101 Words
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto nor do I own it's characters. I make no money with this.
Author's Note: Chapter 44 already... Kind of nearing the end. O.o' Which is scary considering that I'm still unsure of how I want to finish this... I also started working on one of the countless multi-chapter fics that keep poppoing up in my head every now and then. It's... amazing how much bullshit one can compose in a little over an hour. -.-'' *was definitely not born for writing multi-chapters...*
Embrace
Sasuke never made anything easy for anyone, least of all for himself.
Sometimes, it was breaking Naruto. Knowing that Sasuke was dying inside – killing himself inside, for fuck's sake! – and knowing that he – he and no one else – was the knife that Sasuke used to cut his heart right out of his fucking chest with. It hurt to see that Sasuke was suffering, always tormenting himself, be it consciously or not, and it hurt to know that he didn't realize Naruto was right there and suffering with him.
Sometimes, Naruto thought it would be so much easier if he could just bring himself to hate Sasuke. That it would hurt so much less if he could just force himself to turn away, if he didn't have to watch what Sasuke did to himself...
Sometimes, Naruto wondered if letting go was the way. Maybe if Sasuke hit the ground just once without Naruto being there to catch him, maybe he'd wake up then. Maybe getting back to his feet on his own was what he really needed. Maybe it'd be better that way.
Sometimes, Naruto just wished he had the strength to not be there when Sasuke stumbled.
'Let him fall, let him fall, let him fall...' he told himself, closing his eyes and holding his breath, knowing perfectly well that his arms would close around Sasuke the very moment he lost his balance.
Catching Sasuke was something he did out of reflex, no matter what his head told him.