Sasuke got out of the shower, dried himself off and paused a second before slipping Naruto's shirt over his head. He'd be lying if he said a few indecent thoughts didn't fly through his mind as he put on Naruto's boxers. There was always something oddly intimate about wearing another man's underwear. Not that he did it often, but in this case, the sentiment wasn't lost on him.

He hadn't taken especially long in there, but while opening the door, he wondered if Naruto would still be awake. The light spilled across the sheets. Naruto was lying on the right side of the bed, the blankets wrapped around him like a cocoon. Sasuke couldn't help but smirk as he turned off the light and made his way over. He crawled to his side, pulled back the comforter, and just sat for a while. Maybe it was because the snow was falling so heavily, or maybe it was something else entirely - but. He felt calm. More calm than he had in a while. The room was remarkably small, barely enough room for two grown adults to move around at the same time. It reminded him of camping as a kid with his father and brother. Sasuke would share the tent with Itachi, who tortured him relentlessly throughout the night. Somehow, in the morning, Itachi always appeared well-rested, but Sasuke would look like a train wreck. At least according to their father.

Taking in a deep breath, he watched through the cracks in the blinds at the snow, absorbing the stillness of the moment.

"Sasuke?"

He looked over when he felt the shift of Naruto's weight as he sat up, still wrapped up like a burrito. Sasuke gazed at him with amusement and fondness.

"Are you cold?" He asked.

"Yeah. M'cold. I think I have a fever."

Sasuke's brow furrowed. He pressed the back of his hand to Naruto's forehead. "You feel a little warm. Did you fall asleep?"

"Maybe for a minute." Naruto waddled closer. "What were you lookin' at?"

"Nothing," he answered, offering a faint smile.

Naruto peered at him and allowed the blanket to fall into his lap. "You okay?"

"I'm fine."

"Hm," Naruto responded dubiously. "I feel bad about tonight. I'm sorry that I made you leave early."

"It's alright." Sasuke glanced toward the window again. "The crowd was lame anyway."

"Was it? I thought it was alright. I saw you earlier."

"Oh?"

"With that guy? On the dance floor. Only 'cause Karin pointed the two of you out. I hope that - "

Sasuke looked his way this time, watching the uncertainty that crossed the blond's features.

"- I didn't get in the way of you hookin' up with someone you were interested in. Or... What? Why are you lookin' at me like that?"

"If I told you," he said, voice low, "You'd run away."

"Huh?"

"When you go home tomorrow," Sasuke gazed at his lap as he passed the palm of his hand down the front of the borrowed shirt, "Do you expect to make up with your girlfriend?"

"Ah, well." Naruto sighed. "She won't be back for another week, and, I dunno, time apart is good sometimes, right?"

"Yes," he agreed. "I think so."

"Don't take this the wrong way," Naruto leaned against him, "But I kinda wanna cuddle you. You look like a kicked puppy."

That annoyed him. "I don't need your pity," he said.

"That sounds familiar."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"You said that to me last night." Naruto chewed at his bottom lip. "You said a few things that weren't so nice. And when I took you back here, and after you'd passed out in the bed, I kept wondering what it was that'd made you so angry and hurt. You said you'd had a bad day, but I figured it was more than that. The things you've said," he shifted off of Sasuke's side and leaned back on his hands, "About your brother. About other stuff. I became curious. I know you don't like to talk about yourself or your family, but if you wanted to - "

"Are you done?" Sasuke asked icily.

Naruto appeared taken aback. "Yeah." He shook his head, gaze shifting awkwardly to another corner of the room. "Sorry."

A tense silence carried on between them for a few minutes. He'd been in such a good mood earlier, too. But now he was being forced to think about things he didn't want to, and who was Naruto to ask such personal things of him? If it was clear that Sasuke didn't want to talk about it, why did people insist on trying to force him to?

"I'm sorry," Naruto said again, quietly. "I just thought... I keep seein' you look so sad, and I like you, so - "

"It's fine. But just, please. Let's stop talking about it."

"Not like we're talkin' about anything," Naruto mumbled. "I'll go to bed then." He pulled his blankets around him and flopped onto his stomach, staring at the opposite wall.

"What, are you a child?" He asked.

"Yes, yes, I'm a child," Naruto moaned, covering his head with a pillow. "Don't mind me."

Okay, now he felt a little guilty. He leaned over and placed his hand on top of the bundle. Gently, he shook the other man until Naruto rolled over.

"Why can't we simply enjoy what little time we have together?" Sasuke asked. "I liked spending the weekend with you."

Naruto perked up. "You did?" He squinted suspiciously at him. "You're lyin', aren't you? You just want me to shut up."

Sasuke smirked. "I always want you to shut up, but... I'm also being serious."

"Hm."

He studied Naruto's mouth as the blond pressed and rubbed his lips together. Before, while he'd been looking out the window, he'd felt a certain gratefulness. That Naruto could produce this kind of calm in him. And, not that it was for the first time, but when Naruto had called his name, he'd wanted to kiss him then. He wanted to take him in his arms. He wanted to undress him and run his hands and mouth all over him - bring him to the edge slowly and then push him over.

It was very difficult to want something that badly and know it wasn't within his grasp.

He hated that he envied Naruto's girlfriend. It was so indecent and beneath him to covet something that belonged to another person. Never once had he approached a man he knew to be in a relationship.

Though, technically, Naruto wasn't involved at this very moment, but clearly they intended to get back together.

"Sasuke," Naruto said, rousing him from his thoughts.

"Hm? What is it?" He asked in a surprisingly gentle tone.

"I'd ask you what you were thinkin' about, but I'd be afraid you'd bite my head off."

"You strike me as the type to be unafraid of anything."

"Ah, well." Naruto scratched underneath his nose. "I am afraid of things."

"Things besides packed elevators?" Sasuke asked.

Naruto chuckled. "Yeah. You remembered that, huh?"

"And flying."

"Aw, shut up." He rolled onto his back and punched Sasuke lightly in the knee. "I wouldn't say I'm afraid of elevators or flying, I just get uncomfortable. There's a difference."

"Of course," he replied, tilting his head as he looked down at him. Naruto's hair was scattered across his forehead. Sasuke reached for it and swept it to the side so that he could tuck it behind Naruto's ear.

Naruto's lips parted as he sucked in a quiet breath.

"Don't give me that look," Sasuke said, moving away.

"What look?" Naruto asked seriously, eyes flickering back and forth.

"Like you're gonna bolt if I try something. I'm not going to rape you, don't worry."

"Well, you're not, but maybe someone at the club was tryin' to."

"Rape jokes, really?" Sasuke smirked.

"You're... surprisingly affectionate, you know that?"

"What do you mean?" He was genuinely curious.

"Just that... sometimes you come across like you want people to think you're all aloof and detached." He sat up against the headboard. "Maybe that's just an East Coast thing, I dunno. But I've seen you with Deidara, and you took care of me tonight. I know you're not cold. In fact, you're really nice. Sasuke Uchiha," Naruto leaned over and poked him in the arm, "I, Naruto Uzumaki, think you're a good person."

It took some time for Sasuke to absorb those words or even make sense of them. Usually compliments would roll off of him, quickly discarded or categorized as false flattery. If someone did attempt to compliment him, his immediate thought was: What do they want from me?

"...You don't know me," he said. "You don't know a thing about me."

"I don't know you. You're right. You keep remindin' me. I get it. We met yesterday. But I'm good at readin' people. I'm gonna leave New York thinkin' that I met a very interesting, very good-hearted person, and when I'm back in Illinois, I'm gonna worry about you and think about you and wonder how you're doing."

"Shut up, Naruto." Sasuke looked away, gripping the blanket.

"I'll shut up. 'Cause I don't want you to be mad. I just wanted you to know. You're not a bad person - "

"Shut up," he shouted, taking one of the pillows and throwing it across the room, where it smacked against the bathroom door and sent it flying open.

Sasuke stared through the darkened doorway, at the mirror inside, which now reflected the light from the window. Suddenly, an arm pressed straight across his chest and he fell back against the bed. Naruto's head rested on his shoulder, and Sasuke didn't have the will to fight him. Neither of them said anything, but he felt Naruto's breath against his neck.

They lay like that for some time, Sasuke's thoughts a jumbled mess inside his head, emotions moving back and forth across the spectrum - angry, frustrated, sad. But, as the minutes passed, his heartbeat slowed. Naruto's closeness and his warmth was like an anchor for him.

"For you," Sasuke said, voice rough and raw, "Was it hard losing a parent at a young age?"

Naruto didn't immediately reply, but eventually answered. "Yeah. It really was. It still is hard. Holidays especially. Birthdays. Mother's Day. Not all days are bad, though. But, it's tough. It was tough. On me and dad."

"How did she die?"

"Cancer."

Sasuke nodded. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay. Y'know. I like talkin' about her. A lot of people don't wanna talk about it 'cause it makes them feel uncomfortable. But, I like it. She was really pretty and really great. Why wouldn't I wanna talk about my mom?"

"Weren't you..." He dabbed his tongue across his bottom lip, "Angry?"

"Heh." Naruto sat up on an elbow, his arm still lying across Sasuke's chest. "I was really fuckin' angry after she died. My dad pulled the plug. I was always angry about that. I needed someone to blame. I was a kid, y'know. Twelve. She still looked alive to me. It wasn't like she was in a coma. All of her organs were beginnin' to stop workin'." He lay back down and, removing his arm, stared up at the ceiling. "I ran away a lot. Afterward. I fought with dad. One time, I put my fist through the window of our garage."

Sasuke turned to look at him, but Naruto had covered his eyes with an arm. He ventured a glance at Naruto's hand, wondering which it had been.

"I remember that it was after school. Dad wasn't home yet. He was workin' a lot. Usually I went to a friend's house, and his sister would watch us. Anyway, I punched the window and all these tiny pieces of glass got lodged in the palm of my hand." Naruto let out a long sigh. "I sat down on the floor and watched the blood as it came out, drippin' down my wrist and forearm. I remember bein' surprised at how little I felt. Eventually dad came home and found me. He seemed mad at first, but then he took me in the house and cleaned up my hand before takin' me to the hospital to have our family doctor stitch it up."

"At least you still have your father," Sasuke murmured, his mind painting a picture out of Naruto's words.

"Yeah. It took a few years before we really started gettin' along again. Now we're really close."

"I - want to tell you something," Sasuke said, but then he felt the fear flare up in his chest.

"Sure. Anything." Naruto stretched the arm he'd been using to cover his eyes upward before letting it flop down between them.

Sasuke was on the verge of telling Naruto...about everything. But he couldn't seem to get his mouth to form the words. In fact, his hand started to tremble so he flexed and clenched his fingers.

"Hey," Naruto sat up more, leaning over him. "What's wrong?"

By then, Sasuke's eyes were shut tight and his whole body began shaking.

"Sasuke." Naruto touched him on the shoulder.

Sasuke rolled to his other side, showing him his back. He couldn't speak. He knew he wanted to run away but he also understood the impossibility of it. So he just lay there for a while, until -

An arm slipped underneath his and wrapped around his chest. Naruto's breath fanned across the nape of his neck as he tucked up against him from behind, holding him.

"It's okay," Naruto said soothingly, nose brushing the back of Sasuke's hair. His hand seemed to settle over Sasuke's heart. "You don't have to say anything."

He tried to keep quiet, and as the tears rolled down both cheeks, he refused to let on to Naruto what was happening. Although, Naruto hugging him tighter indicated that he already knew. Naruto shifted and, soon, Sasuke felt the blond's long fingers gliding through his hair.

It reminded him of what his mom used to do for him as a kid...

"Naruto," he said, voice filled with anguish.

"I'm here."

Naruto tugged the blanket over the both of them. He continued to comb fingers through his hair. Ultimately, Sasuke began to relax, eyelids drooping only to snap open again and again. Naruto's nose nudged the back of his neck.

"Go to sleep if you want," Naruto whispered.

"...I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"...sorry."

The guilt he'd always felt began rattling the cage around his heart.

"I should've -" He started to say and choked back a sob.

"Shh."

Sasuke set his hand on top of Naruto's arm, slowly moving it up until he covered the blond's hand - over his heart.

"Tell anyone about this, and I'll kill you." It wasn't much of a threat considering the statement sounded more like a stutter thanks to his chattering teeth.

Naruto chuckled darkly. "Promise." The words were mouthed against the collar of the shirt. The brief feeling of Naruto's lips on his skin was - a much needed distraction.

"What if I disappear in the morning?" He asked, voice barely above a whisper.

"I think in this position, I'll feel it no matter what. And, no, don't make that into a 'that's what she said' joke."

"I think in my case a 'that's what he said' would be more appropriate."

"True." Naruto's embrace tightened briefly. "It's funny, huh?"

"What is? My having a mental break down?"

"No," Naruto answered definitively. "It may not be exactly what you had in mind, but you did get to go home with somebody. Even if it was just me. Heh."

Sasuke snorted. "I appreciate you're trying to lighten the mood, but usually those types of situations don't end with either one of us crying after it's all said and done."

"I suppose that makes one of us. Girls usually cry after spendin' a night with me."

Sasuke chuckled. "Somehow I doubt it."

"How would you know? Do you have some kind of sexual Spidey sense?"

"Something like that," he replied, moving his hand from atop Naruto's to the bed, where he kept running his palm across the soft sheets. "Do you still have a scar?"

"Huh?"

"On your palm."

"Oh. Yeah, kinda. Do you have any scars?"

"Emotional or otherwise?"

"I believe we have an answer to the former."

"Ouch," he said. "Besides emotional... there might be a slight one on the middle of my back. Something that happened when I was little while playing with my brother. We were in the woods, on vacation, and I fell down a hill. I got a few bloody scrapes. My brother ended up carrying me nearly a mile back to the campsite."

"On your back?" Naruto started to lift his shirt.

"Hey - "

"Shut up. I wanna see if I can find it."

"Idiot, it's dark - " He stopped when he felt Naruto's palm running over his skin, exploring the plain of his back.

"I don't feel anything. It's mostly smooth."

Sasuke's jaw clenched. He would've argued, but the feel of Naruto's hand on him was delicious as it skimmed along his side and down his spine - up to his shoulder blades - and down again to the waistband of his shorts.

"I hope this turns into a reach-around," he murmured.

Naruto barked out a laugh and, unfortunately, removed his hand. He smoothed Sasuke's shirt into place.

"I wouldn't wanna take advantage of you after such a vulnerable moment," Naruto replied.

"Yes. God forbid."

"Well, if you'd told me a handjob would calm you all of 10 minutes ago, I mighta considered it. I was gettin' worried."

"Wait, let me see if I can muster another mental collapse - "

"Shut up, Sasuke." Naruto laughed again.

"Hn. Your loss."

"I know, I know. Still. It's best if you just get some sleep."

"You need to pack," Sasuke reminded him.

"I'll worry about it in the mornin'. You'll be here then, right?"

"No promises."

"M'gonna pretend you didn't just say that." The arm he had around Sasuke's chest shifted lower and settled about his waist, silencing Sasuke and causing his breathing to become uneven.

Naruto yawned.

"Here I thought I was the one taking care of you tonight," Sasuke said.

"You did," Naruto replied. "M'just returnin' the favor. No, wait. That's not right. M'happy to be here when you need me. Bein' needed by someone like you - " He stopped to yawn again.

Sasuke was reminded of the similar thoughts he'd had in the shower. It was unfortunate Naruto didn't finish his sentence. Instead, he seemed to have dozed off, his breathing coming slow and steady against Sasuke's nape.

"You shouldn't have come here," he whispered. "Now what will I do when you're gone?"

Of course, he received no reply and expected none. Hopefully, once Naruto left tomorrow, things would snap back into place. Life would go on. This was only a glitch in the matrix. Like an oasis in the middle of the desert - when he was too parched to stand it any longer.

Naruto had offered a similarly vital sustenance, breathing life into a part of Sasuke he'd thought disappeared after the death of his parents. For almost two years he'd spent building up that wall so that he wouldn't get hurt again and in less than 48 hours, Naruto had succeeded in punching a hole through his defenses.

It was unfortunate. But it would pass, and if he was never to see Naruto again, then this moment of weakness wouldn't matter. It would be like it had never happened.

Naruto would return to Illinois and to his girlfriend - and Sasuke, well, he would return to his life. He liked it the way it was. He liked being in control, but being with Naruto... things became unpredictable.

Closing his eyes with the intent of sleeping, he gave himself some time to enjoy the feeling of being in another man's arms, of even being in the arms of a man he liked... but that's where he drew the line.

There could never be anything more, and that was perfectly fine.

When Naruto awoke in the morning, he was only caught off guard for a few seconds upon noticing Sasuke still in his arms. He was used to something like this but clearly under different circumstances. He'd certainly never held a man like this. Then again, he'd never met anyone like Sasuke. Sasuke was... complex. Naruto had thought so from the very beginning and could easily admit it's what had been the initial draw. Not so much that the other man was a mystery to be unraveled. It was more like... Naruto saw something of himself in Sasuke. In fact, there were a lot of similarities between what he'd seen of Sasuke so far and how Naruto was very shortly after he lost his mother.

At first, Naruto had thought that Sasuke's situation was as simple as a fight with his family or a past lover, but now the pieces were beginning to fit together in an all-too-familiar pattern. Plus, the questions Sasuke had asked him last night...

He should've recognized the signs of grief earlier but, he supposed, maybe because he was always open about his own past that Sasuke would've been open, too. Unfortunately, he was leaving today, so there wouldn't be time to figure it all out. He could only hope that Sasuke might want to stay in touch. Naruto would have to remember to give him his phone number. For some reason, he had a feeling that Sasuke might not want that, though, even given their current intimate position.

Sasuke's breathing was quiet but, beneath his arm, he could feel the steady rise and fall of the man's chest. He was left to think about last night at the club. It had definitely been an interesting experience, but that was the point of agreeing to go. He'd been so averse to getting in Sasuke's way and, even now, he felt guilty that maybe Sasuke was annoyed with him. Had Sasuke really thought that he'd needed to be baby-sat? It's not as if it was his fault he hadn't been to New York before or hadn't gone to a gay club with two very gay men.

Thinking back, he'd been stupid to drink so much yesterday, but that phone call from Shion had really pissed him off. Sasuke seemed up for having a good time, so Naruto'd simply gone with the flow. It's not as if he didn't party pretty hard in college on occasion. He'd been on the brink of alcohol poisoning at least a half a dozen times.

He didn't particularly care if someone had put something in his drink, and he didn't give a whole lot of thought to the fact that he didn't care. But he did squeeze Sasuke just a bit tighter, and in doing so, he heard Sasuke let out a quiet sigh.

Most things that had happened last night he could categorize. He figured Sasuke had sent Karin over to keep him company while he did whatever, which included grinding up on and making out with other men. What had he really expected? It wasn't necessarily uncomfortable to see in person. He knew Sasuke was gay but he supposed actually seeing the way he touched, looked, and kissed another man...

There'd been - and he didn't want to dig too deeply into this - a small feeling of envy that had felt strange to him. A reason why he couldn't take his eyes off the pair despite Karin chattering non-stop in his ear and trying to grab his ass. Even if the entire time they were together, she mostly spent it talking about Sasuke this and Sasuke that. He'd probably learned more than Sasuke would ever want him to know about what he got up to on weeknights and weekends.

Again, he didn't want to think too deeply, and he was already starting to feel guilty about some things including the fact that he'd rashly flown out here because he was tired of being angry about his on and off-again relationship with Shion. He knew that what went on between them had been growing more and more frustrating. But Naruto wasn't one to give up, so he kept wanting to fix it. He wanted to make Shion happy. Yet, here he was in this closet-sized room in Manhattan. Holding this man who intrigued him, whom he wanted to protect from the terrible things that Naruto'd gone through as a kid.

So badly. He wanted so badly to ask Sasuke what had happened to make him this way. And he'd tried, over and over, but Sasuke wouldn't open up to him. It was frustrating.

Last night, though, when Sasuke was on the verge of telling him something. He'd wanted to push it, but it was obviously too upsetting for the other man to talk about without breaking down. What could Naruto really do with so little time left here?

Knowing that, Naruto grew very conscious of Sasuke's body against his. He, very lightly, brushed his fingertips across the shirt he'd let Sasuke borrow, feeling himself slip further into unfamiliar territory. He pushed aside the part of his brain telling him this was wrong on several levels, and, yet, it felt okay. He'd be leaving soon. Sasuke wasn't even awake. Edging closer, Naruto tilted his head and was able to touch his lips to the grooved material of Sasuke's shirt collar. His heart was starting to race. He waited... one, two, three seconds... and so softly that it wouldn't be noticed, he brushed his lips against the nape of Sasuke's neck. Afterward, he licked his lips, expecting to taste something unpleasant like salt or sweat... but there was only this heady, buzzing growing in his brain.

Naruto glanced toward the window as if expecting someone to be watching him, judging him, and somehow able to read his thoughts, which he wouldn't have admitted to anyone right now.

He was reminded - though he only had the vaguest memories of it - of before he'd become so sick that he thought he was going to pass out on the dance floor. When he'd agreed to dance with Sasuke. He'd been drunk enough to be able to agree despite his embarrassment. Still, Sasuke had made him feel like it wasn't a big deal and that there was nothing strange about two grown men dancing together. At first, it had been light-hearted... but there was something magnetizing about Sasuke. It wasn't what he looked like. It wasn't as if Naruto was suddenly a born-again homosexual... but Sasuke's attention was like a drug. Maybe the alcohol had reduced his inhibitions...

He closed his eyes. What was the point of thinking about this? What did he want? What did he possibly think could happen? And Sasuke... he was probably looking forward to getting him out of his hair. It's not as if Sasuke had tried anything, really. Naruto had never assumed that just because he was a dude that Sasuke'd automatically want to get into his pants.

Maybe it was a quarter-life crisis? That had to be it. Girls always talked about having girl!crushes and there had to be guys out there that could turn even the straightest man's head... maybe Sasuke was that type of person to him? Or maybe he was going crazy? All were possibilities.

He took in a deep breath and because he was beginning to feel conflicted and guilty again - Jesus, he practically had a girlfriend that could end up being his wife at some point - and here he was contemplating fucking around with another man. No wait, what had he just thought? Fucking around? He didn't swing that way, but wouldn't he be lying if the idea of kissing Sasuke -

No, fuck. Stop. This was getting to be creepy. And Sasuke - even if he was gay, that didn't mean Naruto was his type and that didn't mean Naruto could perv on him or even think about perving on him while he was unconscious. It was one thing to provide comfort and another thing to want to take advantage of the situation.

Definitely crazy. Definitely the after effects of drinking and smoking and being drugged. What had Sasuke said that first night? That he hated people who were clingy? It must be so annoying to have everyone want something from you when Sasuke obviously needed something, too. Naruto remembered feeling that gaping hole. He knew it never completely went away, and... Sasuke, if he was trying to fill it with things like sex and drinking and drugs - Naruto could understand.

But, then he was left thinking about his relationship with Shion again. How much he hated to admit to himself that he needed her. It wasn't something he'd really thought about until now, but he almost felt ashamed for it. He didn't want to seem the type that was co-dependent.

As he pulled further away from Sasuke toward the other side of the bed, he slipped out from under the blankets and headed toward the bathroom. Outside, it was snowing heavily, and the sky was a dismal gray. He wondered if planes could really fly in this weather, which started to make him nervous. The tiles on the bathroom floor were cold as he went to stand in front of the toilet to relieve himself. He suddenly smirked, reminded of all the times Shion yelled at him for leaving the lid up. He supposed in a gay relationship, that wouldn't ever pose a problem. Lucky Sasuke.

Finishing up his business, Naruto washed his hands and while he did, he studied himself in the mirror. He looked like shit, unfortunately. There were dark bags under his eyes, which were still red. He threw some water on his face and ran his fingers through his hair a couple of times to try and keep the back from sticking up all over the place.

When he returned, he found Sasuke sitting up in the bed, leaning against the headboard, and watching him intently. Naruto faltered as he came to a stop, swallowing nervously and wondering if maybe he'd been awake the whole time.

"Good morning," said Sasuke.

Naruto scratched the back of his head. "Mornin'."

"How are you feeling?"

"I feel better, but if that's your way of sayin' I look like shit, I've already looked in the mirror."

"I was going to say you look better than expected despite spending most of the night vomiting."

"Heh. I have a pretty quick recovery rate." He started to bite his lip, but when he noticed the way Sasuke's gaze dropped, he stopped. "Nervous habit."

"So."

"Hm?" He took another half-step closer to the foot of the bed.

"Are you..."

"Am I what?" He asked, eyebrow lifting. Sasuke was looking at him strangely, which made him feel self-conscious.

"Nevermind. I suppose you've noticed I didn't get up and leave this time around."

"I imagine you don't do that for very many men. I feel honored." He wasn't expecting the almost bitter way that came out sounding.

Sasuke said nothing, but his eyes narrowed slightly.

"Um... I should pack, I guess."

"Is that your way of telling me to leave?" Sasuke asked.

"No, of course not," he immediately answered, actually a little upset about the idea of their parting. Naruto approached his side of the bed and put one knee up on the edge before crawling on top of it. He knelt next to Sasuke, clasping and unclasping his fingers as he set his hands in his lap.

"Naruto."

"Yeah?"

"Have I..." Sasuke slid the edge of the sheet between his fingers, "Done something to make you uncomfortable?"

"No. I'm just nervous," he said, because he couldn't possibly admit his real thoughts, "About flyin', I mean. It's really snowin' out there."

"Ah, well. Maybe you should get there early. When it snows like this, the traffic can get pretty bad. Where are you flying out of again?"

"JFK," he answered.

"You should be able to take the train."

"Yeah, that's how I got here, so... it should be fine." He'd been glancing at his lap but, suddenly, he looked up, gazing at Sasuke for a while. He wanted to... well, hug him. Even if Naruto was a touchy-feely person and, yeah, Sasuke'd let him hold him or whatever, but Sasuke also came across as a cat. Like, the kind that would scratch your eyes out if you tried to hold him when he didn't want it.

"Maybe I should get going."

"I-if you need to go," he said, shifting around until he sat cross-legged.

"You don't want me to go?" Sasuke smirked. "Did you have that much fun with me these last couple of days?"

"I did." He eyed him seriously. "You know I did."

Sasuke's expression appeared to darken. "And what will you do when you get home?"

"Pine for you, obviously," he replied, flashing a smirk. Being around Sasuke, Naruto thought he'd picked up this habit from him. Smirking so damn much lately.

"You're one of many," Sasuke answered.

"Must be very difficult," said Naruto, cocking his head, "To have such powers over people. Like the whole weight of the world rests on your shoulders."

"Funny. I could say the same about you."

Naruto felt the corners of his mouth twitch downward. Sasuke's tone was off, like he was angry at him or something.

"Have you heard from Shion lately?" Sasuke suddenly inquired. "You should call her before you fly home. You never know what's going to happen."

Naruto scowled. "Oh, well that's great. Makes me feel loads better about flyin'." He turned his head the other way. "Asshole."

"I hope you got what you needed from your trip."

Sasuke's dry, snappish tone caused him to turn his head in the Asian man's direction. "Is there... a problem? Why are you bein' such a dick right now?"

"No reason. I didn't know I needed one. This is just my personality. Or haven't you realized that yet?"

Naruto couldn't figure out why this icy sound in Sasuke's voice was pissing him off so much. In fact, he couldn't figure out what had happened that Sasuke was talking to him this way. Like he was being dismissed. He didn't even like looking at him right now.

"Maybe you should go," he found himself saying.

"Fine." Sasuke got up, immediately peeled off Naruto's shirt and flung it onto the bed. Naruto watched as he picked up his clothes from yesterday and went into the bathroom, door slamming behind him.

Naruto stared at the door, unable to do anything more than blink at it. What the fuck? Why had that just felt like one of those fights where - well, like when he and Shion fought. And he had no fucking clue what she was angry about, but she was clearly upset about something, and apparently he was supposed to be some kind of mind reader.

No less than a minute later, and Sasuke was out of the bathroom, fully dressed and expression blank. He searched around for his shoes and then his phone. Without a word to Naruto, he went to the closet and got out his coat and scarf. When he finished buttoning the coat, he looked at Naruto finally.

"Don't forget to pack."

"You're really just gonna leave like this?" He asked.

"What were you expecting? I played the tour guide like you wanted me to. I gave you the attention you apparently needed while your girlfriend's away. Now you can go back to your life, and I can go back to mine."

Naruto's mouth parted and as the sting of Sasuke's words pierced his heart, he clutched at the front of his shirt, over the place that hurt the most.

"Jesus," he muttered. "Could you be more of an asshole?"

"Yes," said Sasuke, very frankly. "You have no idea how cruel I can be. But, just for a little while, didn't I play the role you wanted me to?"

"What the fuck?" He got off the bed and on his feet in an instant, grabbing for the front of Sasuke's coat.

Sasuke's gaze on him narrowed dangerously. "Hands off the coat."

Naruto snorted. "I don't get it. I really don't. I dunno what happened in the last 15 minutes that you're so ready to throw me away as if I was just a toy you've grown tired of, but this," he tugged Sasuke's coat, bringing him closer, "Is fucking pathetic. You think I don't know what you're doing?"

"What am I doing?" Sasuke asked, venom lacing his words. "Please. Enlighten me, Naruto."

"Pushing me away maybe? Because for two seconds last night you were ready to open up to me about whatever sob story has made you so fuckin' uptight - "

He hadn't meant to say anything like that, and, before he could defend himself, Sasuke gripped him by the shirt, spun him around, and threw him against the wall. The smirk he wore gave Naruto chills as the other man put a hand on either side of his head, trapping him.

"Ah, here we go," Sasuke said. "Is this the real you? I'm sorry I can't fake like I'm always happy. I wish I had a dysfunctional relationship to blame, but, alas, all I have to cry about is the fact that my parents died in a car accident less than two years ago. I guess you want to hear me go on about it and how I took my dead father's bloody scarf and used to sleep with it. How sometimes I imagined wrapping it around my throat and hanging myself with it."

"Sasuke - "

Sasuke leaned in close. "It's. None of. Your fucking. Business. You've had years to deal with your mother's death, and this just happened to me, and I lost bothparents. I'm sorry if my personality and inability to cry on your shoulder at your will upsets you so very much."

"That's not - "

"Isn't it? Do you think you can save me? Do you know how many men I've taken to bed who try to figure me out as if sex means I need to bare my soul to them?" He pushed up against Naruto until their bodies were flush and Sasuke's knuckles began to dig into the front of his throat. Naruto was forced to go onto his tip-toes.

He couldn't put his thoughts together fast enough to come up with a response. Sasuke snorted in disgust, let go of him, and took a step back. Naruto stood there, rubbing at the front of his throat, not that it hurt. Sasuke's anger was almost tangible. Like waves rolling off his body. Hot and cold at the same time. Naruto didn't know what to do to fix any of this. He didn't think Sasuke's words were true and yet, he was forced to consider whether maybe he'd done wrong. Maybe he had assumed too much in arrogantly thinking that he could help Sasuke... that in their short time together, Sasuke could open up to him about anything or that Naruto even deserved to know.

He'd... just wanted to help. He'd wanted... to have something in common, maybe. Or. What?

"I see you have nothing to say," Sasuke told him. "Have a pleasant flight back." He grasped the doorknob, and, as he did, Naruto reached for his wrist. He knew that his grip was tight enough that it should've hurt, but he didn't care. Naruto placed his other hand against the door and shut it.

"Don't," he said. "Don't go. Don't leave angry."

"You're so..." Sasuke's eyes flicked back and forth across his face... so... unfamiliar to him. So cold. Nothing like the Sasuke he'd come to know over the past two days. "Desperate."

"I know what you're doing," he said. "And it's fine if it's just me. I was stupid to think that I could've meant anything to you or this weekend would've meant anything... I don't regret it. I liked you, Sasuke. I meant everything I said last night when I told you you're a good person. And regardless of what you think of me, I am gonna think about you when I go home, and I'm gonna wonder what you're doing. Not because I'm worried but because - " He stopped, gaze shifting away in his hesitancy to delve deeply into his conflicted feelings.

"Are you done?" Sasuke asked.

"No."

Naruto refused to flinch, but he was shaking, and he was aware that his nails were digging into the flesh of Sasuke's wrist. Sasuke's expression betrayed nothing except something that felt like... hate. Why did he hate him? What had Naruto done?

"Fine," he said and let Sasuke go. "You wanna go, you can go." He moved free of the door. "I know I already kept you from doin' what you you usually do. I realized as much last night."

Sasuke's only reaction was the slightest arch of an eyebrow.

"Ah," Naruto said, laughing darkly. "I see I'm right." He scratched the back of his head and glanced in the direction of the window. "I'm sorry I took up so much of your precious time, but I'm sure it won't take you long to find the next poor bastard too stupid to realize how truly empty you feel and how somehow, despite how fuckin' brilliant I know you are, think that your pain is gonna go away if you fuck every gay man in New York."

"Gay?" Sasuke smirked. "The way you were all over me on the dance floor last night, you make it seem like even straight men would be willing to help me with my so-called grief counseling. Tell me, Naruto," he placed his palm flat to Naruto's chest, "If you hadn't been so stupid as to let someone stick something in your drink and fuck you up, just how far would you have let me go with you last night?"

Naruto shoved him so forcefully that Sasuke's back collided with a hard thud against the door. "You prick," he spat. "Fuck you!"

"Of course," said Sasuke, straightening up against the door. "Maybe on your next trip to New York. You know where I live, after all."

"Get out," growled Naruto. "Get out before I do somethin' you'll regret."

"You mean something you'll regret? I bet your life is full of regrets, Naruto. It's written all over your face."

For some reason, that last taunt hit him so hard that tears sprang to his eyes. He didn't know why. Maybe he was just that angry, or maybe he thought there was truth to so much of what Sasuke said that he was now seeing himself as... was he a monster? Was the way Sasuke saw him how he really was?

The tears made his vision blurry, but he refused to look away from Sasuke.

"Anything else?" He asked and wiped at one of his eyes with the back of his hand.

Sasuke seemed to hesitate before answering. "...No."

Naruto nodded as he rubbed his lips together, whole body trembling still. "Okay."

Sasuke just kept staring at him.

"What?" He asked finally. "I thought you said all you had to say, Sasuke. I dunno what you want right now, and I'm not gonna fight you, so just..." The tears started to fall, streaming down both cheeks, and there was nothing he could do about it.

Sasuke's lips parted and he gazed at Naruto with what he assumed to be pity.

"You always say that you don't need my pity," Naruto told him in a voice that trembled, "But I don't need your pity either. I never wanted anything from you. I'm sorry that..." He wanted to apologize for what he'd said earlier in his anger, about Sasuke's sob story. He had no idea why he'd done that, and the more he thought about it, the more he believed he deserved Sasuke's rage and his cruel words and indifferent looks.

So, Naruto just nodded.

"Okay," he repeated.

Since Sasuke wasn't doing anything about it, Naruto took a step forward - they were side by side - and he grabbed for the doorknob. He twisted it and while shutting his eyes, he breathed in deeply, conscious of the way Sasuke's coat sleeve rubbed against his bare arm. Naruto pushed the door open for him.

"Goodbye, Sasuke."

Sasuke turned his head; their eyes met.

"Naruto."

"Good luck. I really do hope you figure out how to be happy. I think it'll happen for you some day. I know it will. And I'm..." He took a moment to calm himself so that he could speak in a more steady voice, "I'm really very sorry to hear about your parents."

Sasuke's features visibly softened, and Naruto was relieved to know that his apology had gotten through. After all, he'd been in the wrong here... trying to push himself into Sasuke's life despite knowing that it would be selfish to do so. Trying to crack him open when they both knew he'd have to leave after two days, and that... whatever. He'd come to New York to escape the shit he didn't want to deal with, and because of that, he'd tried to pretend that he could fix Sasuke when he still had his own fucked up shit to deal with and he was too fucked up to admit there was a problem with his current relationship and too fucking pathetic to admit that he was afraid -

of being alone.

But Sasuke wasn't afraid of being alone at all. Sasuke was strong. Far stronger than Naruto had given him credit for. Naruto was the weak one, and he knew it.

Naruto was so out of it, so lost in his own thoughts, that he was surprised when he felt the cool press of Sasuke's lips against his cheek. Before he could comprehend the gesture - Sasuke was out the door and gone.

Caught in indecision, Naruto stood there, staring at the door. He did grab the knob, and, for a split second, contemplated the idea of chasing after him. But then he remembered the look on Sasuke's face. Naruto had hurt him. Even after spending this entire weekend thinking that he wanted to help.

Maybe it was better to leave him alone. Naruto didn't know what was best for him. Sasuke was handling his grief in his own way and considering he got Naruto back to the hotel in one piece - obviously he was way more ahead of the game than Naruto'd ever been.

Stupid. So stupid. To have assumed that he could've ever understood Sasuke when, all this time, he'd known nothing.

Nothing at all.

About Sasuke or about anything.

He backed away from the door and clutched the front of his shirt. Naruto glanced toward the window, a wall of white falling behind the blinds. So white and untainted.

He envied it.