A/N: Re-wrote this chapter 3 times. -.-

Chapter 3

There was a small round table in the kitchen nook that could sit one person comfortably. Sasuke arrived home that night to find his brother parked in this nook, with his books spread and overflowing the table. Itachi glanced up, did a double take, then gestured with his pen. "Thought you left?"

The books. Always those books. Sasuke stared at them. They were always there, day and night. A wave of guilt, shame, and loathing washed through him at the sight of Itachi buried in them, same as it always did.

"Sasuke?"

Itachi shook his head when Sasuke went to his room and slammed the door. Relieved though he was that his brother had apparently decided to come home, he didn't relish the aggravation that was bound to follow. The moods had gotten old a long time ago. Flipping a page, he resumed studying.

Naruto was up, bathed, and dressed by six. He spent the remaining time pacing the main room and staring at the wall clock.

Some of the children came up to him, the way they usually did, asking for piggyback rides, or to play hide-and-seek. He obliged, but a distracted Naruto wasn't fun. They left him alone. Hinata came to him at 9:30 and asked if he was sure he didn't want some breakfast. He declined yet again, and she also withdrew.

Thirty minutes to go. Naruto went to the window, scanned up and down the block, turned, went to the opposite wall, then came back and scanned again. And again. And again.

He couldn't get over it; he had one-on-one with a volunteer. His life at the home had been pretty uneventful to date. When he was small he'd had a lot of friends, he recalled. He'd always been the loudest and wildest of the bunch. As a result, he was always the one passed over for adoption. The few times a couple had deigned to sit with him, they'd always decided, upon learning of his problems, that he would be too much to handle. His friends had all either been placed, or adopted. Every time he made a new friend, that one was taken away too. He'd stopped getting close to the kids years ago. Now he was just another permanent fixture to the place, one the kids liked to have fun with on occasion. Like the trampoline in the backyard.

Sasuke had taken one look at him and chosen him.

He still couldn't get over it. Remembering it, the way that finger had lifted to point at his face, the way those black eyes had bored into his own…the same secret thrill of surprise and excitement twisted in his belly. Each time he thought about it his breath did a little hitch. He'd hid it well, the happiness that shot through him at that moment. Then he'd almost ruined the whole thing by mouthing off to Sasuke and leaving him.

Naruto stopped pacing as last night came back to him.

He remembered every word. To be fair, Sasuke had deserved to be left. And he'd deserved to be insulted. Hell, he hadn't even insulted Sasuke. All he'd done was defend himself. Sasuke seemed to like it when he got angry, too. What kind of person liked pissing people off? The kind who carries a switchblade in his pocket. He hadn't forgotten that either. Or the way Sasuke seemed to think he was in charge.

He can't be much older than I am, Naruto thought. Which meant Sasuke wasn't the boss of anyone. Besides, if he had Sasuke pegged right, he planned on doing a bunch of things that would get them in trouble. Naruto wanted his share of the fun, real fun, not a room in juvie. He'd be having a talk with Sasuke, and not just to make sure the jerk understood that he wouldn't help him break the law. He'd let Sasuke own him last night. He might be an orphan, but he was no one's bitch, and that was for damn sure.

Only…if he told Sasuke all that, Sasuke might leave. And if he refused to go along with Sasuke's agenda, he might never leave the home except for field trips. No one ever chose social when they volunteered at the home. They hated taking a bunch of noisy, rowdy kids on field trips. And the field trips were always to babyish places, the better to cater to the largest age bracket of the home's residents. Naruto never had fun on field trips.

If Sasuke had meant any of what he'd said in the assessment he'd written, then he had a real shot at visiting some cool places. That Sasuke had even taken the time to notice the things he had about him suggested that he was cool, despite being a world-class prick. No one ever noticed him, or the things he liked. No one cared, unless you considered Iruka and Hinata. And they didn't count. I'll give him a chance. One chance, Naruto decided. Maybe he really will surprise me.

The clock.

Naruto spun to see that the minute hand was right on the twelve. It was ten.

For a moment he held his breath, trying to hear if someone was coming up the walk. Nothing. His eyes flicked to the window, but all he could see from where he stood was an empty soda can on the front lawn. From the corner of his eye he saw Iruka come to the main room's doorway. He was watching too, it seemed.

Naruto's eyes went back to the clock. Minute hand was on the nine now. The ten. Eleven. Sasuke didn't strike him as someone who'd be late. Not someone who could use the kind of language he had in his assessment.

The minute hand was one tick away from the twelve when someone's fist banged on the front door. The tension Naruto had been stiff with left him in a rush. He made it to the door in two strides, and yanked it open. His grin nearly split his face.

-oOo-

Sasuke rolled his eyes at this greeting.

Naruto's grin melted away. He stood aside while Sasuke sauntered over the threshold. Unlike the previous night, Sasuke was wearing a knapsack this time. A smell of soap lingered in his wake, and Naruto saw that the blue-tinted hair was still damp. He's a rude asshole, but clean at least. He shut the door and waited for Iruka to give Sasuke his schedule.

"I gave you the trip schedule yesterday," Iruka was saying to him. He held out another sheet for Sasuke, who reluctantly took it. "This is the indoor schedule. You can see arts and crafts and games are scheduled for the days you aren't doing field trips. Those sessions will be three hours each. There's one scheduled for today, actually. You can choose between crafts or games. Naruto can sit in on those, of course. Incidentally, I tried calling the numbers listed on your form. No one answered."

"House phone's disconnected," Sasuke said. "And my brother's at school."

"I see. Well, let me know what your plans are today, all right?"

"Whatevs."

Iruka nodded, before disappearing toward the back of the house. Sasuke looked at the calendar in his hand, wadded it up, and tossed it to a corner. He turned to Naruto. "So," he began. "I'm not sitting around here. You ready?"

"Yeah."

Sasuke eyed the black hoodie and jeans. "Gotta be 95 degrees out."

"I'm good."

Suit yourself, Sasuke thought. His eyes fell on the rundown sneakers Naruto was wearing. The soles actually flopped when he walked.

Outside, Sasuke led the way to a park about a mile away from the home. Naruto watched as several kids recognized Sasuke and ran away from the swings they'd been playing on. Sasuke sat on one. After a moment of thought, Naruto took the one beside him. "Thought you weren't going to take me to the park?" he said.

"We need to talk." Sasuke had his head down, body braced against the chains holding the swing, as he idly twisted back and forth.

Naruto, straddling his swing the way he was, put his forehead against the metal chain, already sweating. "What about?"

"I don't want you getting the wrong idea about the fun I mentioned."

"You already said the crap you do is illegal."

"Right. So I don't need you whining about it. I may be forced to do community service, but I don't plan on altering my lifestyle while I do it."

"Why are you doing it?"

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Already told you. Juvie. Greenbud. Not my thing."

"I see." Naruto used his heels to push the swing from side to side, now leaning back against the other chain. "Actually I don't. Why do you care if you get assigned to Juvie or Greenbud? You seem like the kind of jerk who'd just escape. Run away."

Sasuke didn't answer that. "Look, all I need to know is if you'll go tattling."

"About what?"

"Whatever I do."

"Which is?"

Sasuke chewed his lip, head still down but now twisted to squint at Naruto in the sunlight. "Whatever. I. Do."

Naruto thought about it. "I don't see how whatever you do is supposed to be fun for me."

"Who said it would be? I'm stuck with your ass. Never said I planned to hold your hand and play hop scotch."

"Whatever that is. And you're the one who went on and on about how we had a chance to have fun and how I was ruining it."

"God, that?" Sasuke groaned. "Dude, look around. You're out of that place. That should be enough fun for you. You can continue to get out, so long as you let me do my thing."

"Still waiting to hear what that is."

"Fuck you, are you down or not?"

Naruto didn't want to agree or disagree. He opted for silence and gave a one-shouldered shrug.

Sasuke shook his head. He noticed that Naruto had nothing on beneath his hoodie when the hem was used to mop his brow of sweat. "Tell you what. How about we get you a new wardrobe?"

"Don't need one."

"You're wearing the only clothes you own."

"So?"

Sasuke ran his eyes up and down Naruto's body, measuring him, before looking off toward the basketball court. Several teen boys were playing a heated game. "I want you to go to that redheaded kid, the one with the white tank top. Tell him your friend is hurt in the men's room. Get him to come with you."

"To the men's room? Why?"

"Just do it."

"No."

"You are one big fat hairy dripping pussy, you know that?"

"Why, because I don't want to jack some guy for his clothes? I'm not hurting anyone for you."

Sasuke just barely held in a curse. He put his head back, grit his teeth, and let out a muted scream between them. "It's not hurting them," he said when he could speak. "He'll give us his shit, watch. You want decent rags or not?"

"Not at the expense of-"

Sasuke waved a hand. "Fine. Fine. Look." He pointed to the bathrooms across the park. "I'm going in there. Bring that fuck in. If he doesn't simply hand over his clothes, we'll let him go. Deal?"

"Why the hell would he hand his clothes over?"

"You in or out?" When Naruto didn't answer Sasuke got off the swing and met the frowning blue eyes. "I can do my community service somewhere else. Leave you to those drooling kids and Iruka. Or I can do my 500 hours and take you out for a few minutes a day. Your choice." He walked off toward the park's bathrooms.

-oOo-

Left alone, Naruto weighed his options while watching the basketball game. He could participate in a crime and have someone's sweaty shirt, or…not.

Being in the backyard, even in his tree house, just wasn't the same as actually walking the streets and seeing the sights. Though he was the home's oldest resident, he still wasn't allowed off the premises unsupervised. Sometimes Iruka took him with him in the home's dilapidated station wagon when it was time to buy groceries, but even that wasn't the same. He was actually outside right now, on a beautiful day. Blue skies, fluffy clouds, warm breeze. He wanted that to continue. He was sure Sasuke would drop him and his community service if he tattled about his activities, of that he had no doubt. All he had to do was lead some kid to the men's room. Sasuke had promised that no one would get hurt…

He let himself swing a few more minutes before getting up and making his way to the basketball court.

Thirty minutes later, Sasuke strolled in the direction of the game with his mouth open. He was in time to see Naruto intercept a pass, drive up the court, leap, and slam the ball through the net.

"Game!" someone yelled.

A crowd of people Sasuke had been vaguely aware of rushed the court now, slapping Naruto on the back and whistling. Naruto was beet red and drenched, but grinning back happily.

The very same redhead Sasuke had earmarked pushed his way to the center of the crowd and grabbed Naruto around the neck. "Good game. Next time wear something cooler, though. You look like you're about to have heat stroke."

"Got nothing else," Naruto panted.

A tall kid with hair down to his ass, ran to his bag and pulled out a spare T-shirt. He lobbed it over the heads in the crowd. "Here!"

Naruto caught it. "Thanks, Neji!"

Sasuke stared at 'Neji'. Long, tanned, muscular torso. Light eyes. He saw Neji part the crowd easily, to pull Naruto aside a moment. "So, I'll come by the home and visit," Sasuke heard him say. "My cousin works there, but I've never actually been." He gave an easy smile that the girls in the crowd nearly swooned over. Sasuke had a sudden urge to stab him.

Naruto seemed just as taken, though. He stammered out something, taking the shirt and holding it as he stared at it. Neji's hand sat entirely too possessively on Naruto's shoulder as he bent to say something else. A nervous giggle left Naruto.

Someone shouted for another game. Neji left Naruto to join in, sweaty torso gleaming and dark hair flying. Naruto looked up and noticed Sasuke for the first time. He came over slowly.

Sasuke was livid. "You couldn't just bring the guy to the men's room, oh no," he hissed. "Had to join in their game, make friends."

"Got a shirt anyway," Naruto tried to laugh. He ended up wincing instead.

Sasuke got a good look at him and checked the rest of his tirade. "Let's go." He turned and quickly began walking out of the park. He wanted to put distance between them and any bystanders before he checked Naruto over. That comment about heat stroke looked to be accurate.

Naruto had difficulty keeping up. Sasuke didn't stop until they'd reached the street. By then Naruto wheezing. He was turning to look for someplace to sit, when the sound of violent vomiting had him turning back around in time to catch a falling Naruto. Naruto was a lot heavier than he looked, though. They both went down.

"Serves you right," Sasuke griped. He turned Naruto onto his side. "Who the hell plays in their-"

Naruto passed out. He was only out for a few seconds, but when he woke, he was speaking gibberish. Sasuke slung him over his shoulders and ran.

-oOo-

When Naruto slit his eyes open, he found himself in the shadows of an alley, propped up behind a dumpster. Sasuke had his wrist in one hand, and was staring at his watch. "Thirsty," he croaked. His throat felt like it was coated with sand.

"Tachycardia," Sasuke muttered. "Dammit." He dropped Naruto's hand to rummage in his knapsack, and came out with a pen. Naruto felt one eyelid thumbed open, and the pen became a light that moved back and forth between both his eyes. "Pupils fixed and dilated." Sasuke pressed the back of one hand to Naruto's brow, frowning. "Temp 105 at least-"

Just then a sudden cramp had Naruto shouting.

"Where's it hurt?" Sasuke asked. "Hands? Feet? Stomach?"

"My stomach!" Naruto managed to roll to his side before he threw up, but this didn't alleviate the pain, which he now felt in both hands and feet as well. He threw up again, right in Sasuke's lap.

"Fuck!" Sasuke yelled. "Come here."

The next thing Naruto knew, he was being stripped of his hoodie and jeans. Even his socks and shoes. He was left to lie on the filthy pavement as Sasuke ran out the alley.

He had no idea how long he lay there, but by the time Sasuke came back with his knapsack bulging, Naruto's stomach was completely empty. He lay shivering in misery as Sasuke checked his pulse again. "What's my name?" he asked.

"Mmuuh," Naruto groaned.

"How many fingers is this?"

Naruto saw the blurry shape of Sasuke's hand and just shook his head. The action made him gag, but nothing came up.

"Okay. Okay. Stop moving, I got this."

Sasuke wasted no time. He dumped both bags of ice he'd gotten on Naruto's body and spread it around. Naruto didn't even complain. The IV kit had been harder to come by, but he had it out and hung on the side of the dumpster in record time. Naruto made no sound at all as the needle went into his arm. Done, he scooped up a handful of ice and put it directly on Naruto's face. He took a blanket he'd managed to find and spread it over him. It was thin, but would help keep the ice from melting too soon. Last, he took a packet of ibuprofen from a pocket in his knapsack and forced two pills in Naruto's mouth. A bottle of Gatorade served to wash them down. Naruto choked, but Sasuke forced him to drink the entire bottle in small swallows, before letting him lie down again.

The IV was nearly empty when someone else came running into the alley. Sasuke had his knife at the ready, but it was only Itachi. "Took you long enough," Sasuke spat. "He needs more fluids. You bring your bag?"

Itachi knelt and felt Naruto's pulse. "Kid needs the hospital. What the fuck, Sasuke."

"No. No hospital, Iruka would have my head. I'd be in Juvie an hour later."

"The fuck's Iruka? Who is this?" He spoke while fishing a digital thermometer out of his bag and putting it to Naruto's ear. "One oh three, Jesus."

"It was worse than that. Gimme the IV. You brought antipyretics?"

Itachi wordlessly handed over a small bottle and a syringe. He took down the used IV while Sasuke hooked up the new one and added the drugs. Sasuke then asked for the sphygmometer. Itachi had an electric one in his bag, and handed that over as well. "I'm the med student," he said as Sasuke slipped it over Naruto's arm. "I should be doing that."

Sasuke snorted. "I think he's stabilizing," he said as he read the results. He sat back on his heels and let out a sigh.

"So who is this? Some kid you jacked?"

"Just help me get him home."

"Explanation or I walk." He began packing the thermometer and used IV kit.

Sasuke talked as Itachi carried Naruto to the car and drove home.

This time Naruto woke on a bed he knew wasn't his own; he didn't have a bed. He had a moth-eaten blanket and a cot during winter, and his tree house in summer. The room he was in was air-conditioned and dark. It smelled like…Sasuke.

He was weak, but able to turn his head. He saw a clear bag of fluid hooked up to a needle in his arm, a pile of neatly folded shirts and jeans on a chair, and the most beautiful man he'd ever seen sitting in another chair, looking at him. "Welcome back," this man said.

Naruto tried to speak.

"Easy. You're recovering from a pretty serious case of heat stroke. Do you know your name?"

"Uzumaki. Naruto. Water, please."

A strong hand was slipped beneath his shoulders, and a straw placed at his lips. His mouth was dry as paper. The water was vaguely sweet, and so cool that he almost cried in relief. He drank greedily until it was pulled away.

"Not so fast." The man eased him back to the pillows. "You'll have all the water you can handle, but take it easy."

"Is this a hospital?"

"Nope. Sasuke's room. I'm his brother, Itachi. How you feeling?" The same penlight was shined into his eyes as Itachi peered into them.

"Okay, I guess. Weak."

Itachi nodded. "Sasuke's filled me in on what happened. You should be okay in another couple of hours-"

Naruto sat up suddenly, ignoring the dizziness that followed. "What time is it?" The sky outside the window was dark. "I have to get back."

"Seven-thirty. Relax. Sasuke called the home and told Iruka that you and he were hanging out here."

"Did he say I was sick? Was Iruka mad? Where is Sasuke?"

"Said you guys were playing video games. No idea if he was mad or not. And Sasuke's out. Said you needed a few things."

"Me?" Naruto lay back down in confusion. Two cool fingers on his inner wrist measured his pulse. "I don't understand."

"And I have my boards to study for. Looks like you're doing much better. Sasuke should be back soon, he'll explain everything. I got soup on the stove. I'll bring it in a few minutes, okay? Rest." Itachi left.

-oOo-

Naruto let his eyes wander around the room. He couldn't see much, but the closet was open, and clothes were spilling out of it. The same was true for the dresser. A bookcase completely covered one wall. It was jammed full of books as thick as his arm, both vertically and horizontally. He saw another case, tall and thin. That one was full of CDs, but there was no CD player.

Finally, he took Itachi's advice and let his body relax. He stared up at the ceiling. Lights came and went from headlights in the street. Somewhere in the building a T.V was playing. he could hear recorded laughter every few seconds, and the sound soothed him.

He was suddenly very sleepy. Cool and comfortable and safe. "I'm in Sasuke's room," he whispered to himself. "Sasuke's house."

He'd never been in anyone's house before, and felt absurdly privileged to be in one now. It was what he dreamed about constantly. Having a home, a family. Someplace to put his things. Having things to begin with. Stupid things, things he didn't need. A bathroom that didn't have a potty on the toilet for little kids, one that wasn't shared with a hundred other people. Sasuke had all that, it seemed, and even had a brother to share it with.

A feeling swelled in Naruto's chest, one he couldn't identify. He only knew that he wanted to stay in Sasuke's bed, in his room, in his house, forever.