She'd had so many dreams of the future, and now they were all crumbling in front of her, like a sandcastle claimed back by the tide.

She tried to draw a breath, but there was just a wet rattle, and she knew something was beyond broken, that she wasn't getting away from this. The pain of claws was raw where they had carved into her.

Minato had been so reassuring, told her they'd never find them here, that Minato wasn't important enough to track down. He had been wrong. Of course he wouldn't let them get away; Minato was too strong, too good of an asset. They never had a chance, and these months of happiness had been a mirage, a moment of pretend before it all caught up with them again. Life had been too good; she should have known it would all come tumbling down.

Minato had always been too good for that other world, a bright spot in the bleakness, a brightness she had seen mirrored in their son, but now Minato was probably already gone, and soon their beloved son would be too, and she was helpless to stop it.

Tears stung her eyes as he looked towards Naruto's crib. She could see a small fist poke over the edge, and she could see the shadow of the beast on the other side. A wolf, muzzle red with blood, her blood.

No, she tried to say, but she couldn't form words. She lifted her hand towards Naruto as the wolf laid its great paws on the edge of his crib, maw opening wide as he leaned over him.

Her hand dropped to the floor, limp. Her last breath left her.


Sasuke peered into the mirror, pushing a strand of hair into place and running his hands through the back one more time to muss it up in the right way. Naruto was standing at his side, pulling forlornly at a piece of hair that hung in his eyes. He'd stolen some of Sasuke's hair wax to tame his unruly locks, but so far it didn't look like he was succeeding.

"Tsk," Sasuke said, "Let me do it."

Naruto turned towards him, eagerly giving up the mammoth task of making some sort of order out of his hair.

Sasuke winced at some of the clumps of wax, evidence that Naruto had really no idea what he had been doing. He worked his fingers through it, but it was quickly evident that Naruto's hair was an entity of its own and did not appreciate being forced to do anything other than rebel. Sasuke mussed it up, making it look a bit more like orderly chaos than bedhead, and called it a day.

"It looks good as it is," he said, rinsing off his hands as Naruto considered the look which was pretty much the same as he usually wore. He shrugged, not really looking like he cared one way or another.

Sasuke felt a weight against his side as Naruto bumped his shoulder against his, and when he looked up into the mirror their eyes met, Naruto giving him a wide grin. Sasuke felt his own lips twitch into a semblance of a smile. He was pretty sure he'd look more like he was ready to murder anyone than he'd look happy if he tried to smile as wide as Naruto did.

"Ready for your party?" Sasuke asked, drying off his hands and leaving the bathroom. His living room looked as it usually did, apart from the various bowls of snacks that littered the living room table. He was still wondering what the hell he had been thinking agreeing to have the party at his apartment. He never let anyone but Naruto inside, and now their entire unit, plus friends (for those of them that had such things) was about to come, and probably turn the place upside down.

The biggest surprise was that Sasuke didn't really mind that much. The glee on Naruto's face when Sasuke had said yes had meant more than keeping the sanctity of his home. He was a changed man, and he found himself being surprisingly fine with that. He guessed it would be nice to go ice skating in hell because it had surely frozen over by now. He scoffed at himself.

"Yes!" Naruto exclaimed, bouncing after him. Sasuke had gotten him to put on some of his nicer clothes, a dove grey shirt that wasn't too big, and a pair of slacks that didn't have scuffed hems. For himself he had chosen a pair of dark jeans, and a soft sweater in a dark mossy green. Naruto had complained that the shirt was too tight, but the way it showed off his broad shoulders and strong back made it exactly right. Naruto just had no concept of well-fitting clothes.

The fashion disaster in question made his way over to the couch, jumping onto it and grabbing the remote, pulling up YouTube, hopefully to put on a playlist and not to watch cat videos. Sasuke let him to it as he made his way back to the bedroom, grabbing a box from the closet.

It was the first time he'd bought a birthday present for anyone since he was a kid, and he had spent too long considering his options before he settled on this. At first sight it might just seem like a nice present, but there was more to it. He was happy with his choice, and he was pretty sure Naruto would be too. At least he hoped so. He was starting to doubt himself now that the day was here. He had no idea how to explain to Naruto what he meant with the gift, but he would figure it out as he went.

When he came back into the living room Naruto was indeed watching cat videos, and Sasuke rolled his eyes as Naruto spun around.

"Sasuke! Look!"

Sasuke sat down next to Naruto as the cat in the video made to leap and faceplanted royally. Naruto guffawed too loud, but stopped seconds later when he spotted the box in Sasuke's lap, bow neatly tied on top.

Sasuke could see the way Naruto was fighting between asking for it and waiting to see what Sasuke was going to do, so he put him out of his misery, handing the box over.

Naruto's face split in another grin—Sasuke was pretty sure he'd see a lot of them today—and then he dug into it with childish glee, ripping apart the paper to get to the box underneath.

"No way!"

Sasuke didn't get the time to say anything as Naruto threw himself at him, planting a sloppy kiss on his mouth.

"We can play later, yeah?" Naruto asked, looking back at the box with a PS4 sitting on the couch. He looked torn, but then he slung a leg over Sasuke and kissed him again, choosing kisses over gaming systems. Good choice.

"Sure, we can play," Sasuke said, brushing a stray strand of hair out of Naruto's eyes.

"You didn't need to buy me a gift at all, Sasuke, the party is enough," Naruto said, but the excitement over the gift was easy to spot as Naruto was squirming with barely contained energy. He really needed to calm down or Sasuke wouldn't be presentable at all when the guests came over later.

"Naruto, do you remem—"

The doorbell chimed through the living room, and Naruto was off his lap and running towards the intercom the next moment, not even realizing Sasuke was about to say something. Sasuke should be annoyed, but right now he was almost happy for the interruption, because he'd rather tell Naruto what he was meaning to say when they were alone and he could show Naruto just how serious he was being.

He rested his head back against the couch, preparing for the peace of his apartment to be completely broken apart in the time it took for Kiba to take the elevator up from the first floor. He thought back to the years of never letting anyone see the place, of making sure to always go home with his dates so he could slip out in the middle of the night if he felt like it, and he realised that ever since he had first brought Naruto here it hadn't been the same. What was once a safe place from the shittiness of the world was now a home. Naruto had made his way past Sasuke's carefully maintained shields, dragging along a whole group of people, and now he was dragging them all beyond the actual physical doors to his home as well. Sasuke would probably bitch and moan through the night, because people still annoyed him, but he didn't care if they destroyed his furniture because it was just things, and the peace he had once found in the loneliness of the apartment he now found with Naruto.

Which was exactly the reasoning behind the present. He was sure Naruto had completely forgotten, but he still remembered what Naruto had said that first day when he woke up here, exclaiming in joy that if Sasuke bought a PS4 he'd move in.

He looked over at the gaming system, a small smile on his lips before he scooped the box up and carried it to the relative safety of the table he'd set up for gifts. He knew exactly when Kiba arrived, the twin exclamations from Naruto and the mutt was hard not to notice. The party was about to start.


Naruto was having the time of his life. Everyone from their DPA unit had come in, because Kakashi had arranged that their days off all aligned, another unit taking over their tasks for the day. He'd made it clear that this was mostly because then he could call Naruto's birthday a teambuilding meeting and he wouldn't have to arrange one later. Naruto had no idea if that was true or not, but he didn't really care, because everyone was here, and it just made him realise that they were all here for him. He had friends, several of them, and they'd all brought more friends that Naruto had been buzzing around getting to know. No one looked at him with disgust or hatred and he wished he could go back to his younger self and tell him that it was going to be okay.

The only person he missed at the party was his dad. Iruka had called earlier to wish him a happy birthday and apologise for not being able to come visit. He'd wanted to, but the principal of the school had put him in charge for a school trip, and there was no way for him to get out of it. He had, however, promised to come visit as soon as he was able. Naruto had wished his dad could be here, but he also knew enough about the school to not be surprised.

Naruto finished off his drink, wincing at the taste. Kankuro had claimed to be in charge of the bar, and so far he'd mostly spent that time making really shitty drinks for everyone. The result was that most of the people were in some state of inebriation, so he guessed it was a success. Naruto would probably have been completely shitfaced by now if his body didn't burn off the alcohol faster than usual humans. Also, he kept getting distracted by talking, and as it was he was just feeling the slightest of buzzes. He needed another drink.

He made his way towards the corner of the kitchen that worked as a bar; grabbing an acid green drink that Kankuro gave him. He was glad of his healing ability when he drank, feeling the sour taste probably burn a hole right through his stomach lining. Kankuro seemed to take great pleasure in the pained look on Naruto's face.

In that moment Naruto noticed Sasuke coming into the kitchen after him. They had become separated when Kiba dragged Naruto away to show him Sasuke's huge ass TV, as if Naruto didn't already know all about that. He was pretty sure Kiba was going to lobby for movie nights at Sasuke's place sometime in the future.

Nearly spilling the sticky drink down his front Naruto bounced over to Sasuke, throwing his free arm around his neck and pulling him close enough to smack a kiss on Sasuke's cheek. Sasuke pushed him off, rolling his eyes.

As with all parties there was a small group of people hanging out in the kitchen, and Sasuke apparently just now seemed to realise what they were up to besides drinking and spilling all over his floors.

"Who is that girl?" he asked, frowning in the direction of the kitchen table.

"The one with the thingies on her head?" Naruto made a swirling motion atop his head to indicate a pair of twin buns. "That's TenTen. She came with Lee I think?"

"What is she doing with my kitchen knife?"

Naruto looked over her shoulder, seeing her hand splayed on the table top as she proceeded to stab all around her fingers, neatly avoiding actually severing any of them. "It's the Knife game?" Naruto said. Had Sasuke really never heard of it? Like, for real?

"Does she know that the table she is currently stabbing into costs about $6000?" Sasuke deadpanned.

It was clear that TenTen had overheard that last sentence, because her hand froze mid-air, and they could see how her head tilted towards the table top, seeing the very distinct nicks she had left in it. Very slowly she turned around, her brown eyes wide as she looked at Sasuke.

Sasuke didn't say anything, just let the moment drag out, and Naruto could see how dread seemed to fill TenTen. Apparently Lee had told her just enough to be afraid of Sasuke, but not enough to warn her off damaging his property.

Sasuke took a sip of his drink, and what could only be years of not showing off his emotions enabled him not to wince, because no way was the pale-pink concoction in any way tasty.

"Go nuts, but if you cut off a finger I'm not taking you to the hospital," Sasuke said, smirking at TenTen, and then dragging Naruto after him into the living room. Naruto just had time to give her a thumbs up before he stumbled after his boyfriend.

"Does it really cost that much?" Naruto said, and Sasuke just shrugged.

"Probably more."

Naruto laughed, bumping his shoulder against Sasuke and looking over the room. Gaara was standing by a wall, looking far beyond uncomfortable, and on the other side of the room Neji was standing, matching his look. "Gaara! Neji! Kankuro wants you in the kitchen!" Naruto called out. It was clear the two needed drinks to loosen up, and Kankuro was up to that task just fine.

Making a detour by the coffee table Naruto was dismayed to see that they were running low on snacks. There was a big bowl of chips left, but that was currently in Chouji's lap, the guy doing what he could to decimate the entire thing all by himself. Naruto left him to it, figuring he shouldn't get between a man and his snacks.

When Sasuke sat down in the armchair that was pulled up towards the couch Naruto made his way over, settling into Sasuke's lap.

"Hey, idiot, you're too heavy," Sasuke complained, shoving at Naruto's back, but Naruto just grabbed the armrests and made himself heavier, and Sasuke gave in moments later. He probably could've dislodged Naruto if he wanted, but instead he leaned back, one hand resting on Naruto's hip, middle finger hooking on one of the belt loops.

Naruto peered around the room, noting how different it looked filled with people. The space, which was usually just this side of barren, seemed a lot more alive with people milling around it, drinking and talking and swaying to the music. Naruto noticed that someone had changed the playlist he had found online, but he thought maybe he liked this one better; it had a nice beat, easy to talk over, but still enjoyable.

This was the birthday party he'd always wanted, people having a good time, talking, hanging around, having fun. He'd gotten a bunch of gifts, but he didn't really care about that. They could've come with nothing at all, and he wouldn't have minded one bit.

Birthdays had been mostly forgotten about in the various foster homes he had lived in as a kid, and although Iruka had done what he could to with cake and movies and presents, there was still something lacking. Naruto saw how his classmates all invited everyone to parties, they always talked about it for ages afterwards, but Naruto was never invited, always on the outside. He'd gotten pity invites a couple of times, but the look on his classmates' faces clearly said that their parents were making them, and that they did not in any way want Naruto to come. In most cases there weren't even pity invites, because the parents despised Naruto as much as the kids ever did.

Now he was right in the middle of things, no longer the one having to hear about how others spent birthdays. These people were all here because they wanted to be, because they liked to be around him, and Naruto still couldn't quite believe his luck. He had been so lonely, and now he had friends and a boyfriend, and he hoped things would never change.

A hand floated to his stomach, pressing against it, as if willing the beast inside to stay slumbering. He didn't want this to ever be ruined. For once his life seemed absolutely perfect.

Naruto was distracted from his thoughts moments later when Kiba came stomping into the room. He made his way to Naruto, grabbed a discarded drink from the table and downed it all. "What am I doing wrong?" he groaned as he dropped the glass back on the table, making it tip over on its side, spilling sticky remains of something opaque that was probably just another disgusting mix of liquors on the table. He made no move to pick it up.

"Are we talking in general here? I don't think we can spend the entire night discussing what is wrong with you," Sasuke said from behind Naruto.

"Shit, Uchiha, didn't even see you," Kiba said, hand darting out to right the glass. "Also, shut up."

Naruto heard Sasuke's disapproving snort, and dove in before Sasuke egged Kiba on more. Naruto could do that well enough on his own.

"What did you do now?" Naruto asked.

"It's not so much what I did do, as what I don't do," Kiba asked, pushing at Naruto's arm enough that he could claim the armrest for a seat, sitting sideways and twisting his head towards Naruto. He lived dangerously, because Sasuke's hand twitched against Naruto's side, as if he was making ready to shove him off any moment.

"Shower?" Naruto added helpfully.

Kiba made a small growl of annoyance. "I have a dog, okay, not my fault he rolls around in my clothes."

Sasuke and Naruto snorted out short laughs at that.

"But that's not it. Guess what I just walked in on?"

Naruto wasn't sure he really wanted to know what Kiba had seen, but Kiba was obviously going to tell him anyways, because he continued moments later.

"So, I was headed to the bathroom yeah? And guess who I see all over each other out in the hallway? Fucking Shikamaru and Temari, sucking face like they are teenager. Like, fuck that. Shikamaru is so lazy that he barely manages to stay awake at work, and he finds someone like Temari? And what about me? Do I get anyone to make out with?" Kiba threw his arms into the air, almost toppling over, only Naruto's hand on his arm enough to make sure he stayed seated.

"And it's not like this is the first time is it? I totally walked in on you two too, you know. So unfair."

"You wanna make out with Sasuke too?" Naruto asked, and he simultaneously heard a scoff from Sasuke and a eww from Kiba.

"Believe me, of the two of you I'd chose you any day, Naruto," Kiba said, grinning wide enough to show off crooked canines.

"Please don't," Sasuke muttered. "I don't want your slobber all over him."

"I'm not that unlikeable—I'm not talking to you, Sasuke—am I really?" Kiba said with a pout as he leaned against Naruto's shoulder. "I just want someone to kiss me already, I'm sick and tired of just walking in on all of you guys."

"Oh my God, Kiba, seriously? Are you going to be complaining about this all night?" A shrill voice cut through Kiba's whining.

Naruto hadn't noticed her sitting on the couch, Ino, the blond friend Kiba had introduced him to once a night that Naruto didn't remember too much of on account of the copious amounts of alcohol he had consumed. She was standing up now, hands on her side as she narrowed her eyes at Kiba.

"Yes," Kiba said, "I'm gonna keep complaining until I get someone cute to make out with too."

Ino sighed, then grabbed the front of Kiba's sweater and dragged him close so he was barely sitting on the armrest at all anymore. Then she pressed glossy lips against Kiba in a hard kiss.

When she let him go he fell backwards, tumbling on top of Naruto in a sprawl of limbs. Pink lip-gloss shone on his lips, and he blinked up at Naruto, looking completely shell-shocked. "Did Ino just kiss me?"

Naruto nodded.

"Do you think she likes me?"

"She probably just wanted you to shut up," Sasuke supplied helpfully, voice sounding a little strained, probably because of the two agents currently in his lap.

Kiba looked over the room towards where Ino had gone. "I'm gonna go ask her," he added, trying to get up, but only managing to roll off the chair onto the floor. He didn't seem to mind much, and got to his feet, bolting after Ino.

Naruto shifted around in Sasuke's lap until he could sling an arm around Sasuke's neck, leaning in and pressing their foreheads together.

"This is a great party, Sasuke, thank you so much for doing this."

"It's really not a big deal. As long as you help clean up, because we're probably going to have to disinfect the entire place tomorrow."

Naruto threaded his fingers in Sasuke's hair and kissed him softly.

"I love you so much," Naruto muttered against Sasuke's lips.

The next second a scream rang through the apartment, and both Naruto and Sasuke straightened their backs, heads swivelling in the direction of the sound, already on the alert.

TenTen came rushing out of the kitchen, looking around the room before her gaze settled on Naruto and Sasuke. Her eyes were wide, and her skin tone was decidedly paler than it had been when they last saw her.

"Uhm, do you have like bandages or something, maybe?" she asked.

Naruto turned to look towards the kitchen, not sure what he expected to see.

"Kankuro was boasting that he could do better than me, but I think he taste tested a few too many of his drinks," she added. She wasn't looking too panicky, so Naruto figured it wasn't too bad. No dismembered fingers at least. He let alertness seep out of his body again as he got to his feet, letting Sasuke go to fetch the first aid kit.

The surge of adrenaline that flashed through him when he'd heard the scream (obviously Kankuro's) had stirred up his beast, and even as Naruto sat back down and tried to focus back on the party it took the beast a while to calm back down. He tried ignoring it, but when he looked back around the room he felt almost like an impostor. A room of good people, and here he was, hiding something inside that he sometimes wondered if he really was in control of at all.

He smiled at a joke, but it didn't quite reach his eyes, and not until Sasuke came back and wound their fingers together did Naruto really calm down and let himself enjoy his party again, the beast finally curling up in its fitful hibernation. Everything was going to be fine.

A/N: Someone over on Partners noted how Sasuke should get Naruto a PS4, and I very much agreed. As always, feedback would be very much appreciated, it fuels my muses.