This is written a bit differently than my other chapters, but the writing style is highly influenced by a book I just finished. I did really enjoy writing this and I hope you'll like reading it. Some drama up ahead!

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After Naruto's odd behaviour when they had returned from Gaara's house, they never talked about what had happened, but of course it was still bothering Sasuke. As he went to work again the next day and had to leave Naruto home alone again, it was all that was on his mind. Did Naruto even sense it? It didn't seem like Naruto was so dense, because he had always understood Sasuke's feelings, although he kept on asking, needing to be reassured. Even last night again Naruto had questioned him again, as if he was going to disappear, but hadn't Sasuke shown multiple times that he was staying.

But maybe it had been Gaara that confused Naruto nonetheless. Maybe he wasn't asking, because he wanted to be sure Sasuke stayed. Perhaps it was all about Naruto being unsure of his own feelings and hoping Sasuke would fall out of love as well.

Foolish things to be thinking when you just got out of work and are about to put your car on the drive way. Especially when you can't park your car, because another one is in the way. Who would Naruto even have over at this hour? Almost dinner time and the blonde was far too weak to actually do something exciting. And where the hell was Sasuke going to park his car now?

Having to walk a little to even get to his home, because the street was filled with cars, Sasuke opened the door and slammed it close, being in a pretty foul mood. This was not what he had expected to come home to and with the stress of thinking Naruto might leave him this really was not helping. What made it even worse was when he noticed whose car it had been that was parked in his space, which made him unable to secure his own close to home.

A bubbly laugh rose up out the living room and when he opened the door, he was met with the sight of his lovely boyfriend sitting next to the other love interest or at least that is how Sasuke saw him now. Naruto seemed to smile at first, until he noticed the glare Sasuke shot the two and how Gaara only blankly stared back, neither greeting each other.

How dare Naruto invite Gaara without saying something? And now that redhead gets to spend the entire day with his boyfriend while he is slaving away at his job, making money not just for himself, but also for Naruto. This is just utter bullshit and they definitely won't be greeted, but Sasuke was at least polite enough to not just burst and let out all his anger. He refrained from that and instead moved towards the kitchen, needing the distraction of making dinner to ease his mind.

In the middle of chopping vegetables Naruto stepped into the kitchen. Sasuke only heard the door open and felt how the blonde lingered there, not wanting to get closer. Understandable, Sasuke probably still radiated something unpleasant.

The shuffling of feet let Sasuke know that Naruto was nerves. At least the blonde understood it was strange to just come home to this and that he should've said something. The guy had a phone, so it wasn't that hard to send a text message, which he hadn't received all day. Of course Sasuke also hadn't sent anything, but sometimes it was nice to hear from someone else first and not always have to be the one to start a conversation. His hand on the blade tightened as he sliced an onion in pieces, his eyes prickling, but not yet tearing up.

'Gaara went home,' came the small sound of Naruto's voice, hoping this would comfort Sasuke somewhat, but the deed had already been done. Sasuke had come home to the sight of the two sitting next to each other, laughing together and relaxing in a way Sasuke didn't even have time to do right now.

His anger got the better of him and the knife sliced into his finger, blood welling up instantly. He pained groan left his lips, muttering 'shit' under his breath as he threw the knife down and moved towards the drawer that held bandages. Immediately Naruto was by his side and helped him, aided him, but as soon as the blonde held up the bandage to put over the wound, their eyes met for the first time that evening.

Sasuke's finger was between his lips, sucking on the cut to make it stop bleeding, but he couldn't move. Not when he saw the blue eyes dart down in guilt and it immediately made something else well up inside. Why did Naruto feel guilty? Had something else happened? Had Gaara finally been able to convince Naruto that they were a better pair, they were made for each other? That Gaara could love Naruto more than Sasuke ever did? Those would be all lies, but it would be the words of a manipulator. Words Sasuke was all too familiar with, convincing client after client what was best.

A shaky breath left his lips as he stepped away and let his finger leave his mouth. His eyes had darkened even more as he was now looking down at the floor, imagining what had happened with Gaara here. How their lips had met in a desperate attempt to show how they truly felt for one another. How hands had roamed over their bodies, feeling every curve and dip their body made.

Fisting his hand to his side, he made the cut bleed again, but he didn't care anymore. His teeth gnawed at his lip, trying to keep the words in, the accusations that were about to spill. He knew it wouldn't work and that it would only anger Naruto back or otherwise make him other the truth and say that indeed something had happened and then Sasuke would be all alone again. It couldn't happen. Finally Sasuke had been willing to give himself to someone completely, to feel this devoted, but it was like it was all slipping away from him, right through his fingers.

Suddenly Naruto was in front of him, grabbing his bleeding hand and closing a paper towel around it to stop it from losing even more blood. Silence lingered in the room as Sasuke studied Naruto's face through his bangs, hiding the emotions for Naruto to see.

'Why was he here?' he heard himself ask, an edginess lingering in it. And Naruto had heard it as well, flinching at the words and slowly looking back up, still clutching Sasuke's hand in his own.

'Gaara stopped by because I was bored and he wanted to hang out. He is my friend and he is entitled to,' Naruto replied plainly and dismissing the fact that this was even negotiable. It is what it is and Sasuke had to deal with it. And of course Sasuke knew they were friends, but he was also positive that Gaara was out for more and had talked badly of him while the redhead was here. Gaara had done it before and would do it many times again. Until Naruto was convinced that Sasuke was wrong, the bad guy and that Naruto should not love him.

The answer made Sasuke narrow his eyes though and yank his hand out of Naruto's grip, not wanting to be touched by him. 'And why wasn't I aware of this?' he questioned, almost gritting out the words.

And now defiance lit up Naruto's eyes, because of course he was also done with this behaviour. Again he had to listen to Gaara whine about Sasuke not being good enough and for the first time Gaara had actually explained why, but it hadn't mattered. Nothing Sasuke had done in the past mattered. But this fighting, this strange war those two were having, was annoying and Naruto didn't want to focus on it. There were more important things to think of. 'I just forgot to let you know, but I didn't think it was necessary since I live here as well. This is still our home, right?'

That question made Sasuke shiver. Our home… Somehow Sasuke still saw it as his home and Naruto had just moved in with him. But should he be seeing it as their home? And even if it was their home, wasn't it still common sense to let the other know someone was stopping by? Sasuke would let Naruto know if he was having someone over. Not that it happened very often. Family he rather saw at work and friends he didn't really have a lot of. Only Neji and the brunette never stopped by.

'I rather have you tell me when someone stops by,' especially if it's him, Sasuke added in his head, but Naruto could see it in his eyes already, finally looking up at Sasuke again. Naruto knew him too well, knew how to read his eyes. Strange how Naruto got to know them so well when it was his gaze that people often avoided, afraid of the darkness of it. An ex once said she had felt entrapped in them and Sasuke always wondered why when he had no interest in actually keeping her. She found out the hard way after only a week.

Naruto took a step back then and his eyes had turned a darker shade of blue, anger rising up as well. 'Gaara can come by when he feels like it and you can't say shit about that. He's my friend and I can see him whenever I want and he has been in my life far longer than you have, so you have no right to try and stop me from seeing him,' he accused and as soon as the words had left the plump lips, Naruto knew he had made a mistake. That last bit would hurt Sasuke and he had actually never witnessed Sasuke like that.

His heart beat was unsteady and Sasuke leaned heavily against the counter, fear rising up, but his face stayed blank. Naruto wouldn't see his emotions now. They would stay hidden behind a veil of black hair. 'Then why don't you go visit him then?' Sasuke asked, anger making his voice rise. 'Why don't you leave and go to him and see how much more he can love you.'

And then it went completely silent. Blue eyes had widened for a split second until they narrowed again. 'Love me more?!' Naruto called out. 'How can I even be sure you love me when I hear you have lied to so many before me? Maybe you're lying to me now and just keeping me here so you have yourself a fuck buddy.' Those words struck Sasuke like knives. Was that what Naruto really thought? That Sasuke had been lying since the beginning just to have sex with him? It sounded absurd and very unlikely, because who would go through such measures just to ensure you have someone to sleep with? 'So yeah, I think I'll go visit Gaara now and you don't have to wait up for me.' And with that said Naruto walked off and slammed the door from the kitchen closed, leaving Sasuke completely alone.

Of course Naruto hadn't believed Gaara's cruel words and he had seen how much Sasuke loved him, but it had been the moment he had caught himself in. Sasuke accusing Gaara from loving him more? What did that even mean? Was this all pure jealousy? And even if Gaara could possibly love him more than Sasuke did right now, then it didn't matter, because Naruto loved Sasuke and he was the only one.

But the words had been said and the door had been closed. It had taken the slamming of the front door to have Sasuke moving again and the only thing he did was continuing cooking, because his mind hadn't been ready for something else. Naruto was gone and who knew for how long it would be. Don't wait up for me was said, but did that mean that Naruto was coming back tomorrow?

You said you'd never leave me, both minds thought at the same time.

Characters © Masashi Kishimoto

Let me know what you think!

And the end is nearing, guys... I think only two more chapters and it might feel a bit bitter sweet, but I think it will be fitting with everything the couple has been through.