.
"And you survived?" Kiba asked, trying to prompt Naruto to continue when he just silently sipped his drink.
Naruto thought back to the day that he had spoken to Fugaku. He had been scared shitless, as any sane man would have been.
"Naruto, love! How are you?" Mikoto asked in her loving tone when she answered the door.
"I'm alright" he answered as he leaned in for the hug that he knew was coming, bending down quite a bit so that she could leave her signature red stain on his cheek.
"I was actually wondering if I could speak with Fugaku? Is he here?" Naruto asked, clearly nervous. He didn't want to waste any time beating around the bush; if he did he knew he'd wind up backing out.
She had looked a little surprised, seeing as how no one really came looking to talk to her husband. He wasn't the most sociable guy outside of scheduled meetings.
"Of course. He's in his office, he should be done with his work for the day, so just go ahead and knock" she said with a raised brow.
It always struck Naruto just how much Sasuke was like his mother, especially when he raised his brow just like her.
"You sure you're okay?" She asked, that knowing 'mother knows best' tone that he always saw her use on Sasuke.
"Yeah, just have something that I need to ask him" Naruto said as he nodded and rubbed his hands on his slacks nervously.
She hadn't given any real indication that she knew what he was up to, but that little glint in her eye and slight smirk told him that she knew.
He felt himself blush furiously before ducking away and heading up the enormous staircase.
He literally stood outside of the door for eight minutes, running over what he would say in his head and trying to not freak out.
After he took a deep breath to collect himself, he raised his knuckles to knock on the wood, only to have the door pulled open from the other side.
He managed not to stumble right into Fugaku's chest at the sudden movement. They stood face to face in the doorway to his office.
"Naruto?" He asked, clearly confused and slightly irritated at his unexpected presence.
"Uh, yeah. Sorry about that. Mikoto told me to just come on up" he said with a nervous chuckle as he rubbed the back of his neck, forcing himself to maintain eye contact.
"Did you need something?" He asked in a drawn out tone, obviously expecting Naruto to elaborate.
If there was one thing that Sasuke got from his father it was his lack of patience.
"I was wondering if I could speak with you for a moment?" He asked, forcing his nerves down as much as possible.
Fugaku had eyed him for a moment before nodding and retreating back into his office, leaving the door open as a silent invitation.
"So what is it that you need to speak to me about?" Fugaku asked as he sat down in one of the chairs by the ornate fireplace.
He held his hand out towards the other chair when he noticed that Naruto was just standing there.
Naruto hurried to the seat.
"Um, its about Sasuke. I know he and I haven't known each other all that long, but it doesn't really feel like that. That and with the baby coming, which I know probably wasn't ideal, and I'm sorry about you having to find out the way you did. Sasuke is just so stubborn, and I love that about him, but I really meant no disrespect by it. He would kill me if he knew I was here, bu-" Naruto's rambling was mercifully cut off by an amused looking Fugaku.
"This is sounding like the beginnings of you asking for my son's hand in marriage" he said smugly.
Naruto didn't know why he had been surprised. The man figured out that Sasuke was pregnant in less than two hours, why shouldn't he see right through Naruto too.
The blonde just looked at him and shot him a nervous smile.
"So it is?" Fugaku asked, not sounding the least bit surprised.
"Yes sir" Naruto said as he nodded and forced himself to hold the other alpha's scrutinizing gaze.
"I see" Fugaku said as he leaned back in his chair with a smug smirk.
"You do understand that I find it hard to just give out my blessing after only meeting you once before, correct?" He said with a pensive scowl.
"I get that, I really do. I would have wished to do things differently with Sasuke, but I'm just happy things have worked out so far. I love your son very much and would love to marry him one day. I'm not sure when I would even ask him, but just in case the right moment arises, I'd like to have your blessing" Naruto answered.
"So am I to assume that you already have a ring?" He asked.
Naruto just nodded as he pushed the small black box across the table between them.
Fugaku picked it up and opened it, the corner of his mouth quirked up as he looked it over.
He didn't give anything away with his stoic expression and Naruto just waited with baited breath for some kind of a response.
"Awfully presumsutious of you, but I think that Sasuke will like it very much" he said as he allowed the faintest trace of a smile to stretch on his face as he closed the lid and handed the box back to Naruto.
Naruto's head shot up from his gaze on his twiddling fingers.
"Does that mean you're alright with me giving it to him?" He asked, not expecting it to be that easy.
"You seem like a good man that can not only protect my son, but also handle him. I will give you my blessing, but just know that I can take it right back if I have the smallest inkling that my son is being mistreated" he warned.
Fugaku got up and grabbed two glasses from his bar, pouring one of the liquors from the crystal decanter into both.
He sat back down and handed Naruto the other glass.
"If Sasuke found out that you 'asked' for him, he'd have your head, so I'm assuming that you did it out of respect for me. I appreciate it, Naruto" he said seriously.
Naruto just nodded, agreeing that Sasuke would bite his head off if he knew that Naruto basically asked for permission from his father to propose. Sasuke was far too proud to see past the arciac meaning behind it to see that it truly was sign of respect for Sasuke's father.
There was a brief silence until Fugaku let out a light chuckle.
"If you plan on surprising Sasuke I would suggest not mentioning this to Mikoto. I'm sure she already has her suspicions, but if you confirm it she will have the wedding planned before you get the chance to ask Sasuke" he said as he raised his glass slightly in front of his mouth.
Naruto did the same with his glass and said, "Of course, sir. Thank you" with a sigh of relief.
"I don't allow many people to address me as Fugaku, and I've already told you to once. Don't make me ask again" he said with a clipped tone but surprisingly friendly eyes.
"Sorry about that. Thank you Fugaku".
Naruto rubbed his hands over his face to bring himself back to his sad ass reality.
Kiba had to give it to Naruto. From what he'd heard of Fugaku Uchiha, he couldn't deny that Naruto had some serious balls by asking for his son's hand in marriage after knocking him up and only knowing each other for such a short period of time. He was impressed.
"He gave me his blessing, but I doubt that still stands after what I let happen to his son" he said bitterly, quickly downing the rest of his glass.
"I'm sure that isn't true, Naru. Have you even talked to any of them besides Itachi?" He asked.
Naruto gave a pathetic nod before he said, "I talk to his mom a few times a week. She keeps telling me to not give up, but its hard when he won't even tell me how he's doing. His brother and cousin keep me up to date on his progress as much as they can, and sometimes Itachi sends me pictures of him when he can sneak them. He sends me all of the baby's ultrasounds, but thats it. I literally only ever see him through a fucking screen!"
"What now?" Kiba asked, kind of at a loss for words for the first time in his life.
"Fuck if I know" he answered with a shrug as he got up to grab a glass, filling his and the new one once he got back to his precious bottle.
Kiba wasn't an idiot, okay he was, but he knew a thing or two when it came to drinking.
He silently took the glass that Naruto slid his way and raised it at Naruto before gulping down half, wincing at the burn.
Naruto had to be even worse off than he'd thought if he was drinking something this high of a proof without slurring.
The man used to be a lightweight!
Kiba quickly finished the other half before setting his glass down in front of Naruto.
Naruto raised a quizative eyebrow at him, not expecting him to go so hard.
"Looks like you can finally keep up with me, but I do have some catching up to do" he said as he nudged the glass again.
As unhealthy of a coping mechanism as it was, his friend needed him right now and its not like his liver was in all that great of shape anyway.
It might have been before noon, but this wouldn't have been the first time that Kiba hit the alcohol a little too early.
Naruto let a small, but sincere smile stretch on his lips as he poured another glass, happy to have a friend like Kiba.
Misery loves company after all.
-
"Use your key!" Sasuke yelled from his blanket nest on the couch.
Itachi used to just let himself into his house whenever he pleased, but ever since the disaster with Orochimaru, he had taken to knocking first. It irritated the hell out of him.
He just wanted fucking normalcy, was that too much to ask for!?
He rolled his eyes and sighed when the knocking started up again.
He huffed, threw himself into a sitting position and got out of his cozy spot.
He stomped over to his door and turned the lock before throwing the door open, ready to bitch his brother out for making him get up.
His scowl was replaced with a shocked expression when he was met with a head of bright read hair.
"Sorry to disturb you, sweetheart. Can I come in?" Kushina asked with a sweet smile.
Sasuke shook his head as if she was just a hallucination that would disappear.
She waited paitently for Sasuke to gather his whits.
"Uh, yeah. Of course" he said as he stepped to the side, closing the door once she was inside.
She placed her purse on the island in the kitchen as Sasuke asked if she'd like anything to drink. When she declined he gestured to the couch and followed after her.
He sat back down in his pile of blankets as she settled down next to him.
"Not that I'm not glad to see you or anything, but what are you doing here?" He asked.
It was a lie.
As much as he liked Kushina, he was not happy to see her. She was just another reminder of Naruto.
"I wanted to make sure that you're doing alright. Your mother is worried" she said.
He appreciated her honesty. He probably would've gagged if she used the 'I was just in the neighborhood' excuse.
"I'm okay" Sasuke lied.
It didn't take a genius to see through it.
"You don't have to tell me about it if you don't want to, but you don't have to lie either, Sasuke" she said as she used two of her fingers to lift his chin. She gave him a reassuring smile when he finally looked at her.
She just had an energy about her that made him feel safe, much like his own mother, just without the fear of disappointing her. He always strive to be a strong omega like his mother
"I miss him" Sasuke admitted after turning his head back to look out the window as he blushed.
"He misses you too" she said as she gently put her hand on his arm.
"How could he even stand to be with me when I smell like him?" Sasuke asked, his words laced with disgust.
"Sweetheart, I know that what you went through was horrible. I can't even begin to imagine, but you have to forgive yourself. You've done nothing wrong. And honestly, I can't smell anyone but Naruto on you" she said.
He stiffened a little at the mention of Naruto's name, but he did feel his chest loosen up a little at being told that he no longer had Orochimaru's scent plaguing him.
"I barely faught" he choked out, suddenly feeling a lump in his throat.
He was not used to this whole feeling emotions thing, so he still struggled with controlling it.
"Sasuke, please look at me" she said in a serious tone.
He took a deep breath and turned his head back towards her, his eyes locking with hers.
She held back the sound of pity threatening to escape her lips at his red rimmed eyes that would have looked lifeless if it wasn't for the overwhelming sadness in them.
"That man clearly had no regard for you or your well being. You not fighting was probably the only thing keeping your baby safe. You did what you had to" she said.
His inner omega had been telling him that he should've fought harder so often that he honestly hadn't even had a chance to think about it in that light.
Orochimaru was clearly a fucked up individual, and after what he did, Sasuke doubted that he'd have a problem with seriously injuring him or his unborn daughter.
He shivered at the thought, his skin crawling.
"I am proud that you're the mother of my granddaughter and the one that my son has for a mate" she said sincerely.
Sasuke couldn't even bring himself to be put off by the mushiness of her words; he was so shocked.
The only other person that has ever said that they were proud of him since dropping out of med school was Ino.
He had never felt so low before, literally in his entire life, but here Kushina was. In his mind she had every reason to be disappointed with him, but she wasn't; she was proud.
He found it hard to hold her gaze when he felt so undeserving of her praise.
"I don't know how to go back after everything" he admitted.
Sasuke didn't do insecure, never had, he was always so sure of himself. Even the nagging doubts that would arise every once and while didn't stand a chance against his confidence. A commkn double-edged trait of an Uchiha.
"Do you want to go back?" She asked, thankfully giving him some space.
He couldn't bring himself to say something as sappy as 'more than anything in the world' like he was thinking, so he just nodded.
"Then do it" she said.
It wasn't like it was demanding or anything, but Sasuke still didn't appreciate her saying it like it was just that simple.
He bit his tongue out of respect for her, but she caught the squaring of his shoulders and the clenching of his jaw.
"I don't mean anything by that. I've never been in your position before, so I really have no right to assume that I know how you're feeling, but you're hurting. My son is hurting" she explained as she scooted closer to him.
"Would you mind if I gave you a hug?" She asked gently.
He thought it over for a second. He used to hate displays of affection, but ever since Naruto's happy ass walked into his life, he craved it.
He just nodded again, instantly comforted by her arms around him.
"What if he doesn't want me to come back?" Sasuke whispered.
He honestly wouldn't have been surprised if he had only thought it with how small his voice sounded.
"You can't be serious, sweetie" she said, her voice carrying that tone of pity that everyone always used with him now.
"Sasuke. Naruto is a wreck, he hasn't been to work in weeks and he barely functions. Minato and I literally have to come check on him and make sure that he's alive because he won't even pick up the damn phone. He wants nothing more than to have you back" she said as she brought her hand to the back of his head so that he'd rest it on her shoulder.
He leaned in to her in hopes that she'd stop telling him about the sad ass state that Naruto was in. He didn't want to hear about how poorly Naruto was doing, it just made him feel worse.
He knew that she meant it as encouragement to talk to him, but it was just proving his omega's point of how he would only hurt Naruto.
She pulled him back by his shoulders and kept them there as she looked him in the eyes.
"Now look, I know that you're struggling, and no one blames you for it, but its time to buck up. Like it or not, you're now a part of our family. I'm not going to treat you like you're some fragile little omega, because you aren't. The two of you are miserable and you want to be with him, so fucking do it" she said.
Sasuke just looked at her like she was crazy.
For starters, he had never heard her swear in the many conversations they've had. Secondly, she wasn't treating him like some porcelain doll that would break at the slightest of touches. Lastly, he just couldn't bring himself to waltz back into Naruto's life. It just wasn't that simple for him, yet everyone continued to think it was.
"Are you or are you not Mikoto's son?" She asked when he hadn't responded.
Her question just confused him, because no shit he was her son.
He nodded, not really seeing how his mother had anything to do with this.
"Well I used to know her very well, and she is one fierce omega that always flipped the bird to her instincts. I highly doubt that she raised you to be ruled by yours. From what I've seen, you're one hell of an omega too. From what my son has told me, you're quite a strong willed one, so stop letting it control you" she said sternly.
He searched for any sign of pity on her face, thinking that this was just some pep talk you'd give to the kid who had no chance, but he found none.
It was like something clicked in his brain.
She was right, he was a bitch and a notorious pain in the ass for alphas because he didn't take shit from anyone, including his inner omega.
He let out a deep breath and nodded.
It was like some cliché epiphany.
It really was as simple as everyone had said it was, it just took a surprisingly takecharge Kushina to get it through his thick skull.
"So we're good? You're going to stop avoiding us and actually speak to Naruto?" She asked, her hands still holding his shoulders.
"Yeah, we're good. I-I'll talk to him" he said with a little more conviction than he was expecting.
"That's what I like to hear" she said as she retracted her hands and reverted right back to her cheery disposition.
"Now that that is out of the way, I do have to warn you. This is the second time, and while this one is completely understanble, I will not ignore a third heartbreak for my son. He is too in love with you to ever give up on you, but don't run away from him again. He needs you and he needs his daughter in his life. So long as you want to be with him, you will not pull this distant Uchiha thing again, am I clear?" she said, suddenly serious again.
Now he could see why his mother was so fond of her; they were exactly alike. They could go from happy, loving mothers to terrifying mama bears in seconds.
"I won't, I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt him" he said.
"I'm sure you didn't, but he has a huge heart. As wonderful as it can be, it has its downfalls and I don't wish to see him hurting like this again" she said, her voice airy again, but still stern.
"Is it really that bad?" He asked, needing to know.
He was finally ready to know the true extent of the damage he'd caused by shutting the alpha out.
Itachi, Sakura, and Ino had tried to update Sasuke on Naruto's condition countless times, but he'd shut them down instantly.
After hearing Kushina say that he'd stopped going to work a few weeks ago, he was concerned.
He knew Naruto absolutely loved his job, and Sasuke was kind of banking on his work keeping him distracted while Sasuke worked through all his shit with his omega going haywire. Without the hustle and bustle of the hospital, he feared for Naruto's condition.
"He took a break from the hospital and shortly after that he stopped answering the phone or doing anything really. His spiky haired friend and the one with the eerily pale eyes told Mina that he just drinks all day" she said with a somber exhale.
Any other time Sasuke would have snickered at how involved his and Naruto's friends were in this. They had been running to their parent's at the smallest concerning behavior. He knew that they were just worried, but they were facing adults and their friends were tatting on them to their parents.
"The times I've checked on him he looked awful" she added with a shaky breath.
"Fuck" Sasuke breathed out.
"Fuck is right. So are you gonna go fix his sorry ass up or would you like for me to whip us up some lunch before you head over?" She asked, chipper as ever once again.
"Lunch sounds great. You may have to raid Itachi's fridge though, I haven't gone grocery shopping for a while" he answered.
"Sounds good, is he home?" She asked as she got off of the couch.
They went and pestered Itachi for a while before Kushina started on their lunch, deciding to just stay at Itachi's.
The three of them ate and talked for a while, Itachi shocked to see Sasuke so much like Sasuke once again.
When Kushina said her goodbyes she was sure to give Sasuke an extra tight squeeze, being careful to avoid his now large stomach.
Sasuke had gone back to his apartment and took a long, hot shower, something he hadn't done for a while now.
He had stuck to quick showers, not wanting to deal with the simple, yet daunting, task for longer than necessary.
After his shower, Sasuke had wound up just pacing in the nursery he and Naruto had started to set up.
It was still only partially finished, some of the furniture still needing to be assembled and the walls still needed painting.
Sasuke had found himself in this room a lot the last few months. It had offered him some level of comfort while his mind was an absolute mess.
Not having Kushina there to spur him on had left him a little nervous.
His omega was making him overthink this, and he was exhausted. He just needed to relax and overpower his insticts, but he had made the mistake of sitting in the ridiculously comfortable rocker in the corner.
-
Sasuke woke up with a jerk, not having meant to fall asleep.
He took a second to take in his surroundings, his mind still foggy from sleep, and realized that he was still in the nursery.
Realizing where he was brought back the memories of why he had even been in the nursery in the first place.
He looked at the time on his phone and silently cursed himself; it was almost one thirty in the morning!
Fuck me!
He got up as quickly as someone that was eight months pregnant could manage and went to put on actual clothes, figuring his fluffy robe wasn't the best choice.
His wardrobe was fairly limited at this stage of his pregnancy, so he settled for one of Naruto's t-shirts that he'd left behind and leggings.
He made the journey down to the garage and climbed into the sleek Escalade that had sat untouched for the last three months.
He took a deep breath before he backed down and threw that bitch into reverse, starting on the short ride to Naruto's apartment building.
When he did arrive, he kept his moment of panic in the car to a minimum, well at least he considered ten minutes to be a minimum, all things considered. Before he knew it he found himself staring at the dark wood of Naruto's front door.
Should I call him? Should I knock?
He remembered what time it was and decided that just using the key Naruto had given him a few months ago would be the best option.
He unlocked the door as quietly as possible and stepped in, instantly hit with Naruto's scent.
He was buzzing. Simply being around his scent again made all of his omega's negative thoughts fly right out the window.
I guess it really was that fucking easy, huh? Well I'm an idiot!
He noticed that the apartment was still fairly neat and clean, save for a few bottles strewn about in varying stages of empty. It honestly didn't seem that bad. From what everyone had said, he was expecting much worse.
Maybe he isn't so bad after all.
He made his way through the dark living room, figuring that Naruto would be in his bedroom, as most sensible people would be at two in the morning.
Sasuke pushed the door open and silently stepped in the room.
He literally purred at the strong scent surrounding him, instantly making him feel like he could sleep for the next week.
He was about to turn the flashlight on his phone on when he heard loud, rthymically challenged snoring from the bed.
Found him.
Sasuke let out a fond smile at the chainsaw like snoring that he had grown to miss.
He approached the bed, feeling like all of his problems were about to instantly be solved.
When he reached the edge of the king sized bed, his heart dropped so fast that he thought it might fall out of his ass.
Naruto had a scowl on his face and his brows kept twitching as he slept.
Naruto used to be so happy all of the time, even in his sleep. He always looked so relaxed when he slept, but now his breathing was ragged and uneven and his limbs kept twitching. A sign of restless sleeping.
Sasuke had gotten quite familiar with Naruto's sleeping form, and he was clearly unable to sleep peacefully because of all the turmoil Sasuke had caused by being a coward.
Sasuke tore his eyes away, starting to feel like a creep for watching a grown man sleep, but also because the thought of him being so unhappy that it even plagued him in his sleep was too painful for Sasuke to endure.
He went around to the other side of the bed and lifted the covers, carefully sliding under them.
He was scooting closer to his alpha when the overpowering scent of booze hit him, causing Sasuke to scrunch his nose up in displeasure.
God Damm, he really did hit it hard.
Sasuke pushed down the invading thoughts of guilt and just tucked his back into Naruto's chest and placed the alphas arm over him as he nuzzled back into that strong chest.
" 'Ske?" Naruto slurred, still sounding asleep as he stirred at the warm and sudden pressure on his chest.
"Hi"
Notes:
I couldn't make our boys suffer for too long!
Sorry if this chapter is kind of all over the place, but I was so encouraged by the comments on the last chapter, that I had to crank this one out so we can get to all of the fluff and makeup sex!(:
There will be two more chapters and then we will be all done here, which I am very excited for, but also kind of sad about.
Let me know if there is anything you'd like for another story, I'm bored during this pandemic and writing is the only thing keeping me halfway sane!
As always, I really appreciate all of the reads, kudos, and feedback(: