I would like to officially go on record with saying that you guys ROCK MY WORLD! The response to my last chapter was absolutely fantastic, inspiring, and it made me pour a lot more effort into this chapter. Seriously, what a motivational kick in the ass. And you guys raised such thoughtful questions. That proves that everyone out there actually gets this little fic of mine and doesn't just want another generic SasuNaru love story. Me so happy. Oh, and one reader, xxMikeyxx, raised a very important question that will now be answered. He knows what I mean, and the rest of you will soon as well.
Disclaimer: 'Tis sadly not mine.
All my love to Sora-chan, and my thanks to her for bountiful inspiration.
Habitual Infatuation .::. Chapter 8Long lashes fluttered slowly open, revealing eyes as dark as ink wells beneath. A pink flash of tongue slid over dry lips and moistened them as if in preparation for speech. When the lips parted, all that escaped from them was a wordless groan, soft and guttural.
Sasuke had never felt this way before in his life.
Morning had come. He could tell by the slant of the sun's rays in the perfect sky hanging above him. He had no idea how long he'd been asleep. This could be the morning of a day a week after the one he'd fallen asleep on, and it would make no difference to him. Time no longer held meaning for the young shinobi. Every sinew in his body seemed alive to him, as if he'd flooded them with chakra. He'd read about this sort of thing before, heard descriptions of it from experienced ninja, but never had he once in his life been able to understand what it was really like. He felt alive.
A quick glance down to his chest confirmed what Sasuke already knew. A golden mass of hair was resting against him, connected to a body that was snuggled warmly to his side, belonging to Sasuke's former partner whom he had just engaged in rather mind-blowing sex with. Memories rushed over him, invoking tastes and sounds and touches that made him shiver. No wonder his body felt so strange to him. Never in his life had he ever done anything of the sort.
Sasuke bit his lip as a realization dawned on him. Never had he done that before. He'd been so focused on the fact that it was Naruto's first time, he'd overlooked one very important detail.
It was Sasuke's first time as well.
He'd had dozens of admirers over the years, naturally, and those were just the ones who'd made themselves known. But never before had he chosen to lay with one as he had laid with Naruto. He had dismissed all of his would-be suitors one-by-one. It wasn't through any personal distaste for most of them, or from a feeling of superiority, but simply due to a lack of time. He was training to be an elite ninja and could not afford the distraction of courtship rituals.
He had, however, not allowed himself to become ignorant of the subject simply because he chose not to indulge in it. In his spare time, or when he needed a break from studying different jutsu, Sasuke had read up on all manner of topics ranging from foreign courtship rituals to anatomy to the effects of sexual contact on both the physical and cognitive parts of humans. He had read that emotional attachment generally follows the decision to have sex, hence why he had formulated his plan to make Naruto fall in love with him. Sasuke had assumed that the golden-haired ninja would naturally form an emotional bond with him as a result of their physical bond, and then Naruto would be able to enjoy love like any normal person.
The plan was brilliant, well-carried out, and fool-proof.
However, Sasuke had neglected to factor in one very important aspect.
It takes two people to form a physical bond, and therefore the emotional bond runs both ways. Sasuke's body felt strange to him for much deeper reasons than simply because he was no longer a virgin. He ached in a way he never would have thought possible. Naruto was lying right next to him, yet Sasuke could swear his mind was telling him that he missed the blonde shinobi. And worst of all, Sasuke could remember thinking treacherous thoughts while he was making love to Naruto: thoughts of love and affection.
Those thoughts had not died away with sleep as Sasuke had hoped they would.
This was a disaster.
Sasuke bit his lip in exasperation, willing the icy calm that was his greatest weapon to return to him and guide him. This wasn't nearly as bad as his thoughts were making it seem. If he had been looking at this situation any time but the morning after, Sasuke would have been able to think clearly. But right now, his mind was still clouded with feelings, with memories, with the sound of Naruto moaning his name….
No matter what came of it, Sasuke could never regret what he and Naruto had done.
Just as this thought entered his head, Sasuke felt a stirring against his chest. The pattern of Naruto's breathing changed, and a little groan escaped the young ninja's lips. Sasuke tensed as he watched the body pressed to his, a slow sense of dread seeping into him like icy poison. It was one thing to think about what he'd done; it was another thing to be confronted with the beautiful creature he'd done it with.
Naruto's long lashes drifted leisurely up, revealing pools of cerulean hidden beneath them. At first, the blond ninja looked confused, as if he had no idea where he was or what he was doing. He glanced down at his body, taking in its naked and glistening appearance. Then he glanced at Sasuke's body, so perfectly entwined with his, also naked and glistening lasciviously. Then, in a moment that seemed to stop time, Naruto glanced up at Sasuke's face and their eyes met head on.
Sasuke felt his body stiffen as he was caught and inexplicably held in that gaze. He'd always noted the rare and beautiful color of Naruto's eyes, but never before had he felt as though he could lose himself forever tracing the star-like patterns. The tones, the textures, the ripples… every niche and shadow seemed worthy of exploration. God, how he loved those eyes.
Sasuke frowned. There was that love word again.
With a start, he realized a strange, hurt look had come over Naruto's face. Then it dawned on the black-haired ninja that he'd been staring at Naruto and frowning, something that the blonde would certainly have interpreted as a bad thing. Thinking quickly, Sasuke forced a smirk to his face and ruffled the tousled blonde locks before him. "Good morning, Naruto."
Sasuke watched with satisfaction as a small shudder ran through the blonde when his name was said. He was obviously remembering the sound of Sasuke growling it breathily.
"Good morning," Naruto responded, somewhat tentatively. Then, in a much louder and more assertive voice, he made the profound claim, "I'm hungry."
Sasuke almost laughed. Only Naruto could sound so much like himself while lying naked on top of another man after a night of wondrous homoerotica. A blush coated the other ninja's cheeks at the sound of Sasuke's laughter, and for the first time a trace of uncertainty flickered in his eyes. Naruto pulled his body from Sasuke's and turned his eyes away, pointedly searching around the clearing for his clothing. The blonde climbed to his feet and began gathering the scattered garments, covering his naked flesh with them as quickly as he could. All the while, he did not glance at Sasuke once.
Sasuke's inner laughter immediately died away as he watched the nervous movements of his partner. Was Naruto simply embarrassed, or did he lament what they had done? Or both? Sasuke needed to figure that out and quickly. Setting aside his usual tact for once, the black-haired shinobi climbed fluidly to his feet and in a few long strides placed himself behind Naruto. The blonde ninja's body went rigid as he sensed Sasuke's presence so near to him, though his back was turned. Tentatively, Sasuke placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder, silently asking him to turn around.
Without a word, Naruto obeyed, pivoting slowly until the two boys stood chest-to-chest, gazing into each other's eyes in a clash of afternoon blue and inky midnight. Slowly, Sasuke brought a hand to Naruto's cheek and gently cupped it, brushing his fingers along the curve of his lover's jaw. Naruto's eyes closed at the touch, and he leaned into it, nuzzling against Sasuke's hand. The paler ninja breathed a silent sigh of relief at Naruto's reaction. This didn't necessarily mean that Naruto felt the same way for him, but it at least meant their entire relationship was yet to be ruined.
And then Sasuke was overcome by the urge to do something incredibly stupid.
He had to tell Naruto how he felt about him.
"Naruto…" he whispered slowly, uncertainty filling his chest like cold lead. Dizziness rushed over him for a moment as he was once again caught in the mesmerizing blue of Naruto's eyes. So much to say and so few words with which to say it correctly. If he didn't tread cautiously, he might blow any chance he had of…
…Of what?
Sasuke was horrified to realize that he had absolutely no idea what he really wanted from Naruto. He felt so strongly for the blonde that it pained him to think of those feelings not being reciprocated. He already understood that much. What he had failed thus far to entertain was the idea of Naruto actually returning his feelings. What would Sasuke do if Naruto loved him as well? They'd been partners for so long that the idea of a romantic relationship between them was preposterous. They would never be allowed to work together in the field if there was the slightest hint of bias between them. Their love might compromise their abilities as shinobi.
Sasuke could feel the color draining from his face as he began to comprehend the full range of consequences that his actions would have. He had only intended to give Naruto a grand gift: the gift of love. Instead, he might have found a way to force the boy he loved away from him forever.
"Teme, what's wrong?" Naruto asked, startling Sasuke from his thoughts. It was odd to hear Naruto's old nickname for him after all they'd been through. It just didn't have the same bitter ring to it anymore.
I shouldn't worry about what is to come until I know for sure that there's something to worry about, Sasuke assured himself. Just get on with it; a true Uchiha can handle anything, even matters of the heart.
"Naruto… this is difficult to say, but I must tell you something." Sasuke's lips were forming the words of their own volition. His heart hammered until he thought it would explode.
The moment of truth had arrived.
"I love you."
Silence followed Sasuke's words so thickly he swore he could feel it filling his ears. Naruto's eyes slowly widened until they resembled twin balls of blue flame. Sasuke's entire body went stiff with mounting tension. The first step of what could be an impossibly long journey had been taken.
Gradually, Naruto's eyelids lowered over the sparkling pools of blue that were his eyes until his long lashes rested calmly on his cheeks. Then they lifted again like the dramatic unfurling of a black velvet curtain, poised for the opening act. Naruto studied Sasuke's face, searching the features etched from porcelain. He reminded Sasuke of a sculpture looking to put the finishing touches on his grandest creation.
Slowly, achingly slowly, Naruto's lips parted, and he wet them in preparation for speech much as Sasuke had done moments before. The black-haired ninja tensed, watching with tortuous sharpness as the muscles in Naruto's delicate and beautiful throat tightened.
"Sasuke, I—"
"Well, well, what have we here?" An unexpected voice cut Naruto off.
Both boys jerked with such pure shock, they were thrown gracelessly to the ground. Sasuke recovered the fastest, digging himself out of the pile of tangled limbs that he and Naruto had become for the second time and glancing in the direction of the mystery voice.
There, standing in his typical pose of casual observation, was none other than their missing sensei: Kakashi. Sasuke's anger flashed in him like a dancing dagger. Why, when Kakashi could have appeared at any other time in the universe, did he have to do so now? The young ninja cursed the ill-timing that seemed to be plaguing him these days.
For a moment, Kakashi merely stood there, examining the boys with a practiced eye and a smirk, as if sizing up an opponent. Sasuke's teeth gritted as he felt his teacher's gaze roving over him and his lover. He was infuriated by both for different reasons; he couldn't stand his loss of dignity in being naked before his superior, but even more so he couldn't stand the thought of another man looking at Naruto's body.
After an eon of uncomfortable silence, Kakashi stretched languidly and crossed his arms. "I was wondering what kind of condition I would discover you two in when I finally came to fetch you…but I must say, this is nothing like what I expected. You look very…cozy."
Naruto's blush spread from his cheeks to every inch of his lean, tanned body. Sasuke watched the comical effect with dread, knowing he'd never get an answer out of the blonde ninja now.
His inky eyes locked on Kakashi like lasers, and with an exasperated growl spat out through clenched teeth, he stated simply: "Kakashi-sensei, I fucking hate you."
To be continued….
