The Long Way Home
Part 16
The New Toy
Chapter 3/3
Sasuke was mildly surprised when Naruto didn't burst into his room itching for a fight after practically slamming the door in his face but Naruto never showed up and Sasuke didn't in fact see him for the entire afternoon. So, still determined, Sasuke got cleaned up and headed back out into the balmy night, his sights set onto the noisiest place in town.
He couldn't be sure but the town seemed like a stop off point for people heading toward the capital - another weeks travel to the north - with a large number of Inns, shops and places to eat.
They'd been through a few towns like this that seemed to be mainly set up for travelers along the main roads to the larger towns but this particular one seemed more prosperous than most, probably due to its proximity to the capital. And now that darkness had fallen there were a couple of pubs with brightly lit windows that were relatively crowed.
For Sasuke's purposes he couldn't have come to a better place. People that made their lives on the road tended toward a more casual, take as you get lifestyle that wouldn't lean toward wanting to make any long lasting bonds out of one night of fun. Perfect. So Sasuke picked out one of the more packed out pubs and went inside, finding a quiet corner after ordering a drink. He didn't drink hardly at all but tonight he felt like a drink or two to settle him and calm his nerves.
Not that he was nervous, he just wasn't. He was simply here to see if there was anyone around that he might consider taking back to his room. He'd never done anything like this before. He'd only ever had sex with one person and that person was a familiar figure in his life. He'd never actively gone out with the intention of perhaps picking someone up for the sole purpose of actually having sex with them before but he refused to feel weird about the experience. It was a physical need, that was all, and it should be a simple task to fulfil such a need. Plus he knew he looked good so how hard could it really be?
But as the first hour dragged on Sasuke began to realise just how hard it was. He was getting the odd appreciative look but he ignored them almost immediately out of habit. They had seemed eager and therefore annoying and Sasuke didn't want annoying. But he ran across problems while scanning the bar just from the simple fact that he was only ever used to paying attention to people as potential threats or annoyances not as potential bed partners.
As the night wore on the crowd started to thin and Sasuke's prospects lessened with every passing moment. He still hadn't decided yet even what gender he was particularly interested in which made the looking all the worse. Nobody looked especially attractive to him, nobody really caught his eye...
Across the bar a guy was giving him a curious look. Sasuke's first impulse was to glower at him but resisted the urge. The guy was attractive enough, the fact that he was a moderately well built tanned blond giving him only a moment of passing annoyance.
Apparently coming to a decision, the guy came over to Sasuke's table while Sasuke eyed him warily.
"I remember you."
That wasn't exactly what Sasuke had been expecting to hear. The man didn't look particularly familiar to him. He had rather rounded features and looked strong though not exactly built like a warrior or a farmer for that matter either. Still, Sasuke couldn't remember ever seeing him before no matter how closely he looked.
"I think you're mistaken."
"No way, I never forget a face. We met on the road. You were listening to me play." It took Sasuke a moment but eventually he did remember the random flute player from the road near Saolin. He had been a little distracted at the time though so he wasn't surprised he didn't remember at first. And well, strangers weren't something he really dwelled on in particular.
"You're not from around here," the guy stated in a pleasant sounding voice.
"Is that a problem?"
The guy sat himself down at the table seeming to think that the mere fact that Sasuke had answered him gave him the right to do so. Sasuke didn't know why he bothered when apparently everyone managed to piss him off.
"Not a problem," the man assured with a smile. It was a warm smile that reached right up into honey brown eyes. Well, at least they weren't blue. "I'm not from around here either. Just passing through," the man finished.
It was at this point that Sasuke realised that Naruto might have had a point when he'd said that Sasuke's social skills were a little on the wanting side. He didn't like small talk, as far as Sasuke was concerned it was a waste of time. And since he was only going to be here for one night, he didn't see the harm in being blunt with the guy and getting this over with. After all, if he continued to sit here and be picky the bar would probably close before he'd made any headway.
"Is that a pick up line, or are you just trying to be friendly?"
The man's eyes widened in surprise but his smile didn't go away. "Not one for small talk huh?"
"No."
"Just passing through too?"
"Yes. You didn't answer the question."
The guy seemed to ponder his options for a moment obviously undecided on how Sasuke would react if he admitted the truth.
"I don't get much of a chance to pick anyone up in little towns like this," the man replied eventually. "I guess my skills are a little rusty."
"I can see that," Sasuke muttered.
"My name is-"
"I don't care."
"Right. Um, is there somewhere..?"
"My room."
And with that Sasuke got to his feet. He heard the guy quickly scramble to follow and couldn't help but wonder yet again if this was all worth it. He felt minimal attraction to this guy even though he seemed physically attractive by most standards. But the idea of having sex with him still wasn't particularly appealing to him and he had to think deeply about why he was bothering.
As soon as Sasuke unlocked the door and stepped inside his room he felt a hand on his shoulder, forcing him to turn and then lips met his and he had a small moment of adrenaline surge. His first instinct to anyone touching him unexpectedly was to hit them but the working part of his brain halted this instinct before he could act on it. It wasn't an unpleasant kiss, somewhat aggressive but Sasuke didn't mind that. This kind of thing he was used to, this he could connect with.
Sasuke heard the door close and click and then he was being backed into the room till his back met with the opposite wall and then lips left his and travelled down to his neck.
This he was not so happy about. He didn't like being pushed around. But for some odd reason he let it happen for now. Probably because he was by this point hoping that he might begin to get into things a little more if he let the guy do what he wanted for now. Even if he were to push back he didn't know what he would do. He still felt little desire for what was going on and that bothered him.
He felt his shirt come loose and rough hands against his chest sweep outwards, pushing the shirt off his shoulders. The guy leaned back and looked him over with an appreciative eye.
"You're so beautiful," the man breathed raggedly.
Somehow the compliment didn't stir a lot in him. He had hoped by this point that he would at least be aroused, but somehow it wasn't working. He wasn't getting that mind shut down that he was used to. That moment when everything went into a white hot blank of feeling just wouldn't come.
"I mean really breathtaking," the man continued oblivious to Sasuke's growing disinterest. "I can't get over how lucky I am."
The man leant in again to kiss him and Sasuke felt a palm against his hip, rubbing, massaging and moving its way towards...
Sasuke again had that rush, wanting to do something violent but he screwed his eyes shut and clenched his teeth.
Abruptly the man leant away again.
"Something wrong?"
"Apparently," Sasuke muttered.
The guy frowned. "Do you even want this?"
Good question. Sasuke had thought that this was exactly what his body needed and not even he could work out what his problem was. The guy might be a bit forward, but Sasuke didn't mind that so much. He was obviously good looking but simply looking had failed to stir much in him.
Combining the looks and the forwardness hadn't even done much for him. He had thought that if he just kept going eventually he'd get into it but perhaps optimism wasn't his thing after all.
"Do you care?"
The guy looked at him in surprise and backed up a step. "Of course I do. If you're forcing yourself to... why would you even... have you even done this before?"
"Of course I have."
"Bad break up?"
"What? No! Look, do you want to do this or not?"
The guy's expression lightened a little in the face of Sasuke's determination and he smiled as he looked over a half naked chest and serious face. "I'd have to be nuts not to. But honestly it's not going to be much fun if all you are going to do wince every now and then. My name is-"
"I told you I don't care-"
"Taro."
Sasuke sighed. Why were people so insistent on making things personal? It was exactly what he didn't need right now.
"This is where you give me your name," Taro prompted.
"None of your business."
"Sasuke?"
Sasuke groaned. Naruto had chosen that moment to knock on his door and announce his name.
Sasuke wondered just how much more of a let down this night could possibly turn out to be.
"Sasuke?" Taro questioned his smile broadening.
The knocking continued much to Sasuke's rising annoyance.
"Dobe, cut it out! I'll be there in a minute."
"I'm guessing 'dobe' isn't really his name," Taro guessed.
"His name is also none of your business."
Taro held out his hands in a placating manner but was still smiling. "You're not afraid of pissing people off, are you Sasuke? Okay, I'm going to leave now. If you're still here tomorrow and you actually want to go through with this you can find me at the bar. But only if you really want this."
Sasuke was a little surprised by this. What was the big deal? His body might be reticent but his mind was made up. He needed to do this and if he was willing why the fuck should Taro care so long as he got what he was after? Could it be that his enjoyment was linked to the other's enjoyment? He honestly didn't think someone would care too much about that.
But instead of arguing Sasuke merely nodded and watched Taro cross to the door. When he opened it a surprised Naruto jumped back and watched open mouthed as Taro exited and left. Afterwards he poked his head in through the door.
"What do you want?" Sasuke asked him sharply.
"I couldn't sleep." Naruto frowned. "What's going on?"
"Nothing, apparently."
Naruto continued to stand there without saying anything else until Sasuke finally got sick of the stupid look.
"Are you coming in or not?"
Naruto came into the room, shutting the door behind him and leaning back on it. He didn't look entirely happy.
"Who the fuck was that?"
"Taro," Sasuke replied simply.
"And what was he doing here?"
"Being interrupted by you. What do you want?" Sasuke repeated.
Naruto thought that over for a moment. "I thought the plan was for me to sleep with someone else."
"Doesn't mean that I can't."
"But you don't like people," Naruto blurted.
Sasuke really didn't want to explain to Naruto that Taro had been something of an experiment. That since ceasing all sex with Naruto he had been overly horny wasn't something he wanted to admit to. And he really didn't want to admit that having sex with someone else had been a hope that it might stop him getting so horny around Naruto if he got something out of his system. Especially since it hadn't seemed to work out too well.
Admitting all this would be a mistake but then again he didn't know how else to explain it. Pretending that he was just reinforcing the notion that he was okay with emotionless sex with other people would have been something of a lie and while he didn't feel exactly bad about lying to Naruto about this, he wasn't sure if it would really help in any great way. Naruto was right, Sasuke showed little interest and had even less time for people in general and Naruto wouldn't have to be a genius to work out that the timing was a little too coincidental.
"I don't have to like a person to fuck them," Sasuke said blandly.
Naruto looked unimpressed. "I know that was supposed to be a shot at me but obviously something didn't work out."
"You really want me to talk about this with you?"
"That's a good point," Naruto muttered and Sasuke suddenly got the impression that Naruto was jealous.
On one side Sasuke was angry. This was exactly what he'd been warning Naruto about. Signs of possessiveness and over-attachment. But on a completely irrational level he was almost amused by it as well. It was obvious which side of him won out when Sasuke gave him a smug half smile.
Naruto saw the look and looked even more unimpressed himself. "Bite me teme, it's not what you think."
"Then what are you thinking then?"
"You really want to know?" Naruto asked with genuine surprise.
"Yes, I want to know. If nothing else it should be pretty amusing."
Surprise of all surprises Naruto now seemed a little reluctant to continue. He went and sat down on Sasuke's futon and looked up at him with a small wince on his face.
"You're gonna get annoyed," Naruto told him.
"As if that ever stopped you before."
"Okay well," Naruto took a deep breath. "I think you've got this all a bit backwards. I don't think you're worried about me, I think you're worried about how you feel."
Naruto was right, Sasuke was pissed.
"Bullshit."
"Well not like you're getting all 'more than friends' like, but the fact that we're friends at all is a bit of a new thing for you. You care about me as a friend and you're worried that means you're getting too involved. I think tonight was a desperate attempt to prove that what you feel isn't a big deal."
Sasuke scowled at him deeply, which made Naruto sigh and look down at his crossed legs.
"I knew you'd get pissed," he muttered. "Okay fine," Naruto tried again, looking back up at him,
"You tell me what the hell happened with that Taro guy."
"Nothing," Sasuke snapped. "You can imagine what a mood breaker it is when you come and pound on the door yelling my name."
"That's not it," Naruto challenged him. "That guy looked disappointed but not angry. It wasn't working, was it?"
Sasuke actually felt his face go a little warm with the implication.
"Everything of mine works fine."
Naruto looked confused for a moment then eventually started to snigger of all things.
"I didn't mean that, teme. I meant that you didn't like it."
Sasuke was caught now in between a mixture of deep annoyance and shock somehow. On one hand Naruto seemed determined to not let this go and on the other hand he seemed to realise that Sasuke had not been entirely into what had been happening with Taro. It was one of those odd perceptive Naruto moments which never failed to both surprise and anger him at the same time.
He then had to wonder whether to just ignore the dobe to save face or perhaps entertain the idea that maybe Naruto did have some understanding of what might have gone wrong with Taro. After all, if Naruto did by some chance know why, he might be able to get over it for next time.
"Why would you say that?"
"I told you, you don't really like people in general and you trust them even less. I think it works with you and me because you trust me. Maybe one day you're gonna feel okay without having some kind of bond with a person first but it's not gonna be anytime soon. You don't think losing your virginity was such a big deal, and I actually believe that for you, but its also only been like two weeks since then and if you feel confident enough to fuck complete strangers this soon no matter how you felt the first time, you wouldn't be the paranoid bastard I know so well."
Naruto was smiling which was a sure indication that whatever he'd just said had not meant to be an insult no matter how displeased Sasuke had been to hear such a speech. Even worse was Naruto echoing almost the same words back to him that he had thought himself not too long ago.You trust him too much. Well maybe that wasn't such a problem. According to Naruto, it wasn't that he trusted him too much, it was that he trusted him at all.
But it just so happened that Naruto was the only one he trusted enough, that seemed to be his problem. And if that was his only problem, well that made him feel a little stupid truth be told.
"Practise that speech, did you?"
"No, it only just kinda clicked right now. But I'm right, aren't I?"
"You might not be completely full of shit," Sasuke allowed coming to sit down next to him. "Still doesn't tell me what his problem was though."
"Whaddya mean?"
"He didn't seem happy that I was... not as interested as he was. I'm surprised he cared."
"No way! Of course it matters if the other person is into it. It'd be pretty wrong if the other person just lay there."
"I still don't get why."
With a thoughtful expression Naruto got to his knees and shuffled over. Sasuke watched him with a wary expression.
"Kiss me," Naruto told him.
Sasuke rolled his eyes, "No, remember I-"
"Yeah, yeah I know. Trust me, I'm going to prove something to you, it's not about sex." Sasuke was annoyed about how little encouragement he needed. Not half an hour ago he hadn't felt like kissing anyone and the moment Naruto asked him, gave him an excuse, his heart had started to race. But excuse or not, he was interested to see where this was going.
So Sasuke got to his knees as well and lent forward.
It had been over a week since their lips had last touched and Sasuke felt the familiar flood of want wash over him as he snaked an arm around Naruto's waist and pulled their bodies together. He felt Naruto's hands on his hips, fingers digging painfully into the bone and the body against him shudder just a little. But with great effort Naruto pulled away and looked at him, eyes sparkling and cheeks flushed.
"I didn't do that right," Naruto admitted.
"What was supposed to happen?"
"I was going to act all unresponsive and stuff but I, er, forgot."
Totally against his own control Sasuke felt a smile form on his face. He was so close to laughing it took him a lot of effort not to. Naruto was really weird sometimes.
Naruto was smiling too but trying his hardest to look stern which made Sasuke want to laugh all the more.
"Cut it out, Sasuke, you get my point. What if I had just taken it and done nothing, didn't respond or anything. What would you think?"
"That you didn't want it. So? I still don't get why some stranger would care."
"Well if they're any kind of decent person they would. And besides, would it be as much fun?"
Sasuke thought about all the noises Naruto normally made, the way he moaned, the way he squeezed his eyes shut just he came, the energy, the aggression all of it and realised that Naruto did have a point. Experiencing those things made it better, pushed him to want to do more almost like it was encouragement. Having sex without that wasn't particularly appealing.
"Fine, point made. But it wasn't like I was unresponsive by choice."
"No, I think you were unresponsive by lack of choice. I bet you got it into your head that you needed to have sex with someone else to prove some kind of point but that's not how it works. And fine, for most people I don't think it's such an obstacle but for you, well, I think it's gonna take a little more than frustration. You've never liked being out of your comfort zone and you basically hate people as a whole. You might not have noticed this before Sasuke, but you have real issues with people. And okay, I can see why, but like I said, I think for you it's gonna take a bit more time. That goes for both of us, by the way."
Annoyingly what Naruto said made some kind of sense to him. Strangers made him edgy and if he was edgy he was never going to feel all that aroused. Actually the epiphany made him feel a little better. It wasn't because he was getting too attached to Naruto that made him only want Naruto, it was because Naruto was probably the only person he had any sort of minimal trust in. Naruto was safe, familiar and comfortable and that's why he was the only one Sasuke seemed to get these urges around.
Perhaps Naruto's intentions weren't all that dissimilar either. Sure Naruto seemed adamant about not sleeping with random people but that was just the way he was. But Sasuke was his safe person, someone who didn't care if sex was all there was. There were no complications, no attachments otherwise and it was an easy outlet without the fear of getting too involved.
Sasuke could just about live with that.
But of course he could never admit it to Naruto. Not in words anyway. So knowing how stupid he would feel about it he leaned in and brushed his lips once, softly against Naruto's cheek and drew away.
At first Naruto looked confused, then worried but at last realised what it meant. He looked surprised but happy.
"Did you just...?"
"Don't make me kill you."
Naruto grinned. "So does this mean we can fool around again?"
Sasuke felt that it would be losing since he hadn't managed to prove anything to Naruto. Actually if anything Naruto had made him realise certain things on his own that had eased the misgivings he'd had about being able to maintain a sexually active friendship without unnecessary complications.
But keeping up the pretence that there was something here to prove anymore would mean a repeat of last week's frustrations but this time with the knowledge that no matter how long it went on for, neither of them might be any closer to relief with anyone else anyway. It wasn't a pleasant thought and pretty much went against the reason they had started doing this in the first place.
Naruto, apparently impatient with Sasuke's continued silence pushed Sasuke back onto his ass but only so he could plant one knee on either side of him and ease himself into Sasuke's lap. Sasuke could feel the solid weight of Naruto settle onto him, and felt his chest press against Naruto's as the latter leant in.
"I'll call you an asshole more often if that will help," Naruto informed him with a grin. "And I really think if I was ever going to get that attached to someone they wouldn't insult me half as much as you do either."
That was actually oddly comforting. But not nearly as comforting as feeling a too warm body pressed up against his. Already his mind was dissolving into 'can't think' world but not before he realised how much he didn't care whether he might have lost this one. He doubted it would make much of a difference to Naruto anyway.
With a sudden movement, he rocked himself forward spilling Naruto onto his back on the futon with an 'omph'. He quickly unbuttoned the fly of Naruto's pants and pulled his pants down just enough to free his penis from the confinement.
"Above your head in my bag, the lube," Sasuke ordered before leaning down and sucking Naruto none too gently into his mouth.
He heard the gasp above him and felt the muscles in Naruto's legs tense for a moment and instantly understood more of what Naruto had said about positive reactions. Knowing the effect he was having was certainly half the fun and served to feed his self-satisfaction no end.
He dimly heard the scrape of his bag sliding across the floor as Naruto managed to reach up above his head and snag it, pulling it down closer to him in order to rummage around in it for the necessary bottle. When the movement and noise ceased, he figured that Naruto had found what he was looking for and after one last swirl with his tongue coupled with a careful suck, he raised his head from a now very hard Naruto and grabbed the bottle from slack fingers.
"Hey what...?" Naruto asked coming out of whatever daze he'd been in, his eyes snapping open to regard Sasuke as he set the bottle aside and began pulling Naruto's pants the rest of the way off.
"I thought you wanted to have sex."
"Well yeah," Naruto replied uncertainly sitting up, "but I... I mean, I'm not usually..."
Sasuke gave the pants a toss, shrugged out of his shirt and reached forward to pull Naruto's off as well.
When Naruto's head popped free of his own shirt Sasuke lent in so closely, their noses almost bumping.
"What's the matter, you don't trust me? That's a little unfair, isn't it?"
Sasuke expected Naruto to be chastised after that. Especially after he had gone on about him being the only one that Sasuke really trusted. But Naruto could be unpredictable sometimes.
our taes a us retor haid ourset back and this ot sue ell get chat yetetimes, you
Well perhaps Naruto was really the one that needed the education in trust after all.
"I get it. You've already shown me how to pace things and I do pay attention when someone has their cock shoved up my ass believe it or not."
"Uh, right."
"So, do you trust me?"
Naruto took a small breath and nodded. "I guess I either will or wont after this."
Sasuke put a hand to his chest and pushed him back a little so he was forced to hold himself upright braced up with one hand before ducking down to wrap his lips around an only slightly diminished hard on.
He wasn't particularly perturbed by Naruto's less than enthusiastic attitude and he had to wonder why. After Naruto's little speech it should've at least irked him that the trust feeling wasn't exactly mutual but it explained too much to really annoy him. He also realised that Naruto was right, he would either trust him fully after tonight or never again in regards to this and Sasuke failed to feel even an iota of pressure about that. He knew that this was something he was not about to fail at.
It didn't take long to coax him back into an aroused moaning state and he felt the brush of fingers through the back of his hair as Naruto's hand moved to cup his head. When he felt Naruto start to grip his hair tighter though he moved his head back not wanting Naruto to come too soon. No, he wanted him kept on edge right about now.
"Lay down," he instructed.
Naruto thanktully didn't argue with him and laid back, knees still drawn up a little and just the smallest of tremors visible. Clearly he was more anxious about this than Sasuke had imagined.
Still he'd felt much the same the first time, he'd just somehow imagined Naruto would be a lot more adventurous.
As he opened the cap on the bottle he got a decent amount into his hand, coating his fingers well and balancing on his free hand planted beside Naruto's waist leant in, licking his way carefully up a stomach and chest of tense quivering muscles till he reached a puckered nipple which he carefully drew into his mouth.
He heard Naruto sigh at the contact, a small sign of relaxation and used the opportunity to reach between them and tease his fingers against the opening they encountered. He felt the ring of muscle contract slightly with his touch but kept going, applying a little more pressure with both his mouth and his fingers at the same time. He then suddenly but softly bit down on the flesh in his mouth.
After the gasp of surprise and probably a small amount of pain, Sasuke used the distraction to push a finger inside.
"Fuck, Sasuke you asshole!" Naruto hissed.
Sasuke let the abused nipple go with one last lick and gave Naruto a smirk.
"Not my fault you're wound too tight. I needed to distract you."
Naruto let out an irritated breath through his nose and then his whole body seemed to relax a notch through willpower alone. Well at least he didn't have to be told twice. Besides, this wasn't exactly the first time Sasuke had his fingers inside him, not even the second, but Naruto was too caught up in what was to come he wasn't allowing himself to enjoy the now.
Sasuke sat back on his heels, using his now free hand to wrap itself gently around Naruto's length.
Not firm enough to cause too much friction but probably just enough to tease the fuck out of him, all the while Sasuke used his fingers to delve widen and stretch just like Naruto had learnt to do to him to make the pain almost disappear.
He was enjoying this just like he knew he would. It was a rare moment for Naruto to be this pliant and Sasuke had a chance to appreciate the view a little more than usual. He had Naruto at a definite disadvantage as he watched Naruto begin to squirm under his touch. When Sasuke had first touched his erection he had subtly been trying to get more contact with Sasuke's hand but Sasuke had let his lax grip go even looser after every attempt and Naruto had given up, his body apparently focussing instead on the steadily increasing number moving fingers inside him.
Sasuke had thought he would feel better for this, to not be the one being overwhelmed with sensation and feel smug and superior just knowing he had the ability to reduce Naruto's brain to mush and for some part he was right. However he was starting to realise what little difference it made in the end. Perspective could mean the difference in how he felt about things, but not in the way he imagined.
How often had he seen Naruto like this? Honestly, he couldn't count the number of times now. And generally afterwards Naruto said things like, 'you know I'm gonna get you back' and that anticipation was almost as good as the power of teasing him in the first place. Especially when it seemed as though Sasuke could manage to tease him to the point of frustration no matter what position he found himself in. And it wasn't like Naruto cared if Sasuke saw him like this, flushed, moaning and hard so he wondered why he should care if Naruto saw him that way either?
Why should Naruto be allowed that level of comfort and not him?
Because Naruto does not over analyse things, he realised right then. He simply does not feel uncomfortable showing me any side of him.
It was a little annoying to realise that perhaps Naruto had arrived at a more logical way of looking at all of this without apparently even thinking about it first. Sure he'd been of a mind that sex at all was a little too personal beforehand, but since then had taken it in stride. It was only ever all or nothing with Naruto and he wasn't about to balk at the simple act of looking at his bed partner during the deed either.
Not like I did.
Naruto had told him to 'find the fun' at one point and Sasuke had thought that was an overly simple way of looking at things at the time, but he was beginning to appreciate it at the moment. Really Sasuke had created his own issues by making it a problem. If he could learn to let go a little and not to see problems, he didn't see why facing each other was something he should need to avoid. In all reality if he was the only one with the issue, perhaps he should just learn to take it in stride as Naruto had apparently done.
He pulled his fingers free and crawled up a panting body. At the touch of extra skin, Naruto's hands found the back of his neck and pulled him down into a bruising kiss, obviously too befuddled to yet realise what the change in position meant but he knew soon afterwards when Sasuke let his lips trail down over his jaw, down his neck to rest at the junction of his neck and shoulder and rubbed himself against the by now extremely slick and well prepared hole.
Naruto sucked in a deep breath, his fingers moving down and digging into the skin of Sasuke's shoulders.
"Relax," Sasuke reminded him.
After all it helped whenever Naruto had told him to.
Then Sasuke pushed inside.
About two seconds later he realised he'd gone a little too fast. No wonder Naruto had said that about effort to hold back, he hadn't even been able to think for those couple of seconds at all. It was like nothing he'd ever felt before, not even with a mouth around him. It felt warm and soft inside but fit very snugly around him. It caused so much sensation he almost came before he could stop and draw a breath. Instinctively he bit down on the skin beneath his lips and heard Naruto hiss at the mistreatment. Slowly he found his centre as he kept himself still and got his brain to work again.
Well so much for more control in this position.
Thankfully he hadn't pushed the entire way in yet and he forced his brain to remember to start slow and shallow at first because that is what felt good. So first he opened his mouth and freed Naruto's indented skin from between his teeth and started to move. Just the simple act of moving, thrusting his hips at this snail's pace ripped a deep groan from his throat at the feel of sliding back into that all encompassing heat over and over again. No wonder Naruto chewed through his lip so often, how was anyone supposed to last any amount of time doing this?
But eventually the initial shock of pleasure began to blur into something a little more manageable and with Naruto's heavy breathing against his shoulder and the side of his neck seeming not at all laboured he shifted a little widening his own legs a little to plant his knees into the bedding in preparation to push in deeper. He didn't get a chance to though. Once he had himself set Naruto had gasped loudly, arched into him, grabbed his ass and pulled.
The inarticulate sound Sasuke made at that point would have been embarrassing had he been fully aware at the time. He could feel Naruto's legs against the sides of his thighs as he pulled back and began to slowly thrust again this time making an effort brush against the same spot that had caused such a reaction in the first place as much as possible. He raised his head slightly, enough to recapture lips in an aggressive kiss before allowing himself to completely lose himself in the moment.
He had no real idea of how much time had passed, when he felt Naruto contract around him, throwing his head back into the bedding as he came between them. That stimulation alone was way too much for the pressure that had building to bursting point inside him since he'd first started to thrust. He managed to push forward once more deeply as he let go himself.
It was another twenty minutes by the time they took any notice of the world around them again and by that point Sasuke had very little inclination to move. He'd had a tiring day already and now he was completely worn. Plus now he was hot and sticky and lying against something that was also rather hot and sticky but light fingers moved through his hair as he lay there compelling him to stay in place for just a little while longer.
He was still on top of Naruto. He tried to move off and out of him and only really succeeded in the out part. The side of his cheek was plastered against Naruto's slick ribs and his head moved gently up and down with the rhythm of each breath.
"I'm so glad we got that lube," Naruto commented after a moment.
Sasuke smirked against him. "I concur."
He pushed himself up with Naruto's fingers still trailing through his hair. Naruto pushed the sweaty strands out of
Sasuke's eyes before letting his hand drop.
"Wow," Naruto murmured with a smile and stretching his arms up over his head. "I was right, you're pretty rough. I think you were getting me back or something."
Sasuke frowned at him.
"I mean not too rough," Nauto amended. "Kinda good rough, but not real painful if that makes"
Actually Sasuke knew exactly what that meant, he liked it that way himself.
"I could do without you biting me though."
"Dream on."
They both went silent for a little while before Naruto spoke again.
"You know, I kinda got the impression that maybe you didn't like having sex this way. I was pretty surprised when you seemed to want to do it again."
Annoyingly, Naruto had to choose this as one of those times to be perceptive again.
"I got over it," Sasuke replied dismissively.
Naruto watched him carefully for a moment, making Sasuke more uncomfortable the more seconds that went silently by.
"I thought you might have been embarrassed or something 'cause of the way you acted the next day. I mean I don't get why. You're the one that keeps telling me not to get personal and everything but I think I know how to not make a big deal out of simple things better than you do."
Sasuke gave him an unimpressed look. He'd figured that out already and changed his approach and his outlook since then. Fun was fun, making it personal completely depended on your point on view. Something Sasuke had since learnt to correct. Thankfully though, Naruto did not push the matter.
"So I'm guessing we need to make some rules or something."
"Oh?"
"Yeah like no random making out or something."
Sasuke was surprised that Naruto would bring this up. He had been the one arguing that it was all okay only a week ago. But apparently what Sasuke had told him about being friends had worked itself into his brain after all.
"Well that would be a start. We should probably confine that sort of thing to moments like this," he agreed.
"But we can still act like we usually do around each other right?"
"Like?"
"Well I'm guessing you still like it when I wash your hair. You know, casual stuff."
"I don't see why that has to change."
"Maybe we should have like a sign or something," Naruto said eagerly sitting up before wincing slightly. "Ow, I shouldn't have done that."
"You'll get used to it," Sasuke told him with a smirk.
"Anyway, like when one of us feels in the mood or whatever, just have a touch or something and then the other person can say 'no' or 'yes' or something like that."
"You're really getting into this, aren't you? I thought you'd be more reticent."
"Well, this is all about being comfortable, right? That means it's gotta work for both of us. Here." Naruto scooted a little closer and reached around, brushing his fingers across Sasuke's spine low down on his back in a way that he knew made Sasuke shiver.
"You know, something unmistakeable but not all invasive either."
Sasuke reached forward, curling his fingers around the back of Naruto's neck.
"Yeah like that!" Naruto stated triumphantly. "What do you think?"
"Not bad, dobe," Sasuke admitted, letting him go.
"Just one thing though, I think when we come into a town like this and have our own room and a comfy bed there should be no signs or rules needed. I get it's not an everyday thing, but having a little bit of spontaneous fun should be okay."
Sasuke's brain immediately balked at the idea. It shouldn't make any difference whether they were in a room, on the road or in the crowded town square, there should always be comfortable boundaries. But he was reminded as he watched Naruto's eager face that his friend had already made a compromise for him.
Naruto didn't honestly care if they walked around glued at the lips, but he'd suggested the sign thing, the rule of not openly being suggestive without some kind of go ahead all for Sasuke's sake. And as much as Sasuke usually didn't care if people pandered to his wants without him giving anything in return he couldn't find the will to argue this time. Especially not when the idea wasn't an especially horrible one either.
So he carefully nodded and watched Naruto's smile widen even more.
"You're such a dork."
"Shut up asshole."
"You take longer than a girl to get ready," Sasuke groused, leaning up against the doorway to the bathroom the next morning.
Naruto stuck his head out of the shower for a moment in order to roll his eyes at him.
"As if you'd know. You've never waited on any girl in your life."
He looked at Sasuke properly for a moment, before pulling his head back inside the shower in order to shut it off. Stepping out of the stall he grabbed a towel to wrap around himself before walking over to Sasuke as though to get a proper look at him.
"You look different..." Naruto said slowly, peering at him quizzically. Then after a moment he seemed to realise what was in fact different.
"You tied your hair back! Hey, I thought you hated that idea."
"Occasionally you make some sense," Sasuke allowed. "It will be hot today and we have a lot of walking ahead of us. Still looks ridiculous and it's not like I'm wearing it like this all the time. But I can see how it might help with the heat sometimes."
"Pft, it doesn't look ridiculous," Naruto argued. "I'm not sure you can look ridiculous no matter what you do. That's really annoying by the way."
"Jealous?"
"As if!"
"Whatever dobe. I'm going to the place down the street to get breakfast. Feel free to join me if you ever manage to get ready sometime in the next hour."
Sasuke found himself sitting at the only place in town where he might be able to get a hot breakfast, which incidentally happened to be the same bar he'd come to last night to 'pick up'.
It all seemed so stupid now.
Last night had been a bit of an eye-opener for him at least. So sure, Naruto seemed to be the only one he was comfortable in fooling around with so far. But he was positive now that it didn't need to mean anything. Actually it shouldn't really be such a shock come to think of it. He distrusted people in general and that wasn't going to change no matter how much he attempted to force himself to believe otherwise.
So picking up a stranger in a bar had turned him off, big deal. Just as he assumed with Naruto, it would take some time and a lot more being comfortable with sex as a whole before that might change.
He had to admit that this was a new thing to both him and Naruto and just because neither of them felt any need to go elsewhere for relief that didn't mean it would always be that way. Such things would take time and he was beginning to understand that now. And sure, perhaps they needed a few boundaries but even that had been worked out in a matter of minutes without any argument for once.
Soon enough would come a time when one of them did get tempted by another person but Sasuke was content enough now to let it develop naturally, happy in the knowledge that once again they were on the same page about what everything meant. Sex was a bonus along with any other fooling around that might happen and it was more about urges, comfort and trust than it was about dependence. Sasuke could just about live with that.
Someone sat down heavily at his table and Sasuke lifted his eyes expecting it to be Naruto meeting him for breakfast after packing his things up back at the Inn. And indeed it was a smiling blond guy sitting across from him, but it wasn't actually Naruto.
"You're still here," Taro observed with a grin which Sasuke did not in any way return.
"But not, I'm guessing, because you decided to give me another try," Taro finished his smile slipping a little.
"What clued you in?" Sasuke asked dryly.
"Mainly that intense scowl on your face. I guess you got busted last night, huh?"
"Busted?"
"Yeah, by that hot blond guy. You weren't planning on cheating on him, were you?" Taro asked with what appeared to be genuine concern.
"No," Sasuke replied firmly.
"Oh, okay. Are you planning on staying another night?"
"No."
Taro was silent for a few moments while he watched Sasuke's expressionless face.
"Has anyone ever told you that you're a little hard to talk to?"
"It's been implied. Though generally people take the hint more quickly before feeling the need to rudely point it out."
Strangely Taro gave him a small half smile and leant back in his chair.
"You know, I'm kinda glad we didn't sleep together now. Talking to you sure helps."
Well this caused Sasuke to look up at him with a faintly surprised look on his face. He could honestly say he'd never had anyone tell him they'd prefer not being intimate with him. Usually it was lamented that they hadn't gotten the chance.
"Don't get me wrong," Taro continued seeing Sasuke's expression. "You're pretty gorgeous I admit, but you're a bit cold too."
"You look for wonderful personalities in your one night stands?" Sasuke asked snidely.
"It's nice to have some kind of connection with a person, even if it is only for one night. Lessens the feeling of being used I guess."
"If you are romanticising picking strangers up in a bar I may laugh."
"At least you'd be smiling," Taro concluded with a full smile of his own.
"Ne Sasuke, who's your friend?"
Naruto stopped beside the table and gave Taro a curious look before his eyes widened in recognition.
Taro offered his hand to Naruto apparently also recognising him from the awkwardness last night but obviously not feeling quite as weird about it as Naruto was.
"I'm Taro, I didn't really catch your name last night."
"Naruto," Naruto replied a little unsure by this turn of events.
"Nice to meet you again Naruto, especially since I've got a shirt on this time. Here, I'll buy you both breakfast. Last night strangeness aside, it's nice to meet fellow travellers."
Naruto sat down in a seat between Sasuke and Taro, suddenly a little more interested in the conversation.
"How did you know we were travelling?"
"Oh, me and Sasuke go way back. We met on the road north of Saolin."
"Go way back?" Naruto asked in confusion.
"He's joking," Sasuke pointed out tiredly.
"Well we met briefly," Taro corrected himself. "I was playing my flute while taking a break on the road and we crossed paths."
"You play the flute?" Naruto asked him before nudging Sasuke, "Hey maybe he could teach you how to play."
Sasuke rolled his eyes.
"You're learning?" Taro asked with a pleased smile.
"More like murdering music at the moment," Naruto answered before Sasuke could. "He could really use some pointers."
Sasuke glared at Naruto but Naruto either was ignoring him or didn't see him.
"I'm on my way to a job up north at the moment," Taro told them both. "It doesn't start for another three weeks so I'm kind of just killing time at the moment here. The job will take me over the border into Sirrianis plus give me some extra cash."
"Over the border?" Sasuke asked with sudden interest.
So far he hadn't really come across any information about the next border crossing, something that they would have to attempt themselves pretty soon. He really hoped it wasn't as hard as it had been getting over the last one.
"Well yeah. I'll have a work permit for Sirrianis because of the job so it's a pretty neat deal."
"So I'm guessing they don't just let anyone cross then?" Naruto asked apparently realising the importance of the information at the same time.
"Well they aren't ultra strict," Taro admitted. "So long as you aren't a criminal or something like that they generally don't have a problem. But it costs money normally and all that checking takes time so you might get stuck at a border town for weeks waiting till they give you permission. Having a job and someone to vouch for you smoothes things over a lot quicker. Plus that way I also don't have to pay."
"They don't run checks if you have a work permit?" Sasuke asked as casually as he could but internally he was annoyed.
If he and Naruto applied to cross the border and word was sent to the authorities with their descriptions they were sunk. After all, who knew how far news of their fight with the Hunters might have reached by now? For all they knew the local Hunters might be the first people the border authorities checked with. And fake names wouldn't help if the Hunters had drawn up pictures to go along with their descriptions. He had hoped that there wouldn't even be a check at the border at all and the fact that they bothered checking at all might indicate it would be difficult to sneak across as well.
"Depends really. My future boss comes across the border to his fruit farm which is cheaper to run in Arrei. Once he has his quota him and a bunch of new recruits ferry the goods back across the border to his wineries in Trienne. He can't sit around at the border while the fruit spoils so I suspect he greases the wheels a little if you get my meaning. But that also means a quick trip across the border where I will only have to spend one season helping in the winery before I can move on if I want. One of my cousins did it last year and recommended me to the boss. Why, are you two looking for work?"
"Well we could sure use the money," Naruto answered with a quick look toward Sasuke.
Thankfully the dobe was being discreet and not letting on about the real reason they might need a quick trip across the border. And really, though the idea of trying to get a job like this wasn't a horrible idea, it was still a risk to go anywhere near anything official when they were probably both wanted men. Realistically however, it was definitely something to look into while they gathered more information about getting into Sirrianis.
"Okay sure, I know the boss has difficulties finding workers willing to leave Arrei for such a long time so I don't think you'll have a problem getting a job. If you want you can stay here with me for a little while and we'll go up together or if you have stuff to do first we could always meet up on the farm."
"It would be better if we met you there," Sasuke told him.
"Sure. And maybe during the trip we can work on your musical skills," Taro offered with a warm smile.
Taro had marked down the farm on their map and the two left town later that morning with mixed feelings. It was good to finally get some info about the next border crossing but depressing to know that they could get stopped. And while Taro had supplied them with a good means to get across, it wasn't exactly without risk and Sasuke didn't like the idea that they might get recognised despite whatever bribes were involved.
"You don't think he offered us jobs to try and get into your pants again, do you?" Naruto asked him curiously. "I mean he doesn't really know us at all but he seemed pretty eager to help us out,"
Sasuke sighed feeling Naruto was worried about the entirely wrong thing right now.
"No. I'm fairly sure I couldn't seduce him if I tried now. I believe he is happy we were interrupted."
"Got to know you, did he?" Naruto asked with a teasing grin.
"Excuse me while I laugh," Sasuke replied in a deadpan voice. "It's not like you not to trust people at their word."
Naruto shrugged. "Maybe your paranoia is rubbing off on me."
"Or maybe you are finally learning a valuable lesson. I'm not particularly suspicious of him," Sasuke pointed out. "And his offer is too valuable to pass up."
"Alright, so why don't we just travel with him then? It'd be easier than having to find this place ourselves. I mean I know I wondered about him at first but I guess he seems nice enough."
And Naruto really did seem to mean that. Despite the fact that Sasuke had almost had sex with him there was no jealousy, no malice, just his impression from talking to the guy over breakfast. He either didn't see Taro as a threat or didn't care if he was. Which was both strange and pleasing that he could be either so detached or so confident.
"So you think he's a nice guy?"
Naruto nodded.
"And what if the hunters caught us while we were languishing in a village with Taro? We could endanger him as well as ourselves. We spent far too long in the town before this one, it's too much of a risk doing it again."
"Ah right, good point. Better keep moving I guess. Pity though."
"What is?"
"Well if we'd stayed with him he could have taught you how to play that flute 'cause at the moment when you play it sounds like two mice being slowly strangled and I'm not sure if I can go another three weeks till he can start teaching you properly."
Sasuke waited a whole second to see if he was joking before hitting him.
"Ow!"
"If you hate me playing it so much, why did you bother to pack it into your bag on the day of my trial?" Sasuke asked pointedly.
Naruto shrugged. "You almost got eaten by a cave monster for that thing, I guess it seemed important. To you I mean. I suppose that's why."
Sasuke watched Naruto's face for a moment surprised by the answer. Especially because it seemed to be the truth. He didn't bring it along to avert Sasuke's possible anger, he also didn't leave it behind even though he obviously didn't like it when Sasuke practised. He had merely kept it with him because he thought it was important to Sasuke to keep it. No ulterior selfish motive, nothing. It made him wonder, in the event he'd actually died the day of the trial, whether Naruto would have continued to carry it with him just because he felt that way.
Sasuke almost said, "thank you," but stopped himself in time, cursing in his own head for such a lame thought.
"You're way too sentimental," Sasuke berated him instead. "It's very annoying. You should prioritise essential things for survival, not some trivial trinket found in some dank cave in the middle of nowhere."
Naruto grinned at him. "You're welcome."
Sasuke blinked at him in momentary surprise before scowling at the road ahead.
"Tch, dobe."
TBC in Part 17