Disclaimers: Naruto is someone else's, this is purely a fanfic using someone else's characters.

Warnings: This story includes strong language, violence, angst, and (of course) beautiful yaoi love.

A Death to Escape

Chapter 12: Promising- To Stay

"This is your life and its ending one moment at a time."

-Chuck Palahniuk

--

"So it really is him.." he breathed out in utter disbelief.

"Sasuke, what's going on? How is Itachi getting to all of these people? What is he trying to do?"

The Uchiha ran his hands through his long ebony hair, pulling roughly at the strands. "I.. I don't know.. But we need to figure it out."

He moved to the other side of their dorm room, then back to the blonde and soon found himself pacing- too on edge to stay still, too weak to face Naruto's fearful gaze.

"There is one other thing, Naruto." He glanced over, but kept walking as he spoke. "When you were at the hospital, that doctor recommended you go to inpatient treatment."

"What?" Naruto's eyes widened. "Wait- inpatient..? Do you mean-"

"At an institution. Like the one that-"

"-Itachi's in", he finished for him.

Something clicked, and Naruto's head shot up to stare at the pacing raven, deep blues filling with fear. His skin felt tight, uncomfortably so, and he could feel his heart racing, his palms growing damp.

"Sasuke," his mouth suddenly went dry. He cleared his throat, swallowed thickly, then tried again. "Do you think Itachi is trying to get me in the asylum with him?"

Sasuke froze.

That's exactly what he's trying to do.

".. So that's why they were trying to make it look like an attempted suicide.." the raven thought out loud. "They're trying to make you seem unbalanced enough that you'd need to be admitted."

Naruto stumbled back and hit the wall. He groaned as he slid down to the floor, feeling helpless. "What.. what am I supposed to do?"

He looked up. "Sasuke- if they lock me in that asylum with him.."

He didn't want to finish the rest of that thought.

He didn't have to.

Sasuke's jaw clenched tight as a wave of cold fear collapsed around him, plunging his heart into its icy grip. His hands shook as adrenaline surged through him, sending his pulse into overdrive. He wanted it to be anger that was doing it.

He wanted it to be anger so badly.

But it wasn't.

Sasuke was afraid.

Afraid of his brother- of what he was capable of, what he had done before, what he might do to the last person he had left..

No, this wasn't anger. Anger he could handle- he had gotten good at that. No. Sasuke was utterly terrified-

terrified of losing Naruto.

The mere thought of it sent the Uchiha to his knees. He dropped down in front of the blonde as images of Naruto being taken from him suddenly flashed through his mind-

Of the kid, crying out to him as he was shoved back into the arms of that monster- back to the man who tormented him for all those years..

No..

Of the teenager, ripped away from him and knocked out by the man who brutalized him- a knife shoved close to his throat for his.. disobedience..

No-

Of Naruto, this Naruto, suddenly being restrained, a syringe shooting something into his veins to keep him mellow and complacent..

.. Itachi's sinister grin stretching wide as he slowly closed the door behind them..

"No!" I won't let that happen!

I can't lose him..

not again.

Sasuke grabbed hold of the blonde's arms, jerking him close. Naruto looked up into dark eyes, filled with the utmost sincerity.. and desperation.

He's afraid, Naruto thought, sad blue eyes flickering between those panicky onyx ones, afraid of Itachi.

Afraid of losing me too..

"It's our word against his" Sasuke snarled. "We just need to get our side heard. Tomorrow, we're going to report this. All of this. We need it on record that this is happening, so-"

Naruto turned away, letting heavy blonde bangs hide the pained look on his face. "So they believe us when it happens again.."

Sasuke pushed back a handful of golden locks, forcing his head up to meet his gaze. "Naru- I'm not going to let this happen. We'll stop him. I will stop him."

He kissed his forehead gently, then met his eyes again. "I promise you. I'll keep you safe."

Naruto leaned in, his lips lightly brushing against Sasuke's, the faint scent of liquor and lemon on his tongue. "I know", he whispered.

Sasuke's breath caught in his throat as Naruto leaned close, his lips grazing across his own. He watched as a blush reddened his cheeks, as long lashes lowered to hide those beautiful blues, and he could resist no longer.

Sasuke kissed him, hungrily. All of the want and passion stirring in him rose to the surface and he suddenly felt this desperate need to be as close to Naruto as possible.

He needed him.

He's always needed him.

Sasuke sat back on the floor and pulled Naruto with him, yanking him down onto his lap.

The blonde looked down, surprised.

Sasuke lifted his face to meet his startled gaze. "I need you" he said quietly, before his brain or his nerve could stop him. "Please.." he breathed, "just let me be close to you.."

Naruto's eyes widened for just a moment, then quickly softened. "Sasuke," he murmured, sliding his fingers up the side of his smooth pale neck, tangling them in long dark strands. "Promise me.."

The raven ran his hands up the blonde's sides, the heat from his touch radiating throughout his entire body. Dark eyes searched his face, before narrowing in on his mouth.

"What should I promise you?" Sasuke whispered, his voice low and husky with want.

The sound of it rippled deep in the blonde's core, filling him with desire. Naruto could feel Sasuke hardening beneath him, and it sent his pulse racing. He shifted closer, grinding his ass against the Uchiha's crotch, and felt his own manhood stirring at the low groan that slipped free.

Sasuke's hands quickly shot out and grabbed Naruto's hips, forcing them still. "Nnnn.. w-wait." He didn't know how much longer he could control himself. He needed to stay focused. "Ahh- a promise..?"

Naruto grabbed a fistful of dark locks and jerked his head back. Sasuke clenched his jaw, eyes burning with barely contained lust as they locked onto the blonde toying with him.

"That you'll never leave me again.."

"I'm not going anywhere, Naruto.." he whispered. "I promise."

Naruto jerked his hips forward, and Sasuke bit down hard on his lip to hold back a moan. "I can't control.. myself if you're going to-"

Naruto grinned. "Maybe I don't want you to control it." He rotated his hips slowly, grinding harder against him. "Maybe I just.. want.."

He ran his tongue up the side of the Uchiha's neck, enjoying the taste of him, the feel of him shivering beneath him, the gasp that slipped free.

"..you."

Sasuke growled, then pushed the blonde down to the ground, pinning his arms to the floorboard. "Where did you learn to be so seductive, Naruto?"

And there it was- the mischievous little fox grin that Sasuke had fallen in love with when he was fourteen years old. The one he missed every day that they were apart. The one that, for so long, was so difficult to find.

"You've changed, Naruto." He leaned down and kissed the corner of his smile. "But I'm glad that this hasn't.."

The impish grin slipped into a soft smile. "I'm glad you're here, Sasuke."

He looked away. "I'm sorry there was a time when I wasn't.."

Naruto pulled a hand free, reached up and ran his fingers through smooth ebony strands.

I don't want to think about being apart.. Naruto thought, staring up into the beautiful pale face he has loved for so long.

I don't want to remember how much it hurt, I don't want to be afraid anymore- I just want this.

Right here, right now.

Naruto opened his mouth to tell him. He wanted to say all of it- that he was so fucking hurt when he left, when he abandoned him and made him face this fucked up world without him.

That a day without him feels like a lifetime.

That seeing him again in their dorm room brought all of it back- the pain of losing him and the crushing weight of love he's had for him since they were kids.

He wanted Sasuke to know that he needed him. That he wants to be with him- to be close, to be touched and loved by him, but more than that- he needs him.

But when he tried to tell him, all he managed to say was a quiet, breathy, ".. please."

And whether it was the way he said it, or the look in his eyes when that single word fell from his lips, or something else entirely- somehow Sasuke knew. He saw all of it in that simple word, felt it's love and anguish down to his marrows.

Because he needed Naruto just as much as the dobe needed him.

"I love you, Naruto."

And before he could respond, Sasuke captured his lips once more, sealing his promise between them.

Author Note:

Xghostfreakx , Bearlikespie , UchihaSasukiya : Thank you so much for your comments!! I am so happy to hear that you're enjoying my little story and I really appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts about it. It seriously means the world to me!!

And yes, I had Naruto's breath smell like liquor and lemon as a little hint of what is about to.. come. ;)

I'm assuming we're all ready for chapter 13 then?