a/n: Thanks to the two folks who recently sent me Starbuck's e-cards. It makes my writing habit more affordable.

Dedicated to netamashii.

The rush of adrenaline in his body was still pretty high as Sasuke assisted in clearing off the stage and packing up. Friends (mostly female) of the band had swarmed into the back area. There was even a journalist talking to Rin about the show. Sasuke wanted to avoid being interviewed, so he headed for the restroom, but before he could take more than a couple of steps, someone grabbed his arm and slung an arm around his shoulders.

"The fuck was that, Uchiha?" The low voice said in his ear. "Trying to take my spot in the band?"

Sasuke pushed Yagura off. "What are you doing here?"

"I heard you were singing tonight, so I had to see it for myself," Yagura answered, pulling him into the corner where there weren't so many people.

"Well," he said, not opposed to hearing critique. "What did you think?"

"I think you looked and sounded confident. I'd even venture to say you looked kind of sexy." He tugged at a piece of Sasuke's hair. "For a guy. So, what are you doing after this? I hope not hanging out with a bunch of girls. You'd have a much better time with me."

"I don't know." Sasuke checked his watch. "I think I'm going to crash early. I was planning to stay at Jiroubou's, but we played later than I expected, so I might try to catch a bus home."

Yagura shrugged. "Crash at my place."

Sasuke, suspicious of his motives, raised an eyebrow.

"By the way, where's your boyfriend?" Yagura asked, glancing around the room. "Or, should I say your ex-boyfriend? Apparently he's moved on, huh? Although the guy he's with now could be your clone. That's sort of flattering, isn't it?"

Sasuke pushed him off so he wasn't hanging all over him. "What are you talking about?"

"Earlier tonight, he was up on the balcony. Saw him when I was talkin' to some chick."

"Naruto wouldn't come to a show like this, and I didn't tell him about it."

The singer laughed while slicking his hair behind an ear. "Apparently he thought you wouldn't come either 'cause when I ran into that friend of his downstairs, he was surprised you were playing. No worries, though. He stayed for at least half of the show before he booked it the hell out of here. So, do you wanna come to my place or not? We'll play some shit, get tanked."

Sasuke was still stuck on the fact Naruto had come to the show, watched him play, heard him sing - why did that make him feel embarrassed? A million things ran through his mind, but he couldn't quite figure out why Naruto would stay only to leave halfway through.

"Dammit," he muttered. "I need to find my phone."

Sasuke headed down the hall and toward the room where they stored all their personal things. Much to his annoyance, Yagura followed. He went to his bag and dug out his phone, turning it on to check if there were any messages from Naruto (it wasn't likely, but maybe he was pissed about something enough to call him). However, there were no texts or voicemails.

"Did you say anything to piss him off?" Sasuke asked.

"Fuck no. He told me to shut up about you because apparently that other kid from school doesn't know you're gay, but other than that. I talked to him for three seconds and got a phone call. Talked to that other kid, Sai or whatever, for 15 minutes, though. When he came downstairs during the other band's set to get some drinks. Kid had an attitude. I liked it, so I chatted him up for a while. But, I didn't give up your secret about being a homo, so don't sweat it."

"Thanks," he said dryly. "You're so thoughtful."

Sasuke stalked through some of Naruto's social media to see if he'd posted anything about him or the show. There was a single pic on Instagram of Naruto and Sai outside the venue. That meant Yagura was telling the truth about seeing him. Not that he had a reason to lie. Other than to piss him off.

"So, what is goin' on with you and that blond kid?" Yagura asked, watching Sasuke after he put his phone away and slipped off his shirt. It was drenched in sweat.

As he was putting on a clean one, Rin burst through the door but stopped when she saw him standing next to Yagura with his shirt off.

"Oh, sorry," she said. "I didn't - um… I can come back?"

Sasuke sighed. "I'm only changing shirts. Yagura, you know Rin. Rin, this is Yagura."

"Yes." Rin came in, but didn't extend a hand. "You have a great stage presence."

Yagura snorted. "I hope you don't think you can steal Sasuke away from me."

"I don't belong to you," Sasuke replied, gathering his things. He needed to grab his guitar, too.

"Hey, Sasuke," said Rin. "There's a reporter out there who wouldn't mind - "

"No, thanks," he said before she could finish.

"Yeah, he doesn't have time. He's coming home with me." Yagura cracked his knuckles and stretched his arms upward before folding them behind his head.

Sasuke thought he was in an obnoxious mood tonight. Even more so than usual.

Rin approached him. "Oh, okay. Hey… you didn't see a guy try to come back here… or ask for me or something?"

"I didn't." Sasuke smirked. "Is this that guy you gave your number to?"

"Who's this we're talkin' about?" Yagura asked. "Aw, did you meet a guy tonight, Rin?"

"None of your business," Rin replied. "He was my age or a year younger? Blond. Blue eyes. Nice smile. Your height. He was wearing jeans and a white, long-sleeved shirt?"

Shit.

He had a bad feeling about this. Sasuke, on a whim, pulled out his phone again and searched for that picture he'd just seen of Naruto and Sai. He showed it to her.

"Did he look like this?"

Rin looked at him excitedly "Yeah! That was him. Oh my God, you know him?"

Yagura started laughing so hard Sasuke had to tell him to shut up.

"What's so funny?" Rin asked.

"I know him," Sasuke replied. "Yagura knows him, too."

"Yes, but Sasuke knows him really well," Yagura added helpfully.

Sasuke glared. "Would you shut up and go grab my guitar? Don't fuck it up by dropping it either."

"Tch. Does this mean you're comin' to my place? Why the hell is a guitarist ordering a singer around anyway?" Yagura grumbled, but he looked as though he would go get it.

When he left, Rin grabbed hold of his arm. "So, you know him then? Naruto?"

Sasuke swiped his hair out of his eyes. He didn't know exactly what to say, but with her staring at him with those big brown eyes of hers, it's not like he could lie.

"Did he come to see you tonight? I mentioned having to sub someone in, but he acted like he didn't know about it. He didn't even know who I was…"

"He didn't," Sasuke answered, so that she wouldn't get the wrong idea. "He didn't know I was playing because I've never played with you or at this venue. I didn't know he was coming."

"Maybe he saw it online," she suggested. "That you'd be here."

"I doubt it." He shook his head. "I'm sorry if I messed up your opportunity to see him again."

"No, it's…" Rin smiled. "I don't even know him! But, you do, I guess. He goes to your school?"

"He's in my grade, yes," Sasuke replied carefully.

"He sort of hinted that… Um." Rin stared at him as if expecting him to read her mind.

"Hinted that what?" He asked. "What did he say."

"Unless he has a lot of friends in bands, I… think he was talking about you. I mean, I'm not making a big deal about this because, well, we talked for all of 10 minutes. But now that I know you know him, it's… He was staring at our shirts on the merch table." Rin laughed lightly, touching her fingers to her lips. "I just thought it was funny. I wondered what he was thinking about with an expression like that. I walked up behind him and made fun of him to break the ice. I guess I did expect for him to recognize me, but… he didn't."

"Sorry," he said. "I think he saw you perform once, but he'd been drinking. I should've trained him better…"

"No, no. I wasn't offended. I thought it was funny. But, he said that he was thinking about buying one for some friend, but that it was an ex-friend." She threw her hands up in the air. "I feel stupid now, but I teased him about it being a boyfriend. At first, he said it was a friend. Then he almost sounded like it really was more than a friend. I felt like he was confiding in me. It sounded like a break-up, and that he was… mad at you. I guess."

Rin was watching him for a reaction, even biting her lip like she was nervous what he'd say. Sasuke, however, was struggling with the thought of Naruto saying anything that would insinuate having a relationship with another boy. It made him curious.

"What exactly did he say, Rin?"

She shrugged. "I don't know if I should say. If he didn't know you were here or that I knew you, maybe he didn't want anyone to know."

"That's fine," he said. "If it makes you feel better, he and I never dated. He's not my boyfriend or my ex. We were close. Once."

"I feel silly now," she said. "I thought he was just some cute random boy I met before the show. It's no big deal."

Sasuke attempted a smile. "I'm sure he thought you were cute. Did he joke with you? Smile? Try to make you laugh?"

"Yeah… yes. He was very nice to me. Like I said, we didn't talk long."

"Then, he liked you. You never know. He may give you a call. He can be unpredictable."

"No, it's - Nevermind." She waved a hand dismissively. "He's your friend. Or, ex-friend. I don't know what he is, so I'll stay out of it, but you stupid boys. Why are you fighting? Why is he mad? Shouldn't you call and make sure he's okay?" Rin pounded on his chest. "Sasuke! Don't be dumb."

He took hold of her wrist, squeezing it gently. "He's with a friend. I'm sure he's fine. If I called him, he wouldn't answer. I said things… that weren't so nice."

"Then apologize," she mumbled. "He looked so sad staring at those dumb shirts."

Sasuke let go of her arm. "He knows I collect them. I'm sure it was habit."

"Okay, well." Rin gave him a hug, and he allowed it. "I had a really good time playing with you tonight. I almost wanna tell you to leave Yagura. We'd treat you so much better, but I know we're not your style."

"I wouldn't put it that way," he replied. "That was the most fun I've had playing in a long, long while. If you need me again, you know where to find me."

"I guess I popped your singing cherry, huh? That makes me feel pretty special. You sure you don't want to hang with us tonight?" She asked, her fingers clinging onto the back of his shirt.

"I haven't decided what I'm doing, but I do need to crash somewhere, and my first choice texted me to say he's out for the evening. Going home would be a pain."

She took a step back, arms falling to her sides. "Call me if you change your mind. If Naruto ends up calling me, I'm going to tell him to call you, Sasuke. Because I know you're not a bad guy."

"What makes you say that?" He asked, genuinely curious.

"It's just a feeling. I'm sure you had your reasons. It's almost Christmas, and you're not supposed to fight with friends around then. Or, pseudo lovers, pseudo boyfriends, whatever the two of you are, but I do know you'd make a very sexy couple at least."

"Thanks." He grinned and pet her on the head. "Good to know."

"You've kissed him, haven't you?" She asked suddenly, an accusing glint in her eyes. "It's so unfair! What's it like to be so hot that you're attracting straight men to you?"

"I didn't say anything of the sort," Sasuke replied right when Yagura reappeared in the doorway.

"Where's your case, asshole?" Yagura asked him, and spotting it on his own, went to put the guitar away. "I've kissed Sasuke if that's what you were askin' about."

"It wasn't," Sasuke told him. "And don't eavesdrop."

Yagura flipped him off. "Here I am bein' nice and retrieving your guitar, and now you're gonna be an asshole to me? See what I put up with, Rin?"

"Why would you kiss Yagura?" Rin asked. "I think you could do a lot better."

"I didn't kiss Yagura," he said. "He kissed me on stage once because he's an idiot."

Yagura shrugged, slinging Sasuke's guitar over his shoulder. "Girls love it when you do that stuff. It's not like Sasuke gets a lot of action, so I'm sure he enjoyed it."

Rin shook her head. "Please take him away. I'm already insulted you're choosing him over me."

"C'mon now, Rin. There are women who'd kill to sleep with me," Yagura gloated. "Get your jacket on, Sasuke. We're goin' home. I've got some stuff I've been workin' on, and I want you to help me with the music and lyrics."

"I see. So, you do need me for something." Sasuke gave Rin one last look, but she shook her head in disappointment. "Thanks again, Rin."

"Thank you," she said. "And if you see him? Tell him I said hi, and that… I didn't know you were the friend he was talking about."

Sasuke didn't reply as he put on his coat and scarf. He waved goodbye. Yagura grabbed him by the arm and dragged him out of the room.

"At least let me say goodbye to everyone else," he muttered, slapping his hand away.

"Why? Aren't they all lesbians? What's the point?"

Sasuke walked ahead of him. "Not sure what that has to do with anything. And no, they're not all lesbians."

"Rin, though. Do I have a shot with her?" Yagura started whistling.

"Very doubtful."

After he said his goodbyes, he and Yagura headed outside. In the end, everyone in #Feminist was upbeat and chill, and Sasuke, his mood having soured, thought he wouldn't make great company. He kept thinking about Naruto, wondering what he'd said to Rin, what he'd thought while watching him play tonight, and where he went afterward. Out to party? To drink? Or did he go straight back to Sai's apartment. He knew from Naruto saying so that the older teen lived alone.

He wouldn't say the thought of Naruto staying there tonight made him jealous, but there was a part of him that wanted to speak to the blond. He understood why Naruto was angry and that he had other things going on in his mind, so maybe it unsettled him a little. Naruto had this tendency to do stupid or self-destructive things when he was angry. Hopefully, he wouldn't do anything dumb tonight. Sasuke didn't think Sai would let him, but Naruto could be stubborn.

Yagura, more quiet than usual, was sticking close to his side as they made their way down the sidewalk. There was hardly anyone around, and the streets were dark.

"Why aren't you going out tonight?" Sasuke asked. "It's still early for you, isn't it?"

"I haven't seen you in a while, so I thought I'd ask if you'd like to hang out. Is that such a big deal?"

For some reason, that made him uncomfortable.

"Just to warn you, my brother will be in town next week," Sasuke said. "So, if you put something in my drink, I will have Itachi kill you and then dismember your body."

Yagura snickered. "Harsh, but fair. Believe it or not, I genuinely wanted to see you play. Always been curious about how you'd do as a singer. I was lookin' forward to it as soon as I heard. No matter what you think of me, I recognize your talent, Sasuke. I wouldn't have you in my band otherwise." He nudged him in the side. "You looked sexy as hell up there, and I mean it. I think I got a boner watchin' you. Maybe Naruto got one, too, and that's why he had to go, eh?"

"Can we drop this topic already?" He asked. "It's getting boring."

"I can't believe he left," Yagura continued. "You must've done something pretty shitty to get a kid like that to hate your guts. Did you cheat on him? Is that why he's got his panties in a twist?"

"For the last time, we've never dated," he replied. "Did you even drive? Where are we walking?"

"I did drive, don't worry. It's this way." They were walking toward campus. "You definitely fucked around, though. I can tell. Did you get tired of fucking him and blow him off? I've been there. Hate that. You sleep with a chick once, and then she shows up at all of your gigs. Kind of pathetic, really."

Sasuke was getting irritated. "If you don't shut up about it, I'm going home."

"Did I hit a nerve? Don't feel guilty about it. Sometimes you gotta be harsh with that type before they get the hint you were only lookin' for a good time. Seriously, we're musicians, right? What do people expect? Monogamy?" He scoffed. "It's just not natural."

The snow crunched under Sasuke's boots as he came to a stop. "You honestly think I'm that type of guy?"

"Hell, yeah, I do," Yagura replied. "You're one of the coldest bastards I know. But, a lot of people are drawn to that. Girls are anyway. I assume guys work the same."

Sasuke, shaking his head, started walking again. If only to get away from him. "You don't know what you're saying, and you don't know me as well as you think."

"Maybe it's you that doesn't know you as well as you think. You got bored with him. It's normal," Yagura kept on, pushing Sasuke's buttons even further. "You and me are alike, so I know what I'm talkin' about. Nice guys like that aren't a good match for you. But, look on the bright side, if you'd just come out, you'd never want for dick, 'cause I imagine there are a shit ton of gay dudes that come to see you play and fantasize about you fuckin' them, or vice versa… however you roll. Most guys would kill for that lifestyle."

Sasuke couldn't say why Yagura thought they were alike. He didn't think so, but as he considered it, Naruto had once said similar things about him, going so far as to accuse him of having only messed around with him because he was available, and it was easy.

That's fine. If it made Naruto feel better to think of him that way. If it made it easier for him to walk away from their friendship. If it meant Naruto wouldn't fight him on it.

It's hard to say how things would've been different these past few weeks if Naruto had nagged him every day instead of ignoring him, too. Sasuke only ignored him because he was ashamed and afraid, and because he was stubborn, and because he still believed he was right to push him away. Because his family was important to him. Because he knew Naruto would eventually move on if Sasuke was cold and cruel to him.

"You know," he said aloud, reaching out to catch some snow in his gloved hand. "Even if most of what you said just now was bullshit, I think maybe I can agree with you on one thing, Yagura."

Yagura glanced at him curiously. "Oh? What's that?"

Sasuke, turning his hand upside down, let the snow fall to the ground. "The reason someone like Naruto wouldn't be a good match for people like us? It's because we don't deserve them."

Naruto was lying across the couch, his arm over his eyes, when he heard Sai approach.

"Hey, have some water," Sai said.

He lifted his arm, cracking open an eye to look at him. "I might throw up."

"I almost think that would be a good idea," Sai replied. "Given that you drank half of a bottle of tequila by yourself and a quarter of a bottle of Jack I'd had since Halloween."

"Head hurts."

"Sit up a little."

Before he could respond, Sai nudged him up long enough to sit on the end of the couch. He let Naruto lay on his lap and began massaging his head.

"Okay, yeah, that feels good." He rolled onto his back and reached for the blanket near his feet.

"Hey, your phone's been going off." Sai picked it up from off the floor. "Someone's sending you stuff on Snapchat, and you have texts."

"Who is it?" Naruto groaned as Sai's fingers moved gingerly through his hair. "I owe you for takin' care of me tonight."

"I don't even know what got you so upset. Do you want me to see if it's an emergency?"

"On Snapchat? Ha, yeah, right."

"The texts could be from your dad. You did tell him you were staying here this time, didn't you?"

"I did," Naruto replied. "Assuming he remembers. Made me do my laundry this mornin', so I think so. Maybe. Fine, check it, but don't read it if it's from a girl." He smirked.

"It's locked. What's your password to get in?"

"0-7-1-0," Naruto answered. "... Mom's birthday."

When Sai started laughing, Naruto looked up at him, also a little perturbed he'd stopped rubbing his head. "What's so funny?"

"I think… someone's got a hold of Sasuke's phone."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Also, some of these are coming directly to you…? Let me check. No, there are some in his Snapchat stories, but, yeah, you got a couple of texts, too."

"Like… messages?" He asked, about to sit up, but as soon as he tried, he had to lay down again.

"No." Sai flipped the phone to show him one. "Pictures."

He had to tilt his head, but Sai was right. It was a picture of Sasuke passed out in a bathtub, and it was a Snap sent just to him.

"Gimme that."

The photos open to all of his Snapchat followers were mostly of him doing about the same thing Naruto had done for the last two hours: drinking. There were a couple of him on the guitar, but those were timed earlier. Wherever he was, he'd started off playing and ended up in a tub.

"Do you recognize where he is?" Sai asked, still chuckling. "It's kind of hilarious."

"I don't recognize the room, but maybe he's with Rin and the others… oh shit, that reminds me." Naruto glanced at his hand. "Crap, the numbers are all smeared."

Sai took hold of it, trying to help him make out Rin's phone number. "I can make out the first four, but the last three are indecipherable. You can always ask Sasuke when he wakes up. I'm taking a screenshot of this, by the way. You might want it for blackmail purposes later. Let me see if there's more in the texts."

"Yeah, but why would anyone in Rin's band do something dick-ish like that. It's not funny. Doesn't seem like her at all."

"I think I know who it is," Sai said, showing him the phone again - this time, a photo in his text messages. "It's that guy from earlier. Yagura?"

Naruto studied the photo. The first was of Yagura and Sasuke sitting on a couch at what was likely to be the singer's apartment. He'd not been there before, but he knew Sasuke had. Yagura was the one taking the photo of them while Sasuke sat with a red plastic cup in his hand. The second photo came with some text: sasuke says hi, blondie. he's a little sad you didn't stay for the whole show. The time on the text indicated it was sent 25 minutes ago.

"Why's he sending you photos?" Sai asked.

"Just to be a dick," Naruto replied, checking Sasuke's Twitter to see if Yagura had hijacked that, too. He didn't see anything there. It looked like it'd been left alone.

He hoped Yagura knew better than to go too far. It seemed the most compromising photos had been sent to him, but then his phone buzzed again. A message on Snapchat that read: NSFW

His phone buzzed a few more times, and, not having a good feeling about it, Naruto sat up so Sai wouldn't be able to see the screen. Three new photos showed up. The first was a selfie of Yagura with his shirt off, the second of a hand pushing Sasuke's shirt up - far enough that Naruto could see a trail of dark hair and Sasuke's navel, the third was of the same hand on the buckle of Sasuke's belt. The fourth, which took longer to receive, was a photo of Sasuke's belt unbuckled and the button to his jeans undone.

A text message followed: what do you think, Naruto?

"Naruto?" Sai asked. "Why does your face look like that? What's going on?"

"Uh…" Naruto nearly toppled over as he got to his feet. "I'm gonna take this into your room, is that okay?"

"Is Sasuke alright?"

"I… I guess I'll let you know in a sec. I'm gonna call and see if that asshole will answer."

"Sasuke?" Sai asked.

"No, Yagura."

"I'll grab some clothes and take a shower. You can have some privacy. Come and get me if we need to go beat some ass, though."

Distracted because it worried him even more when no further messages followed, he gave him a weary smile. "Yeah, sure. I'm gonna call now."

"Okay, I'll be quick." Sai got up and went into his bedroom, Naruto following. He waited the whole 30 seconds it took for Sai to grab some sweatpants before he closed the door, and, fingers trembling in anger, pressed on Sasuke's name to make the call.

When Sasuke opened his eyes, he didn't immediately remember where he was or what had transpired over the last hour, but looking around, he realized he was in a bathtub and Yagura was sitting next to him on the toilet lid with his shirt off and Sasuke's phone in his hand.

"What the hell are you doing?" Sasuke asked, his voice sore from the show and also from drinking too much hard liquor with Yagura.

At first, the night had started off as a sort of jam session, but Yagura kept forcing drinks on him, and given that drinking kept gradually making him feel better, he hadn't exactly refused. He could tell that Yagura was up to something just by the look of glee on his face, and Sasuke's first assumption was that he'd been fucking with his social media accounts.

"Give me that," Sasuke said, trying to swipe the phone out of his hands. "If you did anything stupid my classmates can see, I am going to fuck you up."

"Tough words from a guy who passed out in my bathtub," Yagura replied, swiping his thumb down the screen.

"How did you get my password anyway?" He, slowly, sat up in the tub, his head woozy and his stomach not exactly settled. It had been a while since he'd eaten, too, so that didn't help.

"You gave it to me when I asked you," Yagura answered. "Might want to change it. But, as usual, I'm doing your dumb ass a favor. I got tired of hearing you whine about your blond boyfriend, so let's just say I sent him some encouraging photos."

That got his attention. He also couldn't quite remember all the things he'd been saying tonight.

"What did you do?" Sasuke asked, nearly falling out of the tub as his pants started to slip down. "Why are my pants undone?"

"Don't flatter yourself." Yagura laughed. "It's just a little thing I had in mind to get him to play along. But, so far he hasn't responded. A little disappointing. Thought even if you two were fighting, he'd still be your knight in shining armor. Now I guess we know you really fucked up."

"Yagura," he growled, re-buckling his belt, and grabbing the man by the collar of his shirt. He hoisted Yagura to his feet and glared. "This isn't funny. I don't know what you think you're doing, but if you said anything to Naruto you shouldn't have - "

"Ah, look at that." Yagura flipped the phone around. "He's calling. Want me to answer?"

Sasuke stared at the blinking number. He was suddenly very nervous about what Yagura had sent or said to him, whether Naruto would think he'd played a part in it, or why exactly Naruto - after not having done so for weeks - was calling at all.

"Would you prefer I answer?" Yagura asked.

"Get out," Sasuke said. "Get the fuck out." He snatched the phone from out of his hand.

Yagura shrugged. "Blankets are in the closet. You can crash on my couch. I'm wrecked, so I'm goin' to bed. Thank me in the morning, asshole."

He watched him go, still undecided about answering and with no time to investigate whatever damage Yagura might've done. Sasuke, hitting the answer button, held the phone to his ear. At first, he couldn't seem to get any words out.

"I can hear you breathing," Naruto said. "If this is Yagura, you better fuckin' explain yourself and why you're sending that kind of shit to my phone."

Panicking, Sasuke tapped the screen so he could quickly go through his messages to find out what Yagura sent, fearing the worst. He didn't respond to Naruto's words either.

"Okay, I can still hear you, so if this is you tryin' to act like you're doin' shit to him - "

"Naruto," Sasuke said.

There was silence on the other line for almost half a minute.

"Well, I guess if you answered you're not in the middle of bein' sexually assaulted," Naruto muttered. "What the hell was that? Did you guys think this would be funny?"

Sasuke's brow furrowed out of irritation. "First of all, I just woke up, so I don't know what you're talking about. Second of all, why would I team up with Yagura to do anything?"

"At least you admit you're with him," Naruto replied. "So, you're fine then? If you are, I'm going to hang up now, and tell him that the next time I see him, I'm gonna bust up his face."

"Wait," Sasuke said it almost like a sharp exhale. "Just… wait."

"What."

"...What is it he did exactly? I'm looking through my messages, but I don't see anything."

"Tch. I've still got the texts, and you should check your Snapchat, too, though I guess you won't be able to see the ones he sent me. Ah, Sai screenshotted one of them, though. It's you passed out in a tub, and luckily I had the phone before he saw the ones Yagura sent after that."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "...What did he send?"

"I don't wanna talk about it." Naruto huffed.

Another period of uncomfortable silence ensued between them. Sasuke found he had a lot of things he wanted to say, but he didn't know where to start.

"Naruto, I don't know what he did since you won't tell me, but I'm sorry if he upset you. You know how he is. He's immature and likes to start shit. He only wanted to rile you. Don't give him the satisfaction."

"Well, I don't think it's funny that he's trying to molest you while you're passed out."

"Molest me?" He frowned.

"Yeah. The dickhead sent me photos of him lifting up your shirt and then undoing your pants. Kinda thought it might be a good idea to make sure he wasn't raping you."

"He's an asshole," Sasuke said, "But I wouldn't call him a rapist."

"Great, figures you'd defend someone like that. If we're cool now, I'm going to - "

"Naruto," he interrupted, more desperation in his voice this time. Sasuke couldn't explain it, but he didn't want him to get off the phone.

"What, Sasuke. What?"

Sasuke sat on the edge of the toilet lid, looking down at the floor and his naked feet. "You came to the show tonight."

"Yeah, so. I didn't know you were playin'."

"If you had," he said. "Would you not have come?"

"Probably not, no."

Sasuke felt the sting of his answer, not just his response but the swiftness of it.

"I see you're still as honest as ever," he mumbled.

"I thought you always said you'd be caught dead before you'd do lead vocals on stage."

"The singer," Sasuke licked his lips, "Was very persuasive. Normally I wouldn't have."

"Ah, yeah. I met her before the show. I should've guessed Rin was talkin' about you when she said a replacement guitarist who acted OCD about time was helpin' her out. It was the part where she said he'd be singing that threw me off."

Sasuke nodded, speaking softly. "I can understand that."

"Also, it bein' a girl band. I never woulda thought you'd be there."

"Yagura says he saw you leave halfway through." Sasuke bit into his bottom lip.

"You sure have a lot to say about Yagura tonight," Naruto replied. "Listen, I only called 'cause I didn't know what the fuck was going on. I didn't call to play catch up."

"...Why are you being so cold?" He asked. "This doesn't sound like you."

"Yeah, well. I've had plenty of time to do some thinking. But, I can't be that cold if I called to make sure you were okay. It's a lot more than you've done over the past month, so you don't have a lotta room to talk, now do you?"

He didn't have a response, really, and wasn't at all used to Naruto speaking this way to him. It was a strange, very humbling feeling.

"You're right," he said. "Thanks for checking in, but if you have to go, then go."

"Do we have other things we need to talk about?"

"I - " Sasuke switched the phone to his other ear. "Just… don't hang up. Give me a few minutes to think. This is unexpected for me, too, and I don't even know what the hell that asshole did while I was passed out. At least do me that one favor."

"Fine."

"Thank you."

While Sasuke collected his thoughts, Naruto spoke first.

"So, anyway. You, uh, sounded good tonight, but I always thought you had great voice."

The side of his mouth twitched into a half-smile at the compliment, even if it sounded begrudging. "You didn't think I sounded like I was trying too hard?"

"No, but then you always end up bein' good at everything you try," said Naruto. "If you try."

An obvious dig that he was sure Naruto thought he deserved.

"Hey, since I'm doing you a favor, can you do one for me?" Naruto asked.

Surprisingly, his heart jumped at the possibility he could do (and Naruto would willingly ask) something of him.

"Sure. Yes."

"Uh, Rin gave me her number, but the last few digits smeared. Do you have it?"

"You're asking me for Rin's phone number?"

"Is that a problem?"

"No," he replied, his gaze rising to the ceiling where he squinted at the light fixture. "I'm sure she would be disappointed if you didn't call. You seemed to have left an impression on her."

"Really?" Naruto asked, tone conveying he was flattered. Sasuke could picture his pleased expression now. He knew it well, but it also hurt. Then again, it was likely meant to.

"I'll text it to you later if that's okay."

"No, that's cool. Thanks."

He cleared his throat. "Speaking of potential dates, I talked to Itachi last night."

Sasuke ignored the images that sprung to mind of what happened after their conversation last night. He'd have to take that moment of weakness to his grave.

"Oh, yeah? How's he? He's still flyin' in on Monday, right?"

"He is. I'm going to pick him up after school."

"I could've done that," Naruto offered. "Or, are you drivin' your mom's car into town that day?"

"No. I'll take the bus up, get her car, and drive down again. It's fine."

"Well, when he gets in, tell him to call me."

"Because you two have a date set for Tuesday?" He asked.

"Did he call it that?"

"Don't sound so happy about it."

"Why? I haven't seen him in almost a month. I'm lookin' forward to it."

Sasuke, standing up, spied his reflection in the mirror, his hair falling over one eye while the other looked bloodshot. He turned and, flipping off the light, walked into the living room, where he spotted a pillow and a pile of blankets at the end of the couch.

"What are you doin'?" Naruto asked. "It sounds like you're movin' around."

"If you must know, I'm about to take off my clothes so that I can sleep on this uncomfortable looking couch for the night," he answered.

"Where's Yagura?"

"He went to bed once he got what he wanted."

Unfolding the blanket, he found a sheet he could use to spread across the cushions. He tried not to think about all of the things that were likely to have happened on this couch.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Naruto asked.

"I mean, he wanted to fuck with you, so once you called, he left. That's all. Nothing happened."

"I didn't say anything."

Sasuke rolled his eyes as he unbuckled his belt and slid his jeans down to his ankles. He kicked them off so that he could sleep in his boxers and t-shirt.

He smirked before replying, "You didn't have to."

"...Whatever. I'm sure a couch is better than a bathtub. What were you thinkin' anyway? Why would you fall asleep in a tub? Why didn't you hang out with Rin's band tonight?"

"Do you really care?" Sasuke turned off the nearby lamp and situated himself underneath the blanket, fluffing the pillow under his head.

"I'm only curious, but yeah, you're right. I don't need to know."

"Where's Sai?" He inquired as casually as possible, pulling the blanket up to his chest. Even with the heat on, he would end up freezing without these extra blankets.

"He went to take a shower, but he should be back soon."

"Ah."

"Why'd you pick that Jack White song? Or did Rin ask you to sing it? Sounds like she rearranged their set just for you."

"I picked it."

"Why?"

He rubbed his forehead, his fingers lifting his hair off of it for a time. "Because… If I had to say. The dramatic intro, the way it incorporated all of the musicians I knew we had, I wanted to mix some rock in with their punk songs and one that was strong but would still appeal to their core audience. Beyond that… I don't know."

Naruto issued a skeptical-sounding hum that caused the hairs at the back of his neck to stand on end. He hadn't thought about it earlier, but he could tell Naruto'd also been drinking tonight.

"I suppose it is a pretty team-oriented song, so to speak," Naruto commented, his voice low and a little rough. "Interesting choice if you think about it. The singer usually leads the band and likes the spotlight. But you never wanted to be a singer, you're a good supporting player, and even when you have the chance to shine, you still pick a song that feels more like a collaboration."

"Am I like that?" He pressed his fingers to his lips. "I hadn't thought about it."

"I thought about it. Tonight. Seeing you made me think about a lot of things."

"Like what, what did it make you think about?" He asked, thinking Naruto's voice sounded muffled and solemn. "Where are you?"

"Huh?"

"In Sai's apartment, where are you?"

"Oh. I'm lying across his bed. Why?"

That… irritated him maybe a little.

"Just curious," he answered. "You were saying?"

"I don't remember. Ah, I think he's done in the shower, so I should really get goin'."

He struggled to think of another excuse to keep him from getting off. "...At least tell me what it is you thought? About tonight, I mean. What it was you meant by that."

"Just that you seem like a different person when you're on stage. You always have, and you always look happiest when you're with other musicians. I can tell, too, that you - " Naruto sighed. "This is dumb. I don't know why I'm tellin' you this 'cause I'm still really pissed at you."

"I know you are," he replied, closing his eyes. "Tell me anyway."

"Like you have any right to demand somethin' from me."

"It wasn't a demand, it was a request. Because I want to know what you think of me."

"What the hell does that mean?" Naruto asked.

Sasuke gave pause at hearing Naruto's voice raised in anger. Not because he felt especially bad or guilty, though he knew he should, but what he felt was… familiarity. They hadn't spoken in almost a month. He'd become accustomed to acting cold toward Naruto when they were at school. It was easier to act that way than to deal with what happened between them. It wasn't as if his feelings for Naruto disappeared, and when Naruto reacted strongly to the things he said, it always made him long for… something. A physical connection usually. He knew that was impossible, and not just because they were in different places, but because he knew how Naruto felt. Hurt. Betrayed. Angry. Even if Naruto cursed him, screamed at him, said he hated him… well, no, the last one wouldn't be easy to handle, but whatever Naruto was feeling right now, Sasuke found some sadistic pleasure in being the cause of it. Mostly because it meant he was at the center of the other teen's thoughts, however selfish that sounded.

"I meant as a musician," he answered (a half-truth). "It's interesting to hear your perspective."

"Yeah, well. I have no intention of feedin' your ego, Sasuke. I already said your singin' was good. I'm not gonna say anything more than that. Rin was just as good."

"Yes, that's why she's the lead singer of a really great band," Sasuke replied calmly. "I have no intention of leading a band anytime soon. It was a one-time thing."

"I feel like I've heard that before," Naruto muttered.

Before Sasuke could respond to that not so subtle comment, he heard a voice in the background and knew Sai was there. It annoyed him that his arrival might put an end to their conversation.

"Are you still on the phone?" Sai was asking. "I'm going to bed, so you can stay in here with me or take it to the living room. Did you solve Sasuke's hacking dilemma?"

"Sorry, I didn't mean to talk so long," Naruto responded guiltily. "I'll get off in a second."

"Don't get off on my account," Sai responded. "But at least get off the covers for a second, so I can pull them back. No, nevermind, just lift your hips."

Naruto let out a breathy noise into the phone, indicating he'd done as he was told. Also irritating.

"Dammit, your feet are freezing, Sai!"

"Yeah, but you're warm. Like a fucking furnace as usual. Don't forget to tell Sasuke I thought he looked hot tonight. Even if you two are fighting and I think he's an asshole, he looked sexy."

"I'm sure he can hear you, jackass. You're talkin' loud enough."

"Naruto, if you need to go, just go," Sasuke said.

"I'm not sleepin' in here since Sai snores. I'm goin' to the damn couch."

There was a loud noise, followed by more complaining as Sai apparently kicked Naruto. At least he assumed that to be the case when "Don't kick me, asshole!" was shouted in his ear.

"Dick, you did that on purpose," Naruto was saying to Sai. "Let me sleep in, and don't try to do anything weird again this time. Do you want the door shut?"

There was a muffled reply that Sasuke couldn't make out, but he did hear a door shut.

"What is it you mean by 'don't do anything weird this time'?" Sasuke asked.

"Oh, you're curious about that?" Naruto asked and then cursed at a chair for getting in his way. (Sasuke smirked). "He could've at least left a light on so I didn't kill myself walking around here."

"Nevermind. It's none of my business."

"I did, though," Naruto said, his voice slightly muffled for a couple of seconds, "Really like the duet-thing with you and Rin. Was weird as hell to hear you sing a love song."

"You thought it was a love song?" He asked. "Interesting."

"It's not? Pretty sure the whole chorus said love about a million times, so yeah."

"Yeah, but it was - " Sasuke started to argue like he normally would but caught himself as if it wasn't an appropriate topic, and maybe it wasn't. "Well, it was Rin's choice."

"Still."

"Still what?"

"Nothing. I'm goin' to bed," Naruto said.

"I thought you were on the couch."

"You know what I mean. Jerk."

"Hn."

Naruto's tone, even if it was an insult, was lighter than at the start of their conversation. Like how it used to be. Before Sasuke made a mess of everything. For a second, he yearned for another time, specifically any time between that first week they met and before the night Naruto told him he was going to ask out Kayla. Things seemed easier then. Although, only a month after they met, Sasuke knew that whatever was happening between them was going to get more confusing. That night he'd told Naruto they needed boundaries (which he quickly crossed himself), it was to protect himself more than Naruto. All this time later, he never would've thought Naruto would be the one to confess. Yagura had told him tonight that it must look like he didn't care at all, which wasn't something he'd entirely considered. Then again, it wasn't often he dared to look at any of this from Naruto's perspective.

The whole reason he drank tonight was because he started to imagine Naruto thinking of him the same way Yagura did. Those things Naruto said to him the night he slept with the DJ were on his mind, even as they were talking. Like, how he thought Sasuke only used him because he was a convenient piece of ass. He could argue the same about Naruto, but he knew it wasn't true. Naruto didn't do things without reason. If he couldn't stand Sasuke, or if he didn't care about him more than "a little", then they wouldn't have screwed around as long or as often as they had. More than the physical stuff, there was intimacy between them, and it had been there since the first day they met. Yet, because of what Sasuke did, Naruto considered him the type of guy to have casual sexual relationships. Because, well. He could. He had. Twice. It was arguable, too, that getting into bed together after Naruto confessed - only for Sasuke to reject him in the morning - may insinuate he was shallow enough to be that guy.

What could he do, though? What would be the point in telling Naruto he did have feelings for him that went beyond friendship? It wouldn't be fair since there was nothing he could do about it right now. There was the possibility Naruto wouldn't believe him anyway.

"So… what are you going to do tomorrow?" Sasuke eventually asked.

"Sleep," said Naruto. "Go home and pack."

"What time?"

"'What time' what?"

"What time are you going home to pack?" He clarified.

"Why?"

Sasuke sighed, realizing they wouldn't be able to get anywhere unless they could talk in person. "Nevermind. I'll let you sleep. You sound tired. It was… " He debated whether he should say it, but decided he didn't care. "Good to hear your voice."

Naruto snorted. "Seriously? You… are so clueless, aren't you? Like… I don't get you." He huffed. "Yeah, I'm gonna go to bed. Glad you had a decent gig tonight and tried new things. For that, I'm happy for you because I know how serious you are about your music."

"Naruto."

"What?" Naruto asked, sounding exasperated. "And stop sayin' my name like that."

"Like what?" Despite this feeling he didn't want Naruto to go, Sasuke's eyes were getting heavy. His whole body would be sore tomorrow. He could already feel it in his arms.

"Like we're friends," Naruto answered, digging that knife in the deepest he had so far tonight.

"So, to clarify," he said quietly, "We're no longer friends?"

"What's to clarify. You've made that pretty damn clear."

"How so?"

Naruto gave a bitter laugh. "Are you fuckin' kiddin' me right now? No. I'm not gonna get into this with you 'cause this is what you always do when we fight. I'm not gonna start arguin' with you because, you know what? You're a smart guy. You know why you say the things you do, and I always played right into it because… well, I didn't know why at the time, but now we both know, so just don't fuck with me anymore, okay? At least try to act like you have a heart or some sympathy considerin' how you made me feel like trash that morning. There's also how you acted these past few weeks. I know you don't feel that guilty about it either."

Sasuke closed his eyes. "...Okay. I understand."

"No," said Naruto. "You don't understand. You couldn't possibly understand. How it feels to fall in love with your best friend, to think that he felt the same way, and then in the morning, it's… it's just fucked up what you did to me, and never acknowledging it afterward or apologizing - "

Knowing he couldn't argue with anything Naruto was saying, Sasuke kept his mouth shut.

"I know that falls on deaf ears," Naruto continued. "I know you never felt the same about me as I did you - "

Sasuke clutched at the front of his shirt.

" - So, when I was watchin' you play tonight, and listenin' to you sing about love, it finally dawned on me how stupid I was to think you ever felt more than friendship and lust toward me. Hell, it even occurred to me I wasn't wrong in what I'd said to you the night you slept with the DJ. I always made it so easy for you, didn't I? To get what you wanted? Except if I didn't go all the way, then you could get it from somebody else whenever you wanted. The weekend I first stayed at your house, I never expected what happened to happen. I was stupid for jerkin' you off and pretending it would all be cool, and that I was helpin' you out, and that it was fine to do whatever with you, because I thought… I dunno what I thought, so maybe I should apologize for giving absolutely no thought to the consequences. For what it's worth, I wanted to do it. I was attracted to you. I liked you. I was drawn to you. I enjoyed doin' it, but I didn't think I'd fall in love with you. So, yeah I am an idiot, and I'm really hanging up this time - "

Naruto's voice was shaking by the end, and Sasuke wondered if the ache he felt in his own chest was in any way similar to how Naruto felt right now.

"I gotta go, Sasuke. Next time don't let some jackass steal your phone. Bye."

After Naruto hung up, Sasuke lay there for a long time, too numb to do anything. He began wondering what his life would be like if he'd said yes. If he'd told Naruto that he loved him, had always loved him, and that everything they'd ever done together meant more than Naruto could ever possibly know. A universe where he came out to his parents, and they accepted it. He and Naruto dated, spent all their time together, went to the same college, and so on. That seemed impossible, but at the same time, Sasuke longed for it even when he knew he didn't deserve it. The most and - maybe only - important relationship he'd ever gained in life, he'd destroyed. Naruto was already trying to move on, which explained why he wanted as little to do with him as possible. Sasuke understood that, had tried to help give Naruto a reason to keep doing as much, but he was still human. It was fucking hard. He missed Naruto. He hated that he was here and Naruto was with Sai. Instead of them being together at Naruto's place, sharing a bed, talking in quiet voices, laughing with him. Kissing him, holding him, touching him, and everything else that went along with that.

Yes, he fucking missed it, ached for it, and wanted it so badly he might've given in if Naruto had been anywhere close to him right now. But, he wasn't, and Naruto didn't want to talk to or be near him. Because Sasuke was always hurting him, and Naruto had finally reached his limits, which is something Sasuke should learn to accept.

…If he were that type of person.

TBC

a/n:
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