07. Threats and Fevers

Naruto didn't know how Itachi had managed to talk him into coming with him, but he found himself following him out the door and taking a seat in his car, with the papers Sasuke had asked for protected in a manila folder resting on his lap. Itachi had a secretive smirk on his lips and it made Naruto feel all sorts of uneasy since he wasn't sure the other was plotting murder or just plainly being a creep. Or maybe he was doing both.

"So, why am I going with you again?" Naruto asked once they had left the finer neighborhoods behind and were speeding down the highway leading to the city center.

Itachi shrugged innocently. Naruto didn't believe it for a second.

"You said it yourself," Itachi answered after a second of silence. "You were under house arrest."

Naruto only shook his head, but settled into the seat more comfortably and looked out the window.

"Also," Itachi continued, "I think Sasuke wouldn't mind seeing you."

Naruto raised his eyebrows at the passing scenery.

"We saw each other like two hours ago, though," he mumbled, although he definitely wouldn't mind being with Sasuke all day.

"You think I don't know?" Itachi said, voice suddenly deadly low and serious.

Naruto started and turned to him with wide eyes.

"W-what?" he stammered.

"I am neither blind nor stupid," Itachi glanced at him, the usual amused and teasing glint in his eyes replaced by a hard, cold shine. A shiver went down Naruto's spine. "I see what is happening between you and my brother, and I want you to know that if you aren't serious and if you prove to be a lying, scheming prick who's aiming to hurt either Sasuke or Emi, I will end you."

"I-I d-don't-"

"I believe you are a good person, Naruto," Itachi interrupted him. "But I have been proven wrong before and I'm simply warning you – do wrong by either my brother or my niece and everything in your life will forever stay at its worst."

Naruto stared at him, opening and closing his mouth but not finding words. Then, as if a switch was pressed, Itachi's face melted into a grin and he glanced at Naruto again.

"Glad that's over with," he said cheerily. "Now, do you want to hear embarrassing stories about my adorable baby brother?"

Naruto gaped.

"I – you – what?" he spluttered. "Itachi, hold up and rewind."

Itachi smiled in amusement.

"I would never, ever dream of hurting Emi and Sasuke," Naruto said heatedly. "I love them as if they were my own family! I'm actually afraid of what's gonna happen when they don't need me anymore! I won't leave them unless they want me to and I will protect them as much as I can as long as they want me and even after we've parted ways!"

Itachi's smile softened, as did his gaze when he looked over at him. Naruto was panting by now and he could feel an angry blush spreading up his neck and warming his cheeks. How dare Itachi think he would be such a scumbag?!

"I know," Itachi said softly. "But Sasuke and Emi come first, so I have to warn you. And like I said, I have been fooled before and it maddens me something extreme."

"Okay," Naruto huffed. "Yeah, I get it."

Itachi smiled again.

"So…" he said slowly. "You love my brother?"

If Naruto's face wasn't red before, it now shone like a stoplight.

"Shut up," he snapped and turned away.

Itachi merely laughed at his discomfort.

A knock on the door was all the warning Sasuke got before his father unceremoniously swung it open and stepped inside, his only greeting a gruff 'Hello, son'.

Sasuke tried not to sigh as he put down his fountain pen and pushed his laptop aside, arranging the papers he had been jotting down notes on in a neat pile. He already had quite a bad headache; he didn't need his father prying in his business. Itachi was already doing a great job of that.

"Father," he greeted and rubbed his temples. He was a little worried he might be coming down with migraine, as the headache had been present for almost a week. "Is there a problem?"

His father raised his eyebrows at him and sat down in one of the two guest chairs on the other side of Sasuke's desk.

"Does there have to be a problem for me to come see you?" his father asked. "I'm simply stopping by. I was wondering if perhaps you and Itachi would like to grab lunch with me and discuss the annual family barbeque. Your mother expects you to be there."

Sasuke hummed distractedly as his eyes fell upon a transaction he wasn't sure he had supervised and his father sighed.

"Sasuke, are you listening?" he asked.

Sasuke threw a brief look at him.

"Of course, father," he replied smoothly. "Itachi's not here at the moment, though. He had to go back to my house to retrieve some papers I had forgotten."

His father blinked at him.

"Oh?" he said slowly, almost sounding uncertain, which made Sasuke frown. His father cleared his throat. "Well, it doesn't matter. I can wait."

"He should be here in a few minutes, actually," Sasuke offered distractedly.

His father nodded and made himself more comfortable in the chair, his gaze sweeping over the walls and bookcases of Sasuke's office. Sasuke returned to controlling the month's transactions, but gave up with a sigh and glanced at the clock on his wall.

Was it only half past twelve? He just wanted to go home and lay down in bed. His head was stuffy and he was starting to feel warm all over. Maybe he had caught something from Emi or the daycare? Emi's teacher had called earlier and said she was running a slight fever, asking Sasuke to pick her up as soon as he could.

"Shouldn't you decorate in here a little more?" his father asked suddenly.

Sasuke tried not to roll his eyes as he looked at him and then glanced around at the empty walls and the bookcases with binders upon binders of documents.

"Why?" he asked.

"You spend a lot of time in this room," his father answered. "One would think there would be a little more personal effects here and there. Or a plant in the corner at least."

Sasuke shrugged.

"I'm here to do work, not to be distracted," he muttered.

His father raised his eyebrows but said nothing. Which was as well since Itachi swung the door open seconds later, making a grand entry and a complete fool of himself.

"Little brother, I come bearing gifts," he announced brightly, increasing Sasuke's headache.

Their father let out a heavy sigh as he turned to look at his eldest son. Itachi blinked at him, his steps faltering the slightest.

"Father," he greeted. "I didn't know you'd be here." He glanced behind him and a smirk pulled at his lips. "It's all good, though."

Sasuke frowned and barely refrained from making a strangled noise when Naruto stepped over the threshold, curious eyes glancing around. Sasuke still hadn't had the time to come to terms with the fantasies that kept popping into his head about the two of them in a more… intimate setting, and this was certainly not helping his case – except that maybe he forgot all about his stuffy head as it went completely blank.

"And who might this be?" his father asked, standing up to greet Naruto.

Naruto smiled a little, stepping forward to greet him.

"Hello, I'm Naruto," he introduced himself.

His father took Naruto's outstretched hand and shook it.

"Ah," he said, casting a confused glance back at Sasuke. "You're Emi's caretaker. I'm Fugaku, Itachi and Sasuke's father."

Naruto's smile widened.

"It's nice to meet you," he said amicably.

Then his gaze shifted and fell upon Sasuke. And maybe the light was playing tricks on him or maybe it was his headache doing something to his brain, but he thought he saw Naruto's expression soften in a way that was not platonic. The moment disappeared as Naruto held up a manila envelope, waving a little.

"I have those documents you forgot," he said and Sasuke managed to collect himself enough to give him a grateful nod.

"You didn't have to come all this way," he said.

Naruto wrinkled his nose, throwing Itachi an annoyed look.

"I know, but your dear brother couldn't seem to do this on his own. Am I supposed to babysit him too?" he muttered. Sasuke had to smile at the offended look on Itachi's face. Even his father's lips twitched. "Anyway, since I'm here I can ask you!" Naruto continued, completely disregarding Itachi's indignant scoff. "What do you want me to make for you?"

Sasuke blinked at him in confusion and his father and brother raised their eyebrows.

"Make for me?" he asked. "What do you mean?"

Naruto smiled.

"I mean, since I'm gonna make something Emi likes for dinner I might as well make something you like, right?" he explained. "I don't have anything better to do today anyway, since I can't go to my apartment and get my stuff."

"Oh…" Sasuke said slowly, looking to the side in thought. "I guess… if you want to, I would like some hamburgers. If you can make them?"

Naruto let out a laugh and Sasuke looked at him questioningly. Itachi was staring at him, as was his father, but he ignored them in favor frowning at Naruto.

"What?"

"No, it's just," he chuckled, "Emi wanted the same thing. I guess you are father and daughter, after all."

Sasuke chuckled a little as well.

"Yeah."

Itachi smiled but didn't say anything. Then his father looked at Naruto, interest shining in his eyes.

"Tell me, Naruto," he asked, "would you like to have lunch with us?"

Sasuke could practically see the gears turning in Itachi's head as a slow smirk pulled at his lips and he would do anything to spare both Naruto and himself the devious plan his brother was clearly concocting at the moment. He knew Itachi would take this chance to test out his theories – which weren't completely groundless even though Sasuke wouldn't admit it – and he'd rather not be embarrassed by his brother in front of his father and Naruto.

Thankfully, he knew just how to avoid that. And his plan would succeed judging by the reluctant look Naruto threw Itachi.

"Actually," he said and they all looked at him. He kept his eyes on Naruto. "Emi's teacher called and told me she feels sick and needs to go home. I would need Naruto to take care of her."

Both understanding and worry glinted in Naruto's eyes as he nodded quickly.

"Is she okay?" he asked. "She's not running a fever?"

"Just a little at the moment," Sasuke answered and stood. "I'll drive you, since I gave the driver a day off."

He pretended not to see the look his father and brother exchanged (he knew they were wondering why he didn't just call another driver) and grabbed Naruto's shoulder on the way, pushing him in front while silently having a mini freak out he was actually touching Naruto.

"I'll be back in two hours, you can go eat lunch without me," he tossed over his shoulder at them as he led Naruto to the elevators, thanking every higher power he had been brought up to have a good pokerface.

Naruto gave him an amused grin once the doors of the elevator slid closed behind them, laughing quietly. Sasuke narrowed his eyes at him, trying not to think about how they were completely alone in a small space at the moment – which, of course, definitely hadn't been one of his fantasies – and that Naruto looked warm and soft and inviting in the low light of the elevator.

"What?" he asked. "I have a headache and I'd rather be with you and Emi during my lunch than father and Itachi."

Naruto's grin disappeared and he came closer, too close for comfort, putting a cool hand to his forehead with a frown.

"Are you coming down with something too?" he murmured.

Sasuke stared at him, swallowing hard and couldn't quite decide if he should soak in the body heat from Naruto or try and put some distance between them.

Naruto met his gaze and his eyes widened briefly. Then he was gone, putting an acceptable distance between them again and leaving Sasuke cold and disappointed.

"Uh… sorry," he muttered and Sasuke blinked at him. "I'm used to doing that with friends and the kids…"

The kids? Sasuke wondered but said nothing as they arrived in the garage and Naruto quickly stepped out of the elevator.

Sasuke suddenly really wished he had the courage to pull him back in as close as he had been before. Maybe even closer, so he could feel all that warmth and comfort properly.

Which was a completely new urge for him, as he never hugged or cuddled anyone, let alone letting them comfort him. Ever.

Except for Emi that is, but she was special.

Naruto, however, should not be.

Naruto tucked Emi in as snugly as he could, smiling a little at her open mouth and her half pulled out pigtails, hair sticking out every which way.

She had fallen asleep in the car, her fever higher than they had thought, and Naruto had insisted on carrying her to her room since Sasuke hadn't looked all too well either. It seemed that the further he got from his workplace, the worse his headache became. Naruto thought it had something to do with letting go of the stress and focusing on Emi instead.

He pulled Emi's rubber bands out with gentle fingers, kissed her forehead softly and caressed her hair once before standing up to return to Sasuke, who he had left in the living room, and see how he was doing, leaving Emi's door open just a crack.

He found Sasuke sprawled out on the couch in the living room, dozing off, one arm thrown over his eyes and the other hanging off the edge. He sighed before approaching him and – after a moment of hesitation – putting a hand on his shoulder. He still hadn't been able to shake that jittery and giddy feeling of being close to Sasuke in the elevator and staying so close to him again really wasn't helping, but he had to take care of him since he seemed to be well on his way to get a fever as well.

Sasuke started, arm lowering to reveal alarmed eyes, which softened once he realized it was Naruto standing over him.

"I don't think you should go back to work," Naruto murmured.

Sasuke sat up and shook his head.

"No, no," he protested. "I'm fine. I just-"

Naruto interrupted him by putting a hand to his forehead again to check his temperature, not caring this time that he was so close and could practically pull Sasuke into a protective hug and never let him leave.

"I think either Emi gave you a bug or you gave her one," he said. "Either way, both of you are sick and should stay home."

Sasuke frowned and looked like he wanted to protest again but Naruto ignored him in favor of grabbing his arm and pulling him to his feet.

"Right, off to bed," he murmured, forcing himself not to feel any kind of non-platonic feelings because of how close they were.

Sasuke remained silent and Naruto's hand slid down to grab his. He tired not to overthink every single action. He had held hands with countless people, his friends, lovers, and kids at the orphanage. If Sasuke asked he could simply explain that it was something he always did with practically everyone, which wasn't completely untrue. Although he still didn't dare look back at him as he pulled him along, up the stairs and to his bedroom.

And Naruto might be imagining things, but had Sasuke actually squeezed his hand gently? He didn't dare think too much into it. It could have just been some reflex.

He pushed Sasuke to the bed and hurriedly took a few steps back. Sasuke sat down, watching him questioningly.

"Change and get under the covers," Naruto ordered, looking at a point somewhere just above Sasuke's head. "I'll go get you something to drink. D'you still have a headache?"

Sasuke nodded.

"Okay," Naruto said, backing away again. "I'll be right back."

He did his best to not look like he was bolting from the room and hurried downstairs after stopping by Emi's room to check on her again. It took him a while, but he found some effervescent tablets in the kitchen's aid cupboard and filled two glasses with water, dropping the tablet into one and watching it fizz into nothing. He wrinkled his nose. He'd never been fond of those kinds of tablets and he was glad he wasn't the one drinking it.

He brought the two glasses back up with him and found Sasuke dozing off again.

He smiled a little.

Sasuke's face looked so calm and soft. Naruto had never thought about it before, but Sasuke always seemed to be in deep thoughts and in motion, working almost around the clock except for the few hours he spared to be with Emi or sleeping.

Looking at him now, however, he could see another relaxed side to the man and it was beautiful. His black hair was ruffled from changing clothes and his lips were parted the slightest, heavy breaths leaving in-between them. His limbs were sprawled everywhere, which had Naruto laughing quietly, although it made him look warm and inviting as well, and he could imagine cuddling up beside him and having trouble to fit because Sasuke took up so much space lying like that. But then Sasuke would realize Naruto was there and scoot over to give him space before pulling him into his arms. And then he would press a kiss to the crown of his head, his cheek, his lips, his exploring fingers would leave tingles as they made their way down-

Naruto felt his entire body go warm and he cleared his throat quietly, willing his mind out of the gutter. He put the two glasses on the bedside table and gently shook Sasuke's shoulder, who opened bleary dark eyes, looking disoriented.

"I fell asleep?" he mumbled groggily and sat up.

"Yeah," Naruto answered softly. "I guess everything hit you pretty hard once you relaxed. Don't you think you should take a few days off work?"

Sasuke shook his head and groaned, pressing the heel of his hand to his forehead.

"I'm already behind since I forgot those documents today," he muttered sullenly. "And I think too much… fantasies… I can't seem to concentrate anymore."

Naruto frowned but decided Sasuke wasn't completely conscious, so he shouldn't pry too much. Instead, he picked up the glass with the medicine and handed it to the other. Sasuke took it and downed half of the liquid before choking, a grimace scrunching up his face.

"This tastes like medicine," he complained hoarsely.

Naruto raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.

"That's because it is," he muttered.

Sasuke wrinkled his nose, but didn't protest and drank the rest of it before falling back onto the pillows, closing his eyes with a soft sigh.

"You could have given me a warning," he mumbled sleepily.

"Uh-huh," Naruto answered distantly, taking the glass from his hands. "There's a glass of water here if you need it, okay?" he said and Sasuke gave a weak nod.

Naruto resisted the urge to caress his hair – much like he had with Emi, but still so very different – and made his way out of the room again. However, Sasuke's voice stopped him in the doorway.

"Thank you," he said quietly.

Naruto smiled although he couldn't see it as his eyes were closed again.

"Don't mention it," he murmured before closing the door.

Hey! Merry Christmas you guys! I'm sorry I haven't had the time to answer any comments but I just read all of them and thank you all soo much! I'm seriously grinning like an idiot! I'll try and answer you this time! :)

Anyway, I hope you like this chapter because it's going somewhere at least! Don't you think?

So, yeah! Just wanted to say Merry Christmas and also Happy New Year!

See you in the next chapter!

Bye!