After the initial realization that Naruto could actually be his destined mate, reality set in. Moving forward, there were so many things Sasuke had to figure out before he saw Naruto next week. The most pressing revolved solely around Sakura. There was no way she was just going to walk away; it would be naïve of him to think she would. They had been together six years and had a house together, that was something that would need addressing.
Sasuke was ready to sell or just straight up hand it over to her. It wasn't her fault he couldn't be the alpha she needed, and he would do whatever he could to make the process easier for her. If the house was something she wanted to keep, then so be it. It was a small price to pay for his happiness. The house had no sentimental value to him anyways, and he really didn't like the thought of bringing Naruto to a place he had spent years in with another omega. It just didn't sit right with him.
Sasuke knew that if anyone could read his thoughts or feelings, they would see him as a heartless asshole, but he couldn't find it in him to care. Sure, he felt bad for being a source of pain for Sakura, but that was all the more reason for them to cut their losses and move on. If Naruto was his destined mate like Itachi had suggested, Sasuke was never meant to be with Sakura. She was now free to go out and find her own destined mate. Surely, she'd be able to look back at all of this and thank him for it one day.
Thinking about destiny, Sasuke couldn't help but remember Naruto's joke that night about them being destined. The thought of how he coldly acted causing those twinkling blue orbs to dim momentarily with dejection wouldn't leave him. The more Sasuke played the conversation over, the more he believed that Naruto wasn't joking at all. That would be way too colossal a coincidence. Sasuke felt like the biggest moron for not realizing it right away. He had been so caught up in himself, he didn't see the bigger picture. Sasuke wasn't sure it was possible to kick himself any harder than he already was.
One thing was certain, before he saw Naruto on Monday, he needed to make sure he sorted everything out with Sakura. She was going to listen to him whether she liked it or not. She couldn't deny their breakup any longer, Sasuke wouldn't allow it, and if he found out she was making Naruto's life difficult, there would be hell to pay
Sasuke was done, no more run-around on her part or his, it was time to face the music.
"Is she there?" Sasuke briskly asked Ino without so much as a greeting when she finally picked up.
Ino scoffed sarcastically at his impertinence. "Hello, Sasuke. I'm great, thanks. How are you?"
Sasuke felt his eyebrow twitch with irritation. "I don't have time for this. Is she there or not?"
Ino's tone changed to something far more sinister. "And why should I tell you anything?"
"Because she needs to face this. She can't keep running, not anymore." Sasuke bit out.
"After what you did to her with that man-"
Sasuke cut her off. "You're a doctor Ino, do you really think it's healthy for me to stay with her just because she can't understand that we aren't meant for each other? Is that really healthy behaviour to exhibit in any relationship?"
Ino was silent for a moment as she shelved her best friend hat and exchanged it for her professional one instead. What Sasuke was saying was true. If one of her patients had come to her with half the problems Sakura and Sasuke had, she would suggest they separate. It was Ino's personal relationship with Sakura that blinded her, Sasuke words seemed to finally shake her from the vision of her friend's broken state. "I can't really argue with you there."
"Then you'll tell me where she is?" Sasuke asked with a held breath.
"First, tell me something," Ino countered.
Sasuke sighed but acquiesced. "What is it?"
"Is this really because of another omega?" Ino asked with intense interest.
Sasuke fought back the urge to snap at Ino and tell her it was none of her damn business, but in the interest of moving everything along, he reluctantly answered. "Not fully, but yes."
"Wow," Ino was nearly speechless. She wasn't sure what surprised her more, the fact that Sasuke actually answered her or the fact that it was actually true. The infamous Sasuke Uchiha —the man renowned for his aversion to omegas— was interested in an omega of all things. Ino sort of felt like the world was off kilter. Sakura agreeing to break up with Sasuke under any circumstance would be nearly impossible, but throwing in the very crux of her insecurities was going to add a whole new migraine inducing layer. In no world was this breakup going to be easy. "You know this isn't going to be simple, right?"
Sasuke heaved a heavy sigh; he could have told her as much. "Let me handle that. Is she at your place or not?"
"You say let you handle it, but I'm the bestie who has to do damage control when shit hits the fan," Ino argued, completely by-passing Sasuke's inquiry yet again.
"Ino," Sasuke growled in irritation. This whole situation had him on edge.
"God, don't get your panties in a twist." Ino let out a weighted breath. "She's been staying at the hospital, but I seriously don't think it's wise to do this by yourself. I love Sakura like a sister, but this is going to get crazy messy."
Sasuke couldn't really disagree.
After getting everything sorted with Ino, Sasuke found himself at her and Sai's place the next evening. They both agreed that Sasuke would need back up, as much as Sakura would need support. Sai really just wanted to watch shit hit the fan. In fact, when he'd voiced exactly that to Ino, it earned him a rather harsh cuff upside the head. If anyone asked Sai, he'd say it was totally worth it because what had transpired was epic.
When Sakura arrived it was apparent that she thought Sasuke had come to apologize, and when instead, Sasuke firmly explained to her that was not the case, actual shit may not have hit the fan, but a rather hot cup of coffee was hurled at Sasuke with herculean strength. Sai would say it was the best evening ever. Sasuke on the other hand would not.
After a few burst ear drums and many threats on both Sasuke and Naruto, one thing was finally settled, Sasuke was moving out of their once shared home immediately. If she didn't want to come to an agreement regarding the residence, he would make it for her. She could keep it or sell it once she was ready to come around. Sasuke couldn't do more to get through to her than he'd tried to do. He did the calm civil thing —which was extremely difficult to do with her going bat shit crazy— if she didn't want to listen, it was on her now. Well, as long as she left Naruto alone. If Sasuke heard one word about Sakura trying to make Naruto's life miserable, there weren't words to describe the hell fire he'd rain down on her.
Ino knew that Sakura was going to take this intervention style of break up hard, but even she couldn't believe the depth of Sakura's denial. It made Ino wish that they as doctors didn't have to follow doctor patient confidentiality, because there was no way Sakura should be acting this poorly under Dr. Yuri's care. Something wasn't adding up. She may have also been wishing that she'd picked a different place for this meeting aside from her place. Seriously, what did her poor house ever do to deserve such treatment?
The next day Sasuke had all of his things moved to storage. He was a little surprised that Sakura wasn't there when he had the moving company enter. He was even more surprised to find that she hadn't set all his suits on fire like she claimed she was going to do. Sasuke knew never to take Sakura's threats lightly, so the fact that she didn't follow through was a small mercy. Sasuke didn't own many things. He had his clothing, his favorite recliner and everything in his office, everything else was nothing but useless materialistic items he wouldn't miss.
When the movers drove off, everything hit him, he was really moving on. It almost felt like a dream. All that was left was to find a place and to make Naruto his. One step at a time he supposed. Sasuke had already had an appointment with his realtor, but that brought about another dilemma. Did he settle for an apartment right now, or did he begin to look for a new house he and Naruto could grow a family in?
The abrupt thought startled him, since when did he start thinking about a family? Sasuke couldn't stop the lighthearted chuckle that escaped him as he shook his head with fondness. He didn't care how out of character it was for him, with Naruto, he wanted it all. How did he think Sakura was it for him for so long? With her, things were so forced, but with Naruto, he didn't even have to question his thoughts to know that it's what he wanted, and that's after only meeting twice. He hoped that one day Sakura would find the same thing.
In the end, Sasuke couldn't bring himself to look at houses yet. He knew he was getting a little ahead of himself, but he wanted what would be their house, to be their decision when the time came. Just the thought of house browsing with the omega sent tendrils of excitement through his alpha. There was something inside him demanding he show what a good alpha he would be for his mate, show how well he could provide for him.
It was becoming less and less weird to think of himself as Naruto's mate, which you would think was strange because he still hadn't been able to speak to the omega yet. With each passing day he thought more and more about the alluring omega, and he couldn't find it in himself to care anymore. At this point, Sasuke's thoughts were consumed by everything Naruto, he wasn't even sure how he made it through the work week without dropping the ball on something. Sasuke may be a pure alpha, but he was in no means accustomed to being this alpha. Was Naruto eating? Was he safe? Was Sakura pestering him at work? Did Naruto think about him at all? Never had he wanted to lock someone up while simultaneously shoving food down their throat just to make sure they were safe and well fed. At this point he wasn't sure he'd get through the weekend without doing something stupid.
On more than one occasion, the thought of casually dropping by the hospital had played through his mind. Sasuke never followed through, but thank fuck it was Friday, because he wasn't sure how many more days, he could wait to see Naruto again. He had to get his shit together, so he didn't frighten Naruto when he finally saw him. Sasuke often found himself forgetting that he was meant to be going to the hospital for work purposes, not some half-baked mate confessional. Thankfully it was Friday, and he finally had his usual plans with Shikamaru to help distract him.
When Sasuke showed up to Shikamaru's place he wasn't exactly sure what to expect. He knew that Temari's brother had been hospitalized for his meltdown, but aside from the basics, Sasuke was unaware of how things had turned out. Shikamaru and him weren't big on talking about things like that, so naturally he hadn't pried. Being engrossed in his own problems was more than enough of a distraction to keep his mind busy.
Sasuke definitely didn't expect a disheveled looking redhead to violently swing open the door. He also wasn't expecting the slight lift of the upper lip in the beginning of a snarl.
"What?" The on-edge redhead bit out harshly. His pale green eyes practically set him ablaze.
Unimpressed and unaffected by the rude tone, Sasuke was about to speak but Shikamaru had made his presence known. "Gaara who is—Oh, hey Sasuke."
Gaara made some low growly sound before turning and stalking away from the door. Sasuke looked from the disappearing redhead back towards his lazy friends. "Well, he's a gem, isn't he?"
"Sorry about him," Shikamaru adds in his usual lazy tone. "He's on edge waiting for Ru to get here, he needs his pheromones balanced."
"It's fine," Sasuke merely shrugged, though he was intrigued. "Who's Ru?"
"Temari's friend," Shikamaru answered offhandedly as he closed the front door and turned to walk towards their usual gathering spot. Sasuke removed his shoes before effortlessly following behind.
"They can actually balance his pheromones?" Sasuke was curious how this Ru person could balance an alpha suffering from Mate Hysteria when even the most skilled doctors and scientists had been reduced to sedating the more violent patients for lack of better options. The fact that this person could do what Sasuke had never heard of being done before, ruffled him a bit. How was Shikamaru so calm about it?
Making his way around the bar in practiced fashion, Shikamaru goes about pouring Sasuke his usual scotch before taking his seat beside him. "Yeah, Gaara actually knew Ru before Temari did."
Sasuke did his best to hide his irritation at the fact that his genius friend was blowing past the enormity of what Ru was doing. It clicked for him that Shikamaru was obviously doing it on purpose. Sasuke eyed him curiously. "What aren't you saying?"
Shikamaru sighed as he turned towards his friend. "It's not really my story to tell."
"You're right, it's not," came a gruff, pissed voice. "You two do realize that I'm sick, not deaf right?"
"Gaara," Shikamaru's voice sounded slightly shaken and Sasuke wondered if it was from the experience of Gaara's previous mental break.
In a split second, both Sasuke and Shikamaru were out of their seats facing the disgruntled alpha. Neither wanted their back to be exposed to the one letting out chaotic, raging pheromones.
Gaara took another step closer to them, it was small but calculated. "No, please, tell your nosey friend all about how, me, a newly presented alpha was kidnapped and sold off as a lab rat, where I met Ru."
Sasuke furrowed his brow in confusion. Temari had never mentioned anything about her brother being kidnapped, she always spoke about her family with such joy and love that it seemed impossible that their family had to live through anything horrendous like that. Sasuke quickly realized that previous trauma could definitely account for the pride she takes in her family.
"You need to calm down," Shikamaru made another attempt at trying to placate him.
Gaara laughed, but it was enough to curdle anyone's blood. "You fucking calm down, I'm just telling him what he wants to know." Gaara looked between the two, his black rimmed eyes holding a wicked gleam. "I was given to some sadistic scientist that worked for some underground corporation. They tested every drug imaginable on me, some of the things they tested had me wishing for death. Do you know what it's like to feel like you're being flayed alive over and over again? Have you ever felt how bad it burns to suffocate on your own esophagus as toxic gases are being forcefully pumped into your lungs? Or how about how they forced me to breed others going through the same torture, just to test their contraception's. They even tried to make me forcefully bond another once-" As Gaara continued, he gazed off with defocused, glazed looking eyes like he was reliving his past. And as he continued to speak, he really was re living it.
Gaara was stuck in that tiny, padded cell as another small, pitiful looking omega was being shoved in with him. For a small fragile looking thing, Gaara will never forget the fire behind the eyes of that omega. The horrific clicking sound signified they were getting ready to pump the ventilation system full of some type of drug yet again. Gaara expected the omega to start trying to seduce him like most of the drugs they forced into their cells had done. But this time it was different; this omega was viciously snarling at him. It took him a moment to realize why, and it was because he had moved without realizing he'd done so — to the point that he was almost on top of the omega.
Whatever they were giving them had made this little omega the most enticing thing he'd ever seen, everything inside him screamed to breed him and compelled him to make sure no one else got the chance to claim him. As Gaara went in for a pin his canines throbbed as they elongated, preparing for the bite. The next moment everything went black.
When Gaara woke up, all he could remember was pain, every cell in his body hurt. It wasn't like the pain that he was subjected to on a daily basis, no, this one he felt deep in his soul. When he finally opened his eyes, he realized what they tried to make him do. He felt bile rise up his throat at the thought of what he might have done. He shot up —pain be damned— but didn't get far as the very omega he was sure he'd brutally attacked stared at him with such shock that he froze.
The eyes that were a fiery blue, were now a glowing, liquid amber. Before any words could be exchanged, the door slammed opened, and the omega was being dragged out again by men in what appeared similar to hazmat suits. It wasn't until they were finally free that the two would meet again. Too bad Gaara's horrors didn't end there. Fate sure was a cruel, twisted thing.
Gaara was lucky enough to meet his destined mate. For someone who had lived through what he had, it was a dream come true. Never did he imagine himself being that happy, that fulfilled. They had planned their whole future together as was natural for newly bonded pairs. But tragedy hit before their marks even had a chance to fully heal. Gaara watched the life drain from his young mate's eyes after watching her get side swiped by a drunk driver. As she drew her last breath, he was engulfed in an abyss of endless madness... that was until he reappeared.
"Who the hell would run tests like that?" Sasuke couldn't hide the disgust in his voice. Sure, he'd heard about less than savory tests conducted in the past, but what Gaara was claiming was worse than heinous.
Gaara's eyes refocused with manic ferocity, for a moment he had forgotten he was talking to anyone. Narrowing his pale, green eyes, he slowly moved closer to Sasuke. "Mister nosey really wants to know, doesn't he?"
Shikamaru tried to step between his friend and his brother-in-law. "Gaara, calm down."
"Please," Gaara snarled as he pinned Shikamaru with his eyes. "You guys started it by thinking my life was up for discussion-"
"That's enough Gaara," came a soft, commanding voice that had Sasuke both melting while simultaneously riling his alpha to get the man away from the deranged alpha and to safety. During the chaos and being saturated in hostile pheromones, no one had realized the others entering the house.
In an instant Gaara's persona drastically changed; he went from volatile alpha to a chastised looking child. "You took too long," Gaara whispered as he bowed his head.
Naruto was in shock when he and Temari arrived at her house. Naruto knew he was running a bit behind, but it was nothing that should have warranted Gaara to descend into such a rageful state. To a normal omega, the pheromones Gaara was letting off would send them crumbling to the floor much like it did to Temari, but Naruto wasn't like other omegas. Naruto easily pushed forward in a hurry to try and figure out what had Gaara out of sorts, and that's when he froze. Gaara was speaking of their first encounter —to Sasuke nonetheless— and Naruto could do nothing but listen. When Sasuke spoke, it had been enough to snap Naruto out of the flashbacks, allowing him to quickly set to work on Gaara. There would be time to dig into how Sasuke knew everybody later. Right now, Naruto needed to balance Gaara before someone got hurt.
So many things ran through Sasuke's mind. Naruto had been Temari's friend this whole time, which also meant his best friend had known Naruto all along. Not only that, but that meant that Ru was actually Naruto, and he was the one balancing Gaara's pheromones. Sasuke realized he knew nothing about this man he'd been daydreaming about claiming. What was Naruto's story? Just who was this alluring man?
Sasuke didn't get a chance to percolate on those thoughts very long because Gaara was suddenly embracing his omega. He couldn't stop the growl that bubbled up his throat. No one but him should be allowed to be that close to Naruto!
As soon as the growl left his throat, it died off. Naruto froze him in his place with eyes that were no longer blue, they were now shimmering gold. Only alphas eyes changed, how did Naruto's eyes change color? Sasuke had heard Gaara speak of it, but seeing it first hand made everything a little too real. It was Naruto that had been thrown in with Gaara. That meant that Naruto had also been—
"Not now," Naruto's voice was firm with warning as he allowed Gaara to continue to embrace him. He saw the recognition flash through Sasuke's eyes as he connected the dots. Now wasn't the time for this conversation. Though, if Naruto was honest, he didn't think he'd ever be ready for that conversation.
Sasuke didn't even care that Shikamaru was looking between them with what could only be described as shock. Any other time it would have been hilarious to see such an expression on his lethargic friend's face, but now he had much more pressing matters weighing on him. Like how he just allowed Naruto to walk away with another alpha like it was nothing. His alpha howled furiously at him, but he was powerless before those curious golden orbs.
What the hell was that?
As Naruto disappeared down the hall with Gaara, Shikamaru rushed over to his shaken mate, helping stabilize her as he released his pheromones in hopes of calming the reaction Gaara had caused her.
Temari basked in Shikamaru's pheromones like they were a warm, cozy blanket. When she was finally clearer headed, she looked over at Sasuke with a furry in her eyes. "What the hell did you say to my brother?"
"Temari," Shikamaru quickly jumped in, trying to calm his distressed mate.
"No Shika! Gaara was fine before I went to pick up Ru. A little on edge, but manageable," she hissed. "When we get back, he's practically murdering the ozone layer with his pheromones and talking about the only thing he's refused to ever talk about! What the hell did he say?"
Sasuke may have felt a bit guilty under any other circumstances but right now his mind was spinning. Everything in him screamed to storm down that hall and tear Naruto away from the disgruntled alpha, but he remained rooted to the floor. It was almost like he had been given a command much like alphas could give omegas, but that wasn't possible. He was a pure alpha and Naruto was very much an omega, nothing added up.
"All he did was ask about Ru when I told him why Gaara was so testy," Shika quickly answered, wanting to avoid upsetting his mate further.
"That wouldn't set him off," Temari argued. She hated seeing her brother in the midst of losing it.
Shikamaru shrugged. "Maybe it has something to do with Sasuke being a pure alpha? Maybe he felt more threatened than usual?"
Temari let out a long, exhausted sigh. "This is too much. I need a fucking drink."
Shoving past them, Temari set out pouring herself a rather strong drink.
Shikamaru hadn't missed how Sasuke remained frozen in place, not saying a single word. He also didn't miss how his eyes lingered on the hallway Naruto had disappeared down with Gaara. He may be a genius, but even he couldn't tell where his friend's head was at.
"So, you know Naruto?" Shikamaru asked, but it was more of a statement. He always cut through the bullshit. Life was too troublesome as it was to beat around the bush.
Hearing Naruto's name, Sasuke finally tore his eyes away from the hallway and shifted them to his friend. How had he forgotten he was at Shika's?
Temari had just downed her drink in one go, but her eyes quickly fell on Sasuke with shock. "You know Ru?"
"Hn," was his oh so elegant response. Sasuke was a confident, self-assured alpha with the world at his feet, but the scrutiny he felt under his friend's gaze had him fighting back the urge to shift uncomfortably. He had no idea how to begin explaining that Naruto was the omega he had hooked up with. Nor did he know how to tell them that he thought that he may be his destined mate. There were also a million different things he wanted to ask them about Naruto as well but the knowledge that Naruto was currently alone with another alpha had him gnawing the inside of his cheek raw. He really needed to control himself. It seemed like every time he met Naruto, more and more questions were raised.
Shikamaru was quick to pick up on Sasuke's weird mood. "Maybe we should leave for a bit?"
"Like hell I'm leaving Naruto here with him!" Sasuke growled with a jaw clenched so tightly it was amazing he hadn't chipped a tooth. Unbeknownst to him, his eyes were also flickering red.
So much for keeping his cool.
"Whoa, calm down Sasuke!" Shikamaru looked at him worriedly. Never had he seen the calm, collected Sasuke Uchiha act with such intensity. Had it not been for the suppressants Sasuke took, he'd surely be saturating the room with his own enraged pheromones.
"Watch it, Uchiha, that's my brother you're talking about. You've already upset him, I won't have you insulting him as well," Temari spat venomously. She hated that Sasuke was implying her brother was some sort of monster.
"Your brother or not, he could seriously hurt Naruto!" Sasuke quickly fired back but had managed to calm himself down slightly. Even with the storm brewing inside of him, he didn't want to offend Temari. He just couldn't control his instincts to protect Naruto.
Temari narrowed her eyes dangerously. "You're not exactly sounding much like a chivalrous alpha right now yourself. And besides, what business is it of yours what Naruto does?"
Temari was just as protective of Naruto as she was of her own kin. Aside from the bizarreness of Sasuke being concerned for a random omega, she knew that Naruto was the last person who needed to be protected from an alpha. Not that Naruto had anything to fear from Gaara. Naruto was the only one who had absolutely nothing to fear from her brother, or any alpha for that matter.
Shikamaru sighed, as much as he hated confrontation, he needed to intervene before his mate and best friend escalated the situation. "Before you two glare each other to death, you mind telling us why you're so concerned for Naruto, Sasuke?"
Sasuke narrowed his eyes, feeling slightly attacked. "Is it a crime to worry?"
Shikamaru raised a single brow. "No, but for you? It's not exactly normal."
Temari snorted as she poured herself another drink. "I half expect hell to freeze over."
Sasuke felt his eyebrow twitch in irritation. He understood that he wasn't exactly known for being attracted to omega, but it wasn't like he wished ill will towards them. "Didn't realize I wasn't allowed to care."
"Oh, you can care. It's the Naruto part that doesn't make sense-" Shikamaru's eyes widened as something clicked. "No."
Sasuke's eyes never faltered from his, and that was all the answer he needed.
"Temari looked between the two. "No, what? What am I missing?" She was met with silence.
"I think we better sit down for this one," Shikamaru muttered. He felt a migraine brewing.
"Put this on," Naruto ordered Gaara as he removed the patch that's been hidden beneath his elaborate collar.
"Yeah, yeah," Gaara grumbled, but Naruto's effects were already working wonders on his surly mood.
Gaara took the patch and adhered it over top of his scent gland. Immediately the patch began to work its magic, lulling him into a drowsy, trance-like state. "M'sorry," he mumbled.
Naruto wasn't sure if he was apologizing for his behaviour, or for speaking about their past. "It's fine, don't worry about it," Naruto answered as he gently ran his fingers through tangled red locks in an attempt to both sooth the alpha and tame the rebellious strands.
"It's not—I don't know why I told him," Gaara's regretful eyes opened, looking at Naruto with such a soft look, no one would believe it.
"It's really alright," Naruto tried to reassure him with a smile that didn't quite meet his glistening eyes.
Gaara shook his head as vehemently as his current state of pheromone therapy would allow. "No, it's not. I went through hell, but you had it worse than any of us there. I shouldn't have allowed my state to rile me up to the point that I'd tell not only my story but part of yours as well, to some stranger no less. There was just something about him that irked me and once I started it's like I couldn't stop."
"Well, I wouldn't say he's a total stranger," Naruto added timidly.
Gaara snorted sarcastically, "Sorry, Nara's friend."
Naruto gave his eyes a good-natured roll, Gaara and Shikamaru had this love-hate thing going on, or at least Gaara did, Shikamaru honestly didn't have the energy for it. Deep down, hidden beneath the snarky remarks and the faux insults, the two had an immense amount of respect for each other though.
"Actually," Naruto grinned sheepishly. "He may also be my destined mate."
"What?!" Gaara tried to shoot up but the pheromones calming down his nervous system wouldn't allow it. "What do you mean he's your destined mate?"
"I mean that he is my destined mate. I can't put it any simpler," Naruto deadpanned. Regardless of the situation, it was always fun to shock Gaara. It was such a rare occurrence that he savored those moments.
"But I just—I thought-" Gaara verbally fumbled. Naruto always put on a brave face, but Gaara knew that Naruto never believed someone like him would have a destined mate.
"Same. But turns out..." Naruto let his voice trail off.
"Does he know?" Gaara tentatively asked.
Naruto shook his head. "I never let him scent me. I just couldn't."
Gaara furrowed his drowsy bald brow. "Why would you do that? You above all deserve to be happy, Naruto."
Naruto emitted a long, tired breath. "He has a mate already."
In all honesty, Naruto didn't think someone like Sakura deserved his mate, but it was who Sasuke had chosen, so he'd respect it. Every time Naruto was alone, he couldn't stop his mind from wandering to the way Sasuke had primitively claimed him at the fundraiser. Every time he remembered the deep, primal growl he had to fight against his rising blush. Did Sasuke know the implications of what he'd done? Had he been able to piece things together? After Gaara's reveal about him, what would he think of him now?
"Fuck that! He's yours." Gaara growled resolutely.
Naruto sighed heavily. "I won't come between mates Gaara. My destiny or not. Besides, his mate has made it quite clear that she'll get me fired if I even think of pursuing him."
Gaara was stunned. "Wait, you know his mate as well?"
As if it were nothing of importance, Naruto gave a light shrug. "Yeah, I met them at the fundraiser."
"Ah," Gaara vaguely answered. It was probably because it was the night he went catatonic and attacked Shikamaru because he'd forgotten to reapply his pheromone patch when he'd woken up that day. "Like the hospital would fire you. You only moved here because they wanted you so badly," Gaara grumbled. He too had been forced to move so he could remain in Naruto's care, and he wasn't a fan of Konoha yet, he missed Suna's heat, but he had to admit that it was nice to spend time with his sister again. After receiving treatment from Naruto these past couple years, he was almost a fully functioning member of society again. He couldn't help but feel proud of his friend for sticking his neck out and helping more alphas like himself.
Naruto rolled his eyes with exasperation. "Oh, I know. But she's not worth the argument."
Gaara weakly snorted as fatigue began taking him. "Like I said, fuck that, he's yours. Just take a chance, he'd be an idiot to turn you down."
Naruto sighed as he watched his friend finally doze off. "I can't break my promise," he whispered dolefully. "I never go back on my word."
Naruto lingered in Gaara's room a little longer. Something told him that if Sasuke were anything like his brother Itachi, he wouldn't let this go. Surely Sasuke would be waiting for answers much like Itachi had pestered him until he agreed to being tailed on his rounds. Naruto felt terrible for stooping so low as to command Sasuke, but he wouldn't have been able to balance Gaara while around the alpha who was contributing to setting him off. And as much as Naruto hated doing what he did, it was necessary for the safety and wellbeing of all.
Turns out Naruto was right.
When he walked into the quiet living room, Naruto was greeted with one rather gentle request. "Can we talk?"
How could he refuse?
Hey all!
Sorry that it's taken nearly three month for the update. I'd like to spout lines like "it won't happen again" or "I'll update more frequently" but that simply not the case. Now before you panic, this fic WILL get finished, it's just going to take some time. The next update might be another three months away, it might be sooner, it might be further, I really can't give you an estimate right now. I'm going through some really awful things in my personal life so I just haven't been able to write. I will understand if you loose interest or simply can't wait around for the fic to be finished. Seriously, no hard feelings and I appreciate you hanging in this long!
With that all being said, It's been so long since I've updated the fic that this chapter isn't exactly what I wanted it to be, but I had a bit of rare inspiration and just went with it. Hopefully it isn't a total let down and that I didn't get my own facts mixed up. It's amazing how much one can forget about their own fic after being absent from it for a couple months. Please point out any discrepancies you may see, my brain is taxed beyond belief and I would appreciate it immensely!
For all of you hanging in there and still reading, thank you so much! I never though any of my silly ideas would gain traction, but there you are still supporting my whacky mind. You all are seriously awesome! I don't really have much to say...well I probably do but won't remember what it was until a week from now. So, until next time!
-GrimTopography