Author's Notes: The answer to the "Damn Movies" quote contest is: STAR WARS! I can't believe no one got it. lol. I'm sure, now, you are all face-palm'ing yourselves. XD Sorry, but no one gets Naruto's cookie. : insert dirty joke here :

This story is a little different...not so funny. But I haven't been in a funny mood lately, sorry. Maybe more of them will come. If I discover a reason to laugh.


Drabble #18
Overprotective

These damn missions were getting more annoying by the second. Sasuke came back over a year ago and after a few months of punishment – including some very aggravating house arrest – he was finally allowed back on missions. Back on C- and D-rank missions, accompanied by Naruto – no exceptions. And, sadly enough, he was still a genin-ranked ninja.

Not only were the missions annoying and tedious, the company was beginning to get on his nerves as well. And not for the reasons Naruto would normally get on his nerves. It was because, now, Naruto had become super overprotective of the Uchiha.

Overprotective, quiet, and fussy; three things Naruto Uzumaki never was before. And, what was worse, he wouldn't give Sasuke a reasonable explanation…or an explanation at all.

All the tension and overprotection finally came to a head during the worst possible timing. Right in the middle of a C-rank mission, which quickly became an A-rank mission. Déjà vu back to the Zabuza mission, anyone?

In the midst of fighting off several rogue ninja from some hidden land, Sasuke was in the middle of the hand signs, which signal his fire style…until Naruto sent a clone over to protect Sasuke. In doing so, Naruto successfully took out the ring leader. End of mission, Naruto saved the day. That was when the proverbial shit hit the fan.

"Naruto, what is your problem?"

"I was…rescuing…you…" Naruto looked at the floor, not wanting to see the violent look in Sasuke's eyes.

"I was fine, Naruto. I didn't need saving. Don't save me again!" Sasuke stalked out of the building, leaving a very hurt Naruto behind.

They were both trying their hardest to avoid each other that night, which regretfully involved sleeping in the same room. Naruto kept stealing glances at the very pissed off Uchiha, who simply glared straight ahead, or at a kunai he was cleaning, or at a book, anything to completely ignore the blonde. Eventually, Naruto gave up trying to think of a way to apologize and just settled for sleeping.

He'd been out for a few hours before Sasuke finally decided to turn in. Naruto's bed was closest to the door, so when Sasuke went to find the bathroom, he finally came close enough to the sleeping Naruto to see him shaking. The blanket was about as tight around him as possible, so he figured Naruto wasn't cold. Was there an actual reason the blonde would be shaking in his sleep? He leaned down to feel the blonde's forehead, thinking maybe it was a fever, when he heard a slight moan.

"…Sasuke…sorry…" Sasuke froze mid-movement, listening intently on Naruto's voice.

"Naruto?" Sasuke whispered. Naruto fidgeted in his sleep at the sound of Sasuke's voice.

"Please, don't…" Naruto's hand lifted up, as if he was reaching for something. "Don't…leave…me…again…" A tear rolled down Naruto's cheek.

Sasuke began finding it hard to breathe. There the blonde was pouring out his heart the only way he could, in a dream. Sasuke didn't even realize he'd grabbed the blonde's hand until he felt the pressure of Naruto gripping it back. It seemed to ease the sleeping blonde, however, as his breathing evened out and he seemed to fall back into a peaceful sleep.

Forgetting his bath for the time being, he lay down beside Naruto, keeping their hands weaved together. He'd never imagined his little rant from before had hurt his best friend that bad, but he felt a new sense of guilt rise up inside of him. The least he could do was keep him calmly asleep until the morning, where he knew he'd have an apology to make.

Looking back over at Naruto's sleeping form; he felt a wave of something else he hadn't had before. An emotion he almost forgot existed. He felt love. Maybe overprotection wasn't such a bad thing. Maybe it was the only way they knew how to show their love to each other.

And, if that's what Naruto was trying to show him, then he'd show it back…by being super overprotective in his own way.


Next story will be depressing too...just a warning.