Sasuke brought him to a coffee place in Williamsburg called Mountain Province. It wasn't what he expected at all as, walking in, it reminded him of someone's grandmother's house. Not, like, in a bad way, but just because of the mismatched, antique furniture and kitschy wallpaper. It was incredibly comfortable, and they were able to snag a table by the window. As they hung their coats on the back of their chairs, Sasuke asked him what he wanted.

"I don't know, what's good here?"

"I usually get tea, but if you want caffeine, then I suggest the cappuccino."

"Alright. I trust you," he said with a smile.

While he waited for Sasuke to return, he got out his phone and checked his messages. He saw that he had a missed call from his dad. He must not have heard the phone on their way here. Surprisingly, Sasuke had been somewhat chatty, telling Naruto about some of his more favorite places to eat and drink around Brooklyn. Again, it was nice to have someone so knowledgeable about the area as this was a place he never would have found on his own.

While texting his father to at least let him know he was still alive, Sasuke sat back down in the chair opposite him.

"I thought you'd take me to a much more pretentious place," Naruto told him. "You know, where all the waitresses and waiters have names like North or Apple or Xanadu. And all the coffee beans come from some tiny village in Tibet."

"I'm thinking, considering most of the people working here are Filipino, I'd be very surprised if anyone had a name like that. As for Tibet, I'm not sure their top export is coffee beans."

Naruto chuckled and set his elbows on the table.

"Do you really have that low an opinion of me, Naruto?" Sasuke asked.

"I dunno," he replied. "You're growin' on me. Speakin' of Tibet, did you know I once went through this stage where I wanted to be a monk?"

"Please tell me you went so far as to shave your head." Sasuke rested both arms on the table and leaned forward.

"Ah," he laughed, "I have done that, but not 'cause I wanted to be a monk."

"Let me guess. You lost a dare?"

"Pretty much. Luckily my hair grows fast. I didn't mind it, though. You'd be surprised how many women love to touch a guy's bald head."

"You're right. I probably would be."

"Right, I keep forgettin' about the whole gay thing." Naruto tilted his head and gave Sasuke an ornery smile.

"Good," Sasuke said blandly. "I live for the day when we're all just people and you're no longer imagining what I get up to in the bedroom."

Naruto made a choking noise. "Thanks for those images."

"You're welcome."

Meanwhile, an older woman came by with a tray and dropped off Sasuke's steaming cup of tea and Naruto's cappuccino. There was a leaf shape designed into the top of it. They both thanked the woman as she left their table while offering a small, polite bow of the head.

"It's almost too pretty to drink, isn't it?" He murmured, simply enjoying holding the white mug in his hands. "Smells good, too."

"I've never heard a single person say bad things about anything they've had here."

Naruto took his first sip. It was so light and flavorful. He licked his lips. "S'good."

"So, you were saying," Sasuke took a sip of his tea, "About becoming a monk?"

"Oh, yeah." He set his mug down. "I dunno. I went through some weird spiritual stage as a little kid, I guess. Or, maybe I just liked those orange robes they wear. Not sure why I brought that up... that was before my mom passed. Obviously, after she died, I had some issues with God and religion and all that, so, instead, I just wanted to get a job where I could make enough money to take care of a family."

"Are you and your girlfriend considering... having kids?" Sasuke asked.

"Honestly?" Naruto leaned back in his chair, gazing at an invisible point close on the ceiling. "We talked about it. Once or twice. She's... older than me. That's apparently why we fight as much as we do. She's... well. I'll just say that I'm still in college, so I'm not ready to settle down or whatever, but... in the future, yeah. A family would be nice, right?"

"Family is important, yes," Sasuke said softly and met Naruto's gaze.

"You look sad," he said. "Somethin' wrong?"

Sasuke shook his head. "No. Tell me more. I want to hear more of these stories you have."

"Let's see." Naruto scratched the back of his head as he thought. "I don't wanna prove you right when you say I'm a thug, but I was a handful as a kid. Growin' up I had a lot of energy, so my mom always yelled at me a lot, but really, she was as excitable as I was."

"Do you have a photo of her I could see?" Sasuke asked. "If you don't mind."

"No, sure." He reached into his pocket for his wallet and pulled out a small photo of he and his mother sitting on the porch. "That was Halloween," he explained as he handed it to Sasuke. "I was a pumpkin. I was about... four years old?"

Sasuke took it, holding it gingerly. "She's very pretty." He raised his eyes briefly. "It would've been amazing if you'd ended up with her hair."

"I know, right?" Naruto laughed loudly. "I wouldn't mind, but nah. I ended up with dad's hair. My eyes are shaped like hers. Maybe my mouth a bit, too. What about you? Who do you look more like?"

Sasuke handed back the photo. "My mother."

"Your mom must be really pretty then."

Sasuke's eyebrow went up. "Thank you?"

"Well, you're good looking, right? It's okay to own it. I'm not half bad either."

"You're so modest."

"Hey, I didn't say I was the best lookin' guy in the world. Not even close. But, I'm not horrid to look at."

"No, horrid is not a word I would use to describe you." Sasuke held his mug and sighed.

"You really don't like to talk about your family much, do you."

"Not particularly, no. I believe I said that last night. It's not personal, it's just..."

"Complicated?" He finished for him. "Okay. I won't pry. I'm just curious. I always like to know what makes people the way they are, and I guess I always figure family is a big part of that. Sorry if I keep comin' back to it. Your brother interests me, too."

Sasuke pulled a face. "My brother interests everybody."

"Heh. What do they call that? A brother complex? I thought Deidara said the two of you were pretty close."

"We are." Sasuke ran his thumb over the mug handle, up and down. "He's busy. He works in Seattle, at a very successful firm. In fact, my father worked there for a while."

"Oh, is your dad retired? He musta done pretty well to retire so young."

Sasuke didn't reply. He was looking elsewhere, somewhere behind Naruto.

"Sasuke?"

The other man looked his way again. "Hm?"

"You okay?"

"Fine," he answered. "What is it you're studying, did you say?"

"Business administration and entrepreneurship. Thought it would help if I went to work with my dad for a while after I graduate. He's a great salesman and everything, but, you know, he's not so up to date with the most current technology and marketing strategies."

"You, doing marketing? That's... hard to picture."

"Hey," he said and, grabbing a sugar packet, lobbed it at Sasuke.

Sasuke, however, caught it before it could peg him in the chest.

"Nice catch."

"Thanks." Sasuke placed the sugar back into the container.

"Your job interests me," Naruto continued, feeling like a sudden tension had arisen for some reason. "What is it you do exactly? Marketing or...?"

"I do some long-term publicity strategies, sure. I've helped out with social media and setting up interviews, but mostly I'm involved in talent search. I listen to demos, go to concerts. I'm like a talent agent, but I handle a lot of the business side. The CEO of our company is... not a whole lot older than me. It's a small, but well-known company, and we have three different record labels with offices in Seattle, New York, London, L.A., and Chicago."

"There's an office in Chicago?" He asked. "Wow. Wouldn't that have been weird if you'd gone there instead?"

"The market's a lot smaller in Chicago, and that office sees a lot of turnover, but it's one of our newest. In fact, the position I was just given was offered to me in part because that manager moved to Chicago to help train staff and do a bit of re-organization."

"Hm." Naruto nodded. "You have fun, though, right? Do you like the people you work with?"

Sasuke took a moment to push a piece of hair behind his ear, appearing deep in thought. "I don't know what you quantify as fun, but I like what I do. Most of my coworkers are tolerable, some I even like."

"You've always liked music then? It'd be hard not to, growin' up in Seattle. I still think all that stuff that came out of the 90s, all the alternative bands, some of the best friggin' stuff ever made. Well, that and classic rock, but I'll listen to almost everything. Do you have a favorite band?"

"There's no way I could choose one," Sasuke replied. "I couldn't even choose a favorite genre, but..." He bit his lip, eyes meeting Naruto's. "When I was younger I used to be into punk. I'd go to record stores and listen to the albums for hours after school."

"I didn't think you could get any cooler, Sasuke. Now I understand why you dropped out of college. You were, literally, too cool for school."

Sasuke let out a laugh, which made Naruto very happy. It felt like an accomplishment.

"I don't mean this to sound like a come on," he found himself saying, "But... I mean, how can I put this...?" Naruto chewed at his bottom lip as he lifted his mug, hiding his mouth behind it.

"What's up?" Sasuke asked casually.

"It really does feel like a date."

Sasuke gazed at him very neutrally, which was a bit unsettling. "How so?"

"Because, the purpose of a date is to get to know a person better, right? I'm tryin' to remember, how did I come to be friends with my guy friends... was it 'cause I wanted to know more about them or 'cause we were already hangin' out?"

"I don't know how to answer that," Sasuke replied. "And I don't go on dates, so, by default, this certainly can't be one. Also, there's the fact you have a girlfriend and are, from what I've gathered, heterosexual."

"No, I know. I'm not sayin' I'm gonna jump your bones, it's... somethin' else. Maybe date was the wrong way to put it." He shook his head. "Nevermind. I don't know what I'm sayin', and I'm not very good with words, so I dunno how to express myself half the time, but... it's weird to get along with someone so well... unless, of course, you think I'm a total idiot?"

Sasuke pushed his mug to the side, eyes intense as he watched Naruto for some time. Naruto began to fidget under the weight of his stare.

"I can't figure you out," Sasuke said eventually. "I can't tell if you're being sincere or if you're so insecure that you're actually fishing for compliments."

Naruto blinked several times. "What? I wasn't - "

Sasuke put a hand up. "I didn't mean it in an offensive way. I'm just... trying to wrap my head around you, Naruto."

"Sorry," he said, not really knowing why he was apologizing other than he somehow felt guilty. "I should've kept my mouth shut, especially when I didn't know what the hell I was talkin' about."

"It's okay. I... also find you interesting."

He lifted his head a bit. "You do?"

"Yes, but... you need to relax. You're making me nervous even."

"I am?" He laughed. "Why?"

"Because."

"'Because'? Because why?"

"Finish your cappuccino." Sasuke glanced at his watch. "The next place I want to go should be open in about 20 minutes, and that's about how long it will take to walk there."

"I hope it's somewhere I can get somethin' to eat. I've got the munchies."

"I guess that answers your question about what's in the brownies."

"Yeah." Naruto laughed softly as he moved his mug in circles. He went quiet for a while, watching the little bit of remaining espresso swirl around the bottom.

"Naruto," Sasuke called after about a minute.

"Mm?" He didn't look up, though.

"Something wrong?"

"Nah. Just thinkin'. I guess I never told you why I came here. Not that, y'know, there's been a reason to talk about it, but... I think I came here to do some soul searchin'. I suppose that's what you do when your life's about to change. I graduate in May, and I'll have to get a job, and... the way things are goin' with Shion..." He shook his head, glancing up at Sasuke. "Sorry. You probably don't wanna hear all this. I don't usually moan about things."

"I don't mind," said Sasuke. "Honestly, I've been... well, I'm too sober to start talking about this, but I'll just say... listening to you... it means I don't have to focus on the stuff going on with me. So, I'm happy to hear it. I'm not very good at advice, but... if I can help, I'll give it a try."

Naruto broke out into a grin. "You're a pretty nice guy, Sasuke."

"Now that's a phrase I don't hear very often." Sasuke let out a long sigh.

"For two such awesome, young, good lookin' guys, we sure moan and groan a lot. There have to be people way worse off than us in the world, right?"

"I'd like to think so." Sasuke smirked.

Naruto just chuckled and, with one last sip, finished off the remainder of his cappuccino. "I'm ready when you are."

"I'm ready." Sasuke fished out his wallet and left a few ones as tip.

The both of them stood and started bundling up. Naruto happened to notice the label on Sasuke's long, black coat.

"Burberry, huh?" Naruto teased. "You certainly have expensive taste in clothes."

"I prefer to say I have good taste as opposed to expensive taste. But, yes, it is an expensive coat, so don't get anything on it."

Naruto wrapped his scarf around his neck and adjusted his little beanie hat so that he could actually see. "Must be nice to afford things like that."

"It was a gift actually," Sasuke replied as he pulled on his gloves.

"Is that so?"

Sasuke glanced at him. "What's with that look?"

Naruto narrowed his eyes. "You don't, like, have a sugar daddy do you?"

Sasuke scoffed. "You think I can't afford my own clothes?"

"I think you can, but now I'm imaginin' all these guys who wanna buy you things to get your attention."

"I'll try not to take offense," Sasuke said. "Considering I've mostly bought everywhere we've gone, you could say I'm your sugar daddy. As loathe as I am to say that phrase."

"I like how you said 'loathe' there."

"Well," Sasuke said, leaning in. "I 'loathe' this conversation, so if you wouldn't mind." He put a hand to Naruto's back.

"You just like to touch me, don't you?" Naruto asked as he was practically pushed out the door.

"More like you're the slowest person in the world. I have to push you just to get you to go anywhere."

"What's the rush anyway?" Still, Naruto let himself be maneuvered out of the coffee shop. It was snowing, but it was very light. He stuck out his tongue to catch a few flakes.

"Be careful of the pigeons," Sasuke warned. "If you're going to be sticking your tongue out like that."

"Is seein' my tongue excitin' you too much?" Naruto asked, turning to smile at him.

Sasuke gave a wry look. "Do you know how many men would love to be in your position right now?"

"Nope." He grinned. "No clue. Doesn't that suck for you, though? One of the most awesome guys in the world is at your side and gonna be hangin' out with you all day, and he doesn't swing that way."

"Right," said Sasuke. "I'm sorry. Who was the one saying only ten minutes ago that we were practically on a date as it is?"

"Tch. That was ten minutes ago. Like you mentioned earlier, my moods and thoughts change every few seconds. I'm over it. I dunno why I thought that."

"Uh huh." Sasuke shot him a dubious look.

"Bastard," Naruto grumbled as he folded his arms behind his head while gazing up at the clouds.

"I do hope that going anywhere... gay-exclusive... won't be a problem?"

"What, like a gay bar?" Naruto asked. "Nah. I've gone to one or two in Chicago. Usually with a bunch of friends. It was fun."

"Just thought I'd check. I'm still working on figuring out your comfort zone."

"How very courteous of you," Naruto said sarcastically only to get thwacked in the back of his shoulder. "Hey!"

"Hey yourself," Sasuke replied. "Smartass."

"Heh. You love it."

"It's alright." Sasuke was smiling. "You're tolerable. For a Midwesterner."

"Ha. Midwest is the best, man. You have no idea."

"I suppose it has its good points. You definitely have minimal manners."

"Minimal?" Naruto scoffed. "I'm probably the nicest dude you know. Even Deidara said as much. Oh wait, he said the nicest guy you've 'screwed', which begs the question... was he callin' you a manwhore? Are you that bad?"

"I don't believe in labels," said Sasuke. "And, it's a bit beneath you to judge me, Naruto."

"I'm not judgin'," Naruto grumbled, half-offended that he was being called judgmental because he was most definitely not judgmental. "I'm just... concerned... for your well-bein'."

"Thank you for your concern, but I'm a big boy. I'm young, single, and I live in New York. It's pretty reasonable to assume I take advantage of my situation as often as I can."

"Really," said Naruto. "Am I one of those situations?"

"Are you gay?" Sasuke asked, sounding put out.

"Well, no. But my point is that I don't wanna be one of your usual situations. We're not even talkin' about sex here, but just... like how you left this mornin' without a goodbye... I felt so... discarded, y'know? And I really liked you. I thought we were havin' a good time."

"I thought we were past all that," said Sasuke. "I apologized, didn't I?"

"I know, yeah. And I'm not holdin' a grudge or anything, I'm just sharin' what I felt is all. Guys can do that, too."

"Wonderful. Next you'll be asking me to drive off a cliff with you after I help you kill your husband."

"Wait, which one does that make me? Am I Thelma, or am I Louise?"

Sasuke snorted. "Like I can remember. That movie came out a million years ago."

"Heh. Yeah. Ah, Sasuke."

"What is it, idiot?"

Naruto knocked into his shoulder. "Nothin'."

"What, don't you want to share more of your feelings with me?"

"Oh, shut up!" He knocked into him again, but, this time, Sasuke knocked him back.

"Don't start what you can't finish, you thug. You chav!"

"What's a chav?" Naruto walked behind him for a while so that he could attempt to step on the heels of his boots, but eventually Sasuke, growing tired of it, grabbed him by the wrist and swung him around until they were side by side.

"A chav... they're trouble-making children in Britain. Rude, little brats. Punks."

"I thought you liked punk," Naruto retorted, a triumphant smile on his face.

"Please stop trying to be funny," replied Sasuke, "It's not working. You'll never be able to reach your dream of stand-up in the big city with material like that."

"Stand-up?" Naruto mused. "Is that my path I should be takin'?"

"No, since I just told you you're absolutely the most unfunniest person I've met in my life."

"Harsh, Sasuke. And here I thought you dug my sense of humor."

"Meh."

Naruto looked over at him, found him grinning, and was momentarily struck with the same thoughts he'd had earlier. Why did his brain keep comparing this to a date? It wasn't a date, he knew that. He wasn't into guys. Sasuke wasn't into him. Guys could be good friends, but... what was this other weird feeling he kept having? Weirder still as apparently he was the only one feeling it.

"Naruto?"

"Huh?"

"I just asked you how you feel about bowling, but you spaced out on me."

"Oh, you did?" He pulled a face, squinting hard at someone's footprints in the snow. "Ah, bowlin'. I like bowling. Are you takin' me bowlin'?"

"It's... a bowling alley slash bar, I guess you'd say. They have concerts sometimes. There's probably one tonight, I'm sure, so it's good that we're getting there earlier."

"Sounds cool. You actually bowl?"

"On occasion. You, being from the Midwest, I figured you'd probably like those blue-collar activities."

"You're such a classist snob," he remarked. "But, yeah. I bowl a lot. It's the thing to do, I suppose. I'm sure I'll kick your ass, so that's a bonus."

"I don't know about that," said Sasuke. "I tend to be excellent at everything I attempt."

Naruto rolled his eyes. "You're such a cocky bastard."

"You're one to talk."

"What makes you say that?" He raised both of his eyebrows.

Sasuke just shrugged. "I find you to be very cocky. Not in a bad way."

"Hm." He frowned. "I'm... kinda self-confident, but I don't think I'm cocky."

"Either way. I meant it as a compliment."

"Oh, you mean you're hittin' on me."

"Shut up, Naruto." Sasuke sent him a wayward glance. "Or else."

"Or else what?" He kicked at some snow with his boot.

"I'll have to find a way to shut you up."

"Impossible!" He cried.

"Okay, then I'll try to kiss you."

"What?" He stopped in his tracks, but Sasuke continued walking.

Not wanting to be left behind, he ran after him, but when Sasuke said nothing else, Naruto kept fidgeting at his side.

"See," said Sasuke. "It worked."

"What - Oh. You suck. Threatenin' me with sexual assault to get me to shut up? That's sick."

"Since when is kissing construed as sexual assault? After all, we are on a date as you put it."

"Oh, get over it. I didn't... I wasn't... oh, shut it!"

"Hn. You're adorable when you're flustered."

"Shut up!" Naruto shouted and threw himself at Sasuke, but within five seconds, the other man had him in a headlock and calmly kept dragging him forward to their destination.

"Say uncle," said Sasuke. "If you do I'll let you go."

"Never!"

"Say it."

"No! I won't!"

Sasuke squeezed tighter.

"Fine, I give, I give. Let go already!"

Sasuke let him go, and Naruto stumbled as he tried to right himself. There were some people on the sidewalk who gave them odd looks. Naruto kept pulling faces at the back of Sasuke's head, but then he got over it and joined him at his side.

"Feel better now?" Sasuke asked, turning to him with an especially wicked grin.

Naruto glared. "This must be what it's like to have an older brother."

"You have no idea," said Sasuke.

Naruto started whistling "Teen Spirit".

"You're a mediocre whistler, as expected," said Sasuke.

"I was tryin' to whistle somethin' that would remind you of home!"

"Ah, I see. How thoughtful."

Naruto, not knowing why, glanced at Sasuke's hand, feeling like he wanted to grab it, but the thought - the feeling driving it - was so brief that it barely registered in his consciousness and, thus, was just as easily dismissed. It was simply a fondness that he felt. It was exciting because this was a new person, and he was in New York City. He wasn't moping about in DeKalb, wondering what Shion was up to, or loathing himself for being slightly jealous that his two best friends had hooked up and, lately, hadn't had much time for him.

It was only that and nothing more. Soon he'd have to go back home to Illinois, and this would be one of those fun, random stories that he could tell other people.

Losing some of his earlier energy, Naruto sagged a bit as he shoved his hands into his pockets. It didn't go noticed by Sasuke, but it didn't matter much, as he was being told that the place they were going was just up ahead. Sasuke opened the door for him, and, as they entered, asked to take Naruto's coat.

Naruto gave it to him and inquired where the bathroom was. While Sasuke checked their coats, Naruto started heading to the restrooms only to have his phone go off. Figuring it was his dad calling again, he answered immediately.

"I told you I'm still alive," he said. "Didn't you get my text?"

"Naruto."

"Oh." He stopped in his tracks. "Shion."

"Hey. I hadn't heard from you in a week. I just... wanted to make sure you were doing okay."

"I'm fine. How's Miami?" He leaned against the wood-paneled wall outside of the bathroom and glanced toward the bar, where he saw Sasuke speaking with a couple of guys.

"Hot. It's good. You sound... distracted."

"Ah, well. I'm out with a friend right now."

"Kiba?"

"Uh, no. Actually, I'm... in New York."

"Why are you in New York?" Shion asked, sounding... angry?

"What does it matter? You went to Miami. I went to New York to hang out."

"Okay... God, you know... You just..."

"I just what?" He asked. "You always do what you want. So, I'm here doing what Iwant. What's the problem?"

"This. You. Your attitude, Naruto. That's always the problem. It's exactly why we're on a break right now."

"Yeah. We're on a break, which means I don't get to hear you complain about everything you hate about me and how immature I am - "

She hung up on him.

Naruto glared at the phone and switched it off. He didn't want to listen to her crap right now, and he'd been having such a good time. While he was standing there, with his head down and eyes shut, he heard someone approach.

"Naruto, you okay?"

He opened his eyes and saw Sasuke standing there with two beer bottles. Before even being offered one, he took it from Sasuke's hand and drank.

"It's nothing," he said after swallowing. "I'm just realizin' that you may be one smart bastard to stay clear of relationships."

Sasuke gave him a curious look. "Something the matter?"

"Nah," he said. "Let's just bowl. I feel like whoopin' your ass all of a sudden." He started walking toward the lanes, satisfied when Sasuke caught up with him but didn't bother asking him any intrusive questions. Naruto didn't want to talk about it anyway. Shion and their relationship was half the reason he'd run away to New York. Part of him knew they were mis-matched, but he wasn't someone who'd give up easily. Maybe their relationship was crumbling, maybe they were growing apart, but...

He drank more as he followed Sasuke to lane No. 7.

"Naruto," Sasuke said again when they were settling into their seating area. He still had to pick out shoes and a ball, but, for a moment, he just sat there, staring out into the row of lanes. The place was crowded and loud with all the pins crashing and the music blaring from the speakers -

He felt a hand at his shoulder and looked up.

"Hey," he said weakly.

"Hey," Sasuke said back. "Do you... need something stronger than beer?"

"I... yeah."

"Okay." And just like that, without question or judgment, Sasuke went off to find something that would numb his brain. Hopefully. He didn't want to drag Sasuke down with him. This would pass... in just a bit... and he was having fun with Sasuke. He wanted to keep hanging out. He didn't want Sasuke to think he was a pain in the ass and leave him...

Naruto rubbed his hands over his face, trying to shake it off. He had to put on a happy face. That's why people liked him. No one wanted to be around someone who was such a downer.

Get it together, Naruto, he kept telling himself.

When Sasuke came back, he had a whole tray of shots that he set on the chair next to the screen. He picked up two of them - they were a murky brown color - and handed Naruto one of them. Sasuke clinked his with Naruto's.

Naruto looked up at him and offered a strained smile. "What should we toast to?"

"Anything you want."

"Alright. Let's drink... to forget."

Sasuke gave him an odd look but clinked his glass again and threw it back at the same time.

"Ugh," he said. "That's... yeah."

"Now, shall we bowl?" asked Sasuke.

"Yep. Let me get my shit. You're gonna regret this - hey, what's your last name?"

"Uchiha." Sasuke wiped his hand across his mouth. "Yours?"

"Uzumaki."

"Sounds vaguely... what nationality is that?" Sasuke asked.

"Who knows? Why? You writin' my biography, Uchiha?" Naruto slapped him on the back.

Sasuke blinked at him and then broke out into a crooked grin. "You're trouble. Uzumaki."

"Fuck yeah, I am. Especially right now. If I'm not back in 10, send the troops."

"You better come back before that," Sasuke told him. "Or I'll drink all of these by myself."

"Well, fuck. Then I'll be back in two minutes. Don't you dare drink all of those without me!" He sprinted toward the rental counter, grabbed the disgusting bowling shoes, and hurdled back toward their lane, where Sasuke was typing in their names. He had himself listed as 'Winner' and apparently Naruto listed as 'Idiot'.

"Jerk," Naruto muttered as he picked up another shot and downed it. He picked up one more while Sasuke watched him.

Sasuke shook his head. "You're up first, Betty Ford."

Naruto snorted and swallowed the next shot. "Works for me. Let's do this."

By the time they'd reached the tenth frame, Naruto could barely keep the ball out of the gutter. Sasuke wasn't doing a whole lot better. Their scores weren't anything to write home about, but at least Naruto had won.

Naruto stumbled back a few feet and landed in his chair. "Told ya I'd kick your ass."

"You won by 5, and I've bowled about three times in my life."

"Hey, what sort of man makes excuses, huh? What do I get now that I've won?"

Sasuke picked up the last shot glass and handed it to him. "I'm glad winning has put you in a better mood than earlier."

Naruto, lowering his eyes, took the shot and swallowed it quickly. He made a face as he licked his lips and set the glass back down. "Alright, if I don't get some water, I'm probably not gonna be alright to even walk home."

"You're going to walk all the way back to Illinois?" Sasuke smirked.

"Ah, shut up. You know what I meant. Your place. The hotel. Wherever you're takin' me."

"Again, so presumptuous," said Sasuke and poked him in the shoulder.

"Don't you flirt with me, Uchiha. You keep your hands to yourself unless you're gonna follow through."

"I bet you say that to all the ladies," Sasuke murmured as he began removing his bowling shoes and putting on his boots.

"Why? Are you a lady?"

"I won't deign to answer that, thanks." He lost his grip on the chair as he stood up, so Naruto laughed at him.

"You drunk."

"I..." Sasuke blinked a couple of times and sat down on the chair again. "Might be..."

"You're not gonna puke on me, are you?"

"It's not like alcohol was the only thing I had last night. It didn't mix very well."

"Wait," he said with some concern, "What did you have last night?"

Sasuke merely put his hand up and shook his head. "If we're done here, should we head back to my place?"

"If you think you can manage it. Should I carry you on my back?" Naruto took his arm and hauled him to his feet. He grabbed Sasuke's coat from off of the chair and handed it to him. "Gimme your shoes. I'll return them."

"I can do it," Sasuke grumbled.

"I bet you can." He smiled. "You're such a big boy." Naruto reached out in an attempt to ruffle Sasuke's hair only to get his hand slapped away.

"Don't touch me with your peasant hands." Sasuke smirked.

"You like it when I touch you with my peasant hands." He put his hand to Sasuke's chest and gripped his t-shirt.

"Now I know we definitely need to take this back to my place," said Sasuke, his dark eyes twinkling with amusement.

Naruto laughed, gave him a shove, and stole his shoes away from him to return to the rental counter. By the time he came back, Sasuke was all bundled up and holding out his jacket to him.

"Thanks." Naruto slipped it on along with his scarf, hat, and gloves.

As they were leaving, he noticed that the place had really filled up and there was now a line to get inside.

"Guess it's a good thing we came early, huh?"

"Mm." Sasuke pushed him through the crowd, a hand at Naruto's back the entire time.

After walking outside, Naruto released a heavy exhale. "S'cold. Did it get colder?"

"Seems so," Sasuke answered quietly. "The snow's heavier, too."

"Hmm."

Sasuke glanced at him. "Still worried about flying?"

He shrugged. "I'll manage. Not much I can do about it. Can't stay here forever, I s'pose."

"I'm sure Deidara wouldn't mind keeping you around for a while."

"Yeah, right. Nice guy, but yeah. Not my type."

Sasuke grimaced. "I agree with you there."

"So what is your type then?" Naruto asked with genuine interest. "I mean, if we're gonna go out tonight, maybe I can act as your wing man."

"I don't need any help picking up men, I assure you."

"Right." He pulled at his scarf where it had been rubbing against his lips. "I did get that impression. Is that gonna make me a cock block when we go out together?"

"I'm not desperate," Sasuke replied, almost irritably. "I can go out without feeling as though I need to pick up someone."

"Alright. Sorry. I didn't mean to start a fight or anything. I just wanted to make sure that I'm not interruptin' your weekend routine too much."

Sasuke let out a huff of air, the space between his eyebrows furrowing tightly. "I would think by now that you'd understand I'm not the type of person who would agree to do something he didn't want to do. If you were a bother to me, I wouldn't have gone out with you last night. I would have kicked you out of my place this afternoon and not gone out with you again. Are you really that insecure, after all?"

For a second, Naruto abruptly stopped on the sidewalk. Sasuke took another step but stopped and turned around.

"What is it?" Sasuke asked, hands in the pockets of his coat. He approached Naruto slowly.

"I dunno."

"You didn't drink that much. What's with the serious expression?"

"No, I know." He shook his head. "It's not that. Just..." Naruto glanced up at the other man, sheepishly scratching the back of his neck. "While you were at the bar, and I was headin' to the bathroom... Shion called."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed the slightest bit. "...I see."

"You sounded like her for a second. She says I'm immature and stuff. Irresponsible. That may be true... but. Ah...crap." Letting out a heavy sigh, he closed his eyes as he covered his heart with his hand after feeling it flutter.

"Sorry," said Sasuke. "I guess I keep mistaking your manners for something else. Like with your girlfriend, my brother often likes to question my judgment, my decisions. It can be infuriating. So, I guess I get defensive when someone assumes I don't have everything under control."

Naruto, turning his head, offered a weak smile. "Is having everything under control really such a good thing? I know I'm not perfect, but, I dunno, isn't tryin' to pretend that you have everything under control a sign that, you know, not everything is in your control? It's impossible anyway, right? To control everything."

"You're being way too philosophical for a drunkard," said Sasuke. "Especially a drunkard that's also an idiot."

Naruto immediately scowled. "Shut up."

Sasuke laughed, a low, rumbling sound that was pleasant to hear. He drew Naruto forward, and, together, they continued walking toward the apartment. For the duration of their trek, they remained mostly quiet. Occasionally Sasuke would hum, and Naruto would shoot him a look. Sasuke would stop only for Naruto to pick up where he'd left off.

"Who knew you could be so thoughtful?" He mumbled, reminded of earlier when Sasuke'd known he was upset and tried his best to distract him.

"Hm?" Sasuke was checking his phone.

"Nothin'. Is Deidara wonderin' where you are?"

"I doubt it. No. It's... a colleague of mine."

"Oh, a booty call?"

"No. Nothing like that. Don't be stupid."

"Tch. Asshole. How should I know?" He scrunched his nose at Sasuke's tone.

Sasuke put his phone in his pocket. "It's just a friend. He's asking what my plans are for the evening."

Naruto gazed up at the sky, watching the heavy fall of snowflakes. "Is he gonna go out, too?"

"I can only imagine him hitting on you if he does. Even if you tell him you're straight, I guarantee he won't leave you alone."

"What did you say before? You can handle yourself? Yeah, well so can I."

Sasuke spared him a patronizing look.

"What?" asked Naruto.

"Nothing. Just don't forget. I did warn you."

Naruto snorted. "He can't be any worse than your roommate."

"Famous last words," Sasuke muttered.

"You still gonna let me borrow somethin' to wear, or are you afraid I'll get my peasant germs all over your clothes?"

"I wonder if your ass can fit into anything I have."

"What the - ?" Naruto gave him a shove. "I have a great ass, bastard!"

"It's not bad," Sasuke replied. "Mine's better." He smirked.

"Tch."

"You can borrow something. I'm sure Deidara will be more than happy to play dress up with you."

"Fine. Sometimes I think Deidara likes me more than you do anyway. You're always so mean to me, Sasuke."

"It's how I show my affection."

They were already approaching Sasuke's block and, within a few minutes, they were entering the brick building. The both of them stomped the snow from their boots and made their way up the stairs. Naruto waited at Sasuke's side while he unlocked the apartment door.

The first one to greet them was not Deidara but the orange cat as it came rocketing toward the door. Sasuke nudged Naruto in quickly and shut the door just in time to keep it from escaping.

"I have a feeling that means Deidara's been torturing him all this while," Sasuke said.

Naruto, feeling sorry for the animal, bent over and scooped him into his arms. Using calming words, the tabby settled somewhat and after a few scratches to its chin, began purring.

"Lift up your feet," Sasuke ordered, "And I'll take off your shoes."

"You're like a maid," Naruto mused. "I don't remember you bein' this good to me last night when we were drinkin'."

"I was very good to you last night."

"If that's what you consider 'good' I'd hate to see you completely plowed."

"Well, in that case, I'd imagine you'd be wearing a lot less clothing by now." Sasuke finished slipping off Naruto's boots for him and tossed them against the wall.

Before Naruto could even respond to that comment, Sasuke was jogging up the stairs, leaving him behind with the cat. Naruto followed to the base of the stairs and let the cat flop down on the first step.

"Hey, don't leave me!" He cried as he started going up the stairway.

"Naruto? Is that Naruto I hear? How I miiiised youuuu," Deidara sang, suddenly appearing at the top of the steps where he'd grabbed Sasuke by the arm to stop him from running into his bedroom. Naruto continued up the rest of the way slowly, swaying a little as he grabbed the ledge railing.

Deidara was dressed in black leather short-shorts and a red top that revealed a fair amount of skin. He had his hair pulled back into a high ponytail. Again, Naruto had to stop himself when he found himself comparing the roommate to a fairly attractive female.

"Look at the way he's staring at me," Deidara said to Sasuke. "I'm getting tingles."

"Wh-what? I'm not - "

"Tell him he was staring," Deidara said with a pout.

"It did seem you were staring," replied Sasuke. "Remind you of someone?"

Naruto's face felt hot. "Shut up."

"That's fun. Usually they always fall at Sasuke's feet. How does it feel now that the tables are turned?" Deidara asked while wrapping his fingers around Sasuke's wrist.

Naruto's eyes strayed to Deidara's fingers very briefly before he looked up again and caught Sasuke's gaze.

"I definitely feel like maybe he's undressing both of us with his eyes, don't you?" Deidara teased.

The orange cat kept winding his way between Naruto's feet, so, in his attempt to go after them for taunting him, he nearly tripped. Deidara began squealing as Naruto gave chase, but it was Sasuke who caught him by the arm, spun him around, and shoved him through the bedroom doorway. Somehow, he ended up on his back on top of Sasuke's bed, staring at the ceiling and wondering what had just happened.

"Are you like... some kind of ninja?" Naruto asked when Sasuke stood in the doorway.

"Oh, yes. You have no idea," Deidara said from behind him. "Sasuke used to take all kinds of martial arts, but so did Itachi. I saw Itachi get into a bar brawl once, and I got turned on just watching him fight a few guys all by himself."

Sasuke turned his head. "When did my brother get into a fight?"

"Oh, you were in high school. Or maybe even junior high. Some guys tried to start something with Kimimaro, so Itachi got involved and handled the situation like... such a gentleman. A very sexy gentleman who can throw other men around so easily..." He sighed and fanned himself. "I should call him, and see how he's doing. I'm sure he's missed hearing my angelic voice."

"Yes, why don't you go do that?" Sasuke voiced sarcastically. "Then when you're done fawning over my hetero brother, help Naruto find something to wear for tonight."

"Why don't you give him some of your clothes. My petite frame means that my clothes are delicate and slim. Look at those muscles." Deidara pointed at his stomach, where Naruto's shirt had ridden up. "He's not going to fit into anything of mine."

"Wait, are you sayin' my ass is fat, too?" Naruto grumbled.

"Oh, dear," said Deidara. "Don't be silly. I'd eat off your ass right now if you'd let me." But, then he disappeared in a whoosh as he darted toward his bedroom.

Sasuke took another few steps into the bedroom and held out a hand for Naruto to take. Naruto grabbed onto it and let himself be pulled into a sitting position. Then Sasuke put a knee on top of the bed and fell forward, where he curled up on his left side to face the wall.

Naruto turned to look at him. "Are y'gonna take a nap?"

"I still haven't recovered from last night. I'm simply resting my eyes."

"Bastard. Don't go to sleep. It's makin' me tired just lookin' at you."

"Then lie down."

"But you're lyin' down."

"So? What is it you think I'm going to do?"

"Hmph." Naruto stared a while longer at Sasuke's back before shifting around and crawling to lie on the other side of the mattress. He lay on his stomach first, then rolled onto his right side before rolling onto his left.

"Your hair is weird," he said to Sasuke.

"You're weird."

"Real mature." He poked Sasuke in the back.

"Stop sexually harassing me," Sasuke scolded him in a slightly slurred voice. "I thought you were more interested in my roommate than me."

"He does look more like a girl than you."

"I'll take that as a compliment." Sasuke yawned. "I could never pull off those shorts anyway."

Naruto chuckled at first, but then he let out a groan. "Great, now I'm picturin' it."

"How do I look?"

"I've seen worse," he said with a smile.

Sasuke shrugged his shoulders, and after a lull that lasted a minute or two, Naruto grabbed the back of his sweater.

"Sasuke," he whined.

"What is it idiot?"

"Pay attention to me," Naruto whispered. "Don't fall asleep."

"You're so high maintenance," complained Sasuke, but he finally rolled over and stared at him through heavy-lidded eyes. He reached across and slid Naruto's hair from off of his face to behind an ear.

Naruto only raised an eyebrow. "...That was gay."

Sasuke smirked. "It was in the way."

"Of what?"

"Your eyes."

"Hmm. Still gay." He smiled wider.

"I hate to break it to you," Sasuke said, folding both of his hands under his head. "I'm gay, Naruto."

"Yeah, well..." He searched Sasuke's face, feeling somewhat weary... but warm. Comfortable even. He attributed it to the alcohol, snowy weather, and the three games of bowling that were totally going to leave him sore tomorrow. "What time is it?"

Sasuke checked his watch. "Five-thirty now."

"S'plenty of time for a nap."

"We could watch a movie."

"Nothin' that requires moving," Naruto murmured and, shifting his hand from his hip, dropped it on the bed between them.

"We can watch it on my computer." Sasuke gestured toward the desk, which was right next to the bed. "I have Netflix. We can watch an episode of... something."

"Something...?" He drummed his fingers over the comforter. "That's vague."

"Why don't you turn around and grab it for me."

"Heh. That's what she said."

Sasuke raised a brow.

"Sorry." Naruto pulled a face. "M'tired."

"Fine." Sasuke sat up slowly and rubbed at one of his eyes. Reaching over Naruto, he grabbed for the MacBook - his arm brushing against Naruto's - and set it on the bed between them. He clicked around on the keyboard while Naruto shut his eyes.

After going through a handful of options, they finally settled on the first season ofScrubs. Sasuke left it on and placed the laptop back on the desk - this time without the contact of their limbs. Rather than watch, though, Naruto stayed on his side and shut his eyes again, simply listening and laughing occasionally. He felt Sasuke shift on the bed and cracked open his eyes. Sasuke'd turned his back to him, and he was left staring at a bunch of dark, spiky hair..

"Don't turn your back on me, Sasuke."

Sasuke said nothing, so Naruto tugged on his sweater until the other man had to reach behind and slap his hand away.

"Stop flirting with me, idiot. I'm not my roommate."

"Are you still goin' on about that? You act like you're jealous. I already told you he isn't my type."

"I'm not your type either."

"Well, not my gender preference," Naruto replied, giving the sweater a few more, harder tugs. "But I still like you."

Sasuke didn't say anything further.

"Did you fall asleep already? Sasuke? Hey. Sasukeee."

"I thought if I played dead, you might go away," Sasuke murmured.

"I'm not a bear, y'know."

"You've got that right."

Naruto didn't know what he meant, but gave up on provoking him. It usually worked on Kiba. Kiba would've had him in a headlock by now, or they would've been wrestling around on the floor, breaking things. Hm. Wrestling Sasuke around on the floor might take on a whole other connotation, however. He laughed out loud.

"What's so funny?" Sasuke asked.

"Nothin'. Nevermind. M'gonna rest a bit then... if you're not gonna entertain me."

"Good. Go to sleep. Wake me in an hour."

"What? I didn't bring an alarm."

"Shh."

Naruto scowled at the back of his head and, grumpily, rolled to his other side because he found he really, really wanted to keep bugging Sasuke. Stupid alcohol making him tired.

"Well, don't get too cocky just 'cause you finally got me in bed with you," Naruto mumbled as his eyes fell shut.

"Shh," Sasuke said again. "Close your mouth. Go to sleep."

"I bet you say that to all the guys."

Sasuke actually laughed; Naruto chuckled, too, but within only a handful of minutes, he did find himself drifting off while Zach Braff monologued in the background.