Disclaimers: Naruto is not mine, sadly. This is purely a fanfic using someone else's characters.
Warnings: This story includes strong language, violence, sexual assault, torture, sexual content (yaoi), & angst.
It's All In Your Head
Chapter 2: Tremble
--
Naruto was still pissed at Sasuke when he woke up the next day, and he definitely wasn't looking forward to sitting next to him in class.
"Seriously" he muttered to himself as he left his dingy apartment that morning, "what gives him the right to fucking attack me like that?! It's not his business what happens to me..."
He walked down the street, keeping his head down to avoid the villagers' hateful stares and unwarranted accusations. Anytime he made eye contact with any of them, they seemed to take it as a personal challenge or some kind of threat. And he didn't have the strength or mental fortitude to deal with any of it.
Especially today.
Naruto glared up at the far too cheerful sky, which seemed to be mocking him and his misery. He flipped off the sun, the birds, and the faces carved into Hokage Mountain, then entered the Academy- already anticipating another terrible day.
On his way to class, he decided to stop in the bathroom first. The only one available was, of course, the same one Sasuke had forcefully pulled him into yesterday, but luckily it was empty of any aggressive Uchihas. Naruto locked the door and walked up to the mirror to scrutinize his reflection. Immediately he noticed that the cut on his lip was somehow more prominent today than it was before.
Fantastic.
He licked it and found that it was still extremely sensitive as well. He'd have to be careful to not bite it- a bad habit of his that he had yet to get rid of. He turned his face to examine the large bruise on his lower cheek. It had gone from a dark purple to a deep blue.
Some improvement, I guess..
Naruto smoothed down his unruly hair the best he could and tried lifting the dark bags under his eyes, but those definitely weren't going anywhere. And of course, he knew why.
He couldn't sleep. And when he did his nightmares were so detailed and horrific that he would jolt awake, screaming. He was never able to fall back asleep after one, afraid that he would slip back into it.
That it would get even worse.
He sighed at his stupid face, then left and headed to class.
When Naruto walked in he kept his eyes averted, but he could still feel Sasuke staring at him. He knew that he was being examined under that heavy gaze, and he knew that Sasuke was seeing everything Naruto had just seen in the mirror. Which meant the questions and harassment were likely to continue.
Ughh.. I don't want to fucking deal with this.
He sat down in his seat and kept his head down. I can't handle anymore questions today. Why can't Sasuke just leave it alone? Naruto didn't want to be reminded of what happened.
Of what almost happened.. and might still happen if he ever ran across those guys again.
The thought drained all color from his face. He swallowed down the lump forming in the back of his throat, but he couldn't keep his hands from shaking. He glanced at Sasuke out of the corner of his eye and saw him look down at his hand.
Great.
When did the teme get so freaking observant?
Sasuke narrowed his eyes on the blonde's trembling fingers, and before he had the chance to think it through, he reached out and grabbed his hand, holding it tightly in his own.
Naruto's head jerked to the side, and he stared at the Uchiha, mouth open in silent shock. His mind went completely blank for a moment, and then all at once reality slammed into him.
He wrenched his hand away and jumped to his feet. "What the hell are you doing, Teme?!" he shouted, pointing at the accused.
Sasuke looked over at him blankly. "Calm down, Dobe."
"Me?? But you're the one who-"
"Uzumaki!"
Naruto blanched. He turned to look at Iruka-sensei.
"There is absolutely no reason why you should be yelling in my classroom."
The blonde scratched his head sheepishly. "Heh. Sorry about that, sensei. Sasuke was just-"
"I don't want to hear excuses. Go stand in the hallway. We will discuss this after class."
Naruto clenched his fists and stormed out of the room, ignoring the giggles and mocking comments. On his way out, one person stuck out their foot and he stumbled forward. He managed to catch himself on the corner of another person's desk, but it didn't stop the group from erupting in cruel laughter at his expense.
He dropped his head, hiding his reddening face beneath long honey locks, and hurried out of the room, missing the deep crimson eyes that narrowed on the kid that tripped him.
"Fucking baka .." Naruto grumbled, pacing the hall in front of the classroom door. "Wasn't even my fault! If Sasuke hadn't-"
The image popped in his head- of Sasuke's pale fingers wrapping around his own, halting his trembling, reassuring him.
"Ughh!" Naruto pressed his back against the wall and slid down to the floor. He looked down at his hand.
"What the hell was he thinking?"
One of his sleeves had moved up enough for him to see the deep purple bruise around his wrist. He winced when he saw it, and quickly forced down the sleeve and the memories of how he got it.
Heavy azure eyes wandered from his hidden bruises to his hand, still warm from Sasuke's touch.. and no longer trembling.
"What were you thinking.."
--
Sasuke took his time leaving the classroom, but he made sure to note who had tripped Naruto. He would be dealing with him later.
The thought made him freeze. When the hell did I become so protective over Naruto?
He shook his head, clearing away the thought, refocusing on the task at hand. He checked the pouch he kept tied around his thigh, making sure everything he needed was in there.
He was pleased to see it was, but he was careful to keep his face emotionless. He didn't want this to get out. After all, he had stolen a scroll containing a forbidden jutsu from one of the Leaf's restricted libraries. Better that he not draw attention to it.
When Sasuke stepped out of the classroom, he found Naruto looking forlorn against the wall as Iruka-sensei reamed into him about proper classroom etiquette.
"But, Iruka-sensei! It wasn't my-"
"I am tired of you blaming other students for your choices, Naruto. You are always like this."
Naruto dropped his head, biting his lip. He winced, already having forgotten not to do that to his poor tortured lip. Sasuke slipped back just inside the classroom, tucking himself against the wall so he could eavesdrop on their conversation.
"This is why people avoid you, Naruto. I understand that you didn't have parents to teach you how to behave-"
Naruto's eyes flared with rage.
"but that's no excuse to-"
"Why don't you just say it?" Naruto's voice was razor sharp, dangerous. Sasuke was shocked. He had never heard the blonde talk like this before.
"Watch your tone, Uzumaki", Iruka spat back at him.
"Then just say it!" Naruto's head jerked up and he glared at his sensei, his mouth twisted into an angry snarl. "You hate me, just like everyone else in this fucking village!"
"How dare you talk to me like this-"
"It's true, though- isn't it? I have never done anything to anyone, but they all hate me. And you are just like them!"
Sasuke peeked around the corner and saw that their sensei was shaking with rage. He raised his hand, and for a second Sasuke thought he was going to strike the blonde. Naruto seemed to think so too, because he took a quick step back directly into the wall.
Guilt racked the Uchiha, and he knew he couldn't ignore this any longer. He stepped out into the hallway. "Iruka-sensei."
The man jumped, like he had been caught doing something sordid, and quickly dropped his hand. "Ah, Sasuke. What can I do for you?"
Sasuke walked up to the pair and slid in front of Naruto, blocking Iruka's access to him.
Naruto quickly realized what he was doing, and stared incredulously at the back of Sasuke's head. Why would he step in for me like that..?
"Naruto is not at fault for what happened" the raven stated, his tone clear and resolute. "I grabbed him in class. He was simply reacting to something I did."
Iruka opened his mouth to argue, but Sasuke pressed on, not giving him the chance.
"If anyone should be punished for poor behavior-," he glanced back at the blonde, at huge blue eyes filled with surprise and a deep gratitude.
He turned back to face his teacher, his eyes cold and impassive. "-it's me."
Iruka looked from Sasuke's dark, determined gaze to Naruto, who quickly looked away, hiding his eyes behind long blonde bangs. The brunette sighed. "Well, you do seem to be genuinely sorry for your actions, so I suppose we can look the other way this time."
Iruka's eyes hardened, focusing on the blonde tucked behind Sasuke. "But know, disruptions like that will not be tolerated in my class."
Naruto clenched his fists, but said nothing.
Sasuke narrowed his eyes on his sensei, watching his gaze lock onto Naruto. And only Naruto.
"Noted", he ground out.
"Right. Well, I will see you tomorrow then." And with that, the man turned away and walked back into his classroom, closing the door with a soft click behind him.
Sasuke turned to see the distraught blonde shaking with rage. "Naruto, I-"
Naruto turned and punched a locker as hard as he could, denting the thin metal. Obsidian eyes widened.
"Why.." he whispered, his face turned away from Sasuke. "Why is it always like this.."
Sasuke reached out and touched his arm softly, but Naruto tore away from him. "Don't. Just-" he roughly dragged his fingers through his hair, disheveling it even more. "Look, I appreciate what you did back there, but.. I- I have to go."
Naruto slipped past him and walked away. And at first, Sasuke let him. But as he watched him get further and further down the hall he thought of the deep bruises around Naruto's wrists, his split lip, his huge sad eyes, and the way they filled with relief when Sasuke stepped in to help him.
He wasn't going to wait any longer.
He had what he needed.
He would take care of this now.
It was time for Sasuke Uchiha to get to know the real Naruto Uzumaki.
Author Note:
To all Iruka fans out there- I'm sorry that I made him terrible in here! I needed a teacher to be a dick, and in my defense Iruka did start off not liking Naruto and not wanting to be his teacher because of the Nine Tails. Which is basically what you saw with that whole scene.
Don't hate me! I really do adore Iru too. And I'm usually so nice to him- especially in my last story! I just had to..
Otherwise, I hope you're enjoying what I've got so far! Because there's a whole lot more headed your way!