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 54: Affect
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Kakashi rapped his knuckles against the doorframe and peered into the pristine hospital room. "Yo" he said casually, holding up a hand to greet his former students.
Naruto's eyes lit up when he saw him, while Sasuke's held a very different sort of flame. Clearly, he had been hoping to be alone with the blonde and was irritated by the intrusion. Especially since Naruto's attention immediately diverted away from him.
It didn't faze the jonin- Sasuke's jealousy and possessiveness over the blonde was nothing new, nor was it in the least bit shocking. Besides, he had been the one to notice their interest in each other in the first place- way before either of them seemed fully aware of it themselves.
A Uchiha in love was going to be prickly. He knew that from firsthand experience. After all, that's how Obito had been with him..
Kakashi shoved the thought of his lost love down deep, ignored the glaring raven, and stepped into the room. Naruto quickly jumped to his feet, offering him his chair, but Kakashi just pushed him back down onto it. The kid looked exhausted, like he hadn't slept since Sasuke was admitted into the hospital. Which was very likely. Kakashi knew Naruto pretty well at this point. When he cared about something he gave it his all. Sasuke got that kind of devotion from him a long time ago. And as much as Naruto wanted to act removed and indifferent, he hadn't changed in that way. If anything, he cared for the raven more than ever.
The two looked up at him and he gave them a masked smile. "Well, it certaintly didn't take you two long to cause more damage."
He had meant to say it lightly, but Naruto was clearly bothered by it. He turned away, letting a heavy blonde curtain hide his shame, and the jonin immediately felt guilty for it. Sasuke, on the other hand, had no problem meeting Kakashi gaze with an accusatory one of his own.
"Naruto is not to blame, so leave him out of it" he insisted. "It's my fault-"
The blonde's head shot up. "No one is going to believe that, Sasuke. You're the one in the damn hospital! He knows it was me."
Kakashi raised a hand to silence their bickering. "I'm sure you both had a part to play in all of this." He could see Sasuke preparing to argue and quickly continued. "I already talked to Tsunade, and she has agreed to look the other way on this one. But let's try to avoid another mishap, hmm? I'm not sure how many times I'll be able to talk her down."
Naruto nodded. "Yeah, I understand. I'm sorry, Kakashi-sensei.. for causing you trouble." He muttered something under his breath, which sounded like 'again'.
The jonin felt his chest clench tight. "Don't apologize, Naruto. Not to me, anyways." He glanced at the raven. "I don't know what went on between you two, but I assume both of you could stand to apologize for it."
Kakashi said his goodbyes soon after. With a ruffle of the blonde's unruly hair and a nod towards the stiff raven, he made his leave. He paused at the door and looked over his shoulder. "I said it once, but I will say it again. Take care of eachother."
They nodded, and Kakashi turned his attention to the hospitalized raven. "And Sasuke."
He looked up.
"I'm glad you're ok."
--
They decided to keep Sasuke in the hospital for a few more days despite his many protests. The Uchiha was not a very cooperative patient and had argued against this countless times, but it made no difference. It always fell on deaf ears- and he was getting pretty fucking tired of it.
It was after another rejected request to leave that Sasuke completely lost his shit.
The doctor had offered a condescending smile and an unwelcomed pat on the shoulder, told him he'd be there for a few days still, and left. Which is exactly when Sasuke decided to take matters into his own hands. He sat up and swung his legs off the side of the bed, wordlessly dropping his toes to the floor. He could feel Naruto's eyes on him but ignored it.
"Sasuke..? Hey, what are you-"
He tore a pillowcase free, then ripped the IV out of his arm.
Naruto shot to his feet. "What the hell are you doing?!"
Still ignoring him, Sasuke wrapped the pillowcase around his forearm and tightened it to stave off the bleeding. Naruto grabbed his wrist hard, and he looked up to glare at him. "Let go."
"Christ, Sasuke. You can't just-"
The Uchiha shoved him back and got to his feet. Thankfully, they had already let him put on a t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants in place of the paper-thin hospital gown. One less thing to slow him down. He grabbed his things and went over to the door to find a frazzled blonde blocking the exit. "Move."
"Sasuke- you are literally under house arrest, and you're not even healed. You can't just leave."
Dark eyes hardened. "Yes" he growled. "I can."
He went to push past him, but Naruto grabbed his arm and jerked him back. "Sasuke, stop!"
"Back off!" He yanked his arm free and ran out, barefoot and determined.
"Dammit, Sasuke! I said, stop!!"
Naruto raced after him, skidding past bewildered nurses and slow-to-react patients. Luckily his chakra wasn't restricted like Sasuke's, so it didn't take much for him to catch up to him. As soon as he got close enough Naruto leapt forward and tackled him, sending both of them crashing to the ground.
Sasuke jerked his elbow back, nailing him in the rib cage- too desperate to get the fuck out of there to care much about anything else. Naruto groaned as pain radiated from his side, but he refused to release his hold on him.
The two grappled on the ground long enough for security to advance on them, and they pretty much took over from there. Sasuke shrieked with fury as they restrained him, but it did little to help him. Their faces remained utterly expressionless as they dragged him back to his room and unceremoniously deposited him on the bed. They even went so far as to cuff his right wrist to the railing on the side of the cot, though one earned a punch in the face for that.
It was only then that Naruto remembered Sasuke's head injury and rushed to his side to keep them from retailiating. He checked to make sure the sutures on the back of his head hadn't opened during their whole ordeal and was relieved to find that there wasn't any blood on the bandage. He didn't seem to be in pain either, which was also a relief. Sasuke was pissed, for sure he was pissed, but he wasn't hurt- which was all that really mattered.
A nurse came in shortly after and removed the bloodied pillowcase before disinfecting his arm and replacing the IV. Sasuke wasn't happy about this either, but he didn't have much of a choice. The security team let them know that they would be stationed outside his door from now on, and then the group left.
As soon as they were alone Sasuke turned to glare at the blonde.
"Don't give me that look." Naruto dropped down in the chair with a heavy sigh. "You know you can't leave yet. What did you expect me to do?"
"I don't need to be here" Sasuke snapped.
"You. Are. Not. Healed." Naruto growled.
"I can fucking do that at home!" he shot back.
"God, have you always been this impossible?"
Sasuke gave him a sharp look.
Naruto shook his head and gave an ironic half-smile. "Oh, how the tables have turned."
"Do you even know what that means?"
"Remember when I was trapped in the hospital?" Naruto leaned back, lacing his fingers together behind his head as he grinned at the ceiling. "You wouldn't listen to me when I tried to tell you that I could leave. I tried to escape a few times, remember? You always caught me and forced me to come back. And now it's your turn."
He glanced over. "How's it feel, Sasuke? Sucks- doesn't it?"
"You know.. I remember something else about that time" the raven said slyly.
Naruto eyed him warily. "What're you talking about?"
Sasuke ushered him over. "Come here, I'll whisper it to you. I don't want anyone to overhear."
Why would I fall for that?
Fine. If you don't want to know, then I guess I have nothing to say.
Why can't you just think it?
Silence.
Sasuke?
Still nothing.
Sasuke?!
Naruto glared at the stubborn teme, which also had no effect on him. "Goddamnit." He stomped over, his irritation palpable. "What, Sasuke? What could you possibly have to say?"
The Uchiha moved fast and grabbed him with his untethered hand. Before Naruto could even blink, he was yanked down onto the bed. He dropped his hand down to stop himself from colliding with his face, but Sasuke wasn't about to let him slip away. He quickly grabbed a fistful of his shirt and forced him closer, watching with amusement as those ocean eyes widened.
"What the hell, Sasuke?!"
"Don't you remember?" he asked, a michevious grin pulling at his cheeks. "We spent a lot of time like this when you were here. Hmm.. but I feel like I'm missing something."
"Will you just let go already." Naruto gripped his wrist hard but Sasuke simply shook him off and grabbed the back of his head, holding him still.
"Sasuke-"
"Now I remember" he murmured, leaning in, his dark penetrating gaze scanning every inch of his face before falling to his lips.
Naruto knew he should say something, that at the very least he should try to turn away, but he couldn't move. Sasuke had completely taken over- his mind, his heart, his body- and all he could do was stare as he slowly drew closer. His eyes fluttered closed and then Sasuke kissed him. Gently, slowly, without any sense of urgency.
Like he knew he had the rest of his life to do it.
Naruto felt a rush of heat spread through his chest and curl in his toes as Sasuke deepened the kiss. He opened his mouth and pulled him inside- succumbing to the feel of him, the taste of him. Naruto reached out, desperate for more. He wrapped his hand behind Sasuke's neck and held him tight, a lifeline in a rough passionate sea.
Their mouths moved together, hungrily, as desire took over all other senses. There were no thoughts shared between them, no feelings of doubt or hesitation- just one continuous sensation pulsing between them.
And neither wanted it to stop.
Sasuke's hand slipped from his hair and wrapped around his waist, pulling the ravenous blonde onto his lap. Naruto's knees dropped down on either side of him and Sasuke pulled him closer, positioning him in just the right spot. He groaned and lifted his hips, shoving his straining want against the blonde's ass. Naruto shifted against him, and Sasuke gripped him tight as his core flared with desire.
"Mmhnn.." He slipped his hand lower and grabbed his blonde's ass as he thrust against him, which unfortunately broke whatever lustful trance he had been in.
Naruto shoved against his chest, pushing him away. Sasuke tried to reach out for him, but he quickly shuffled back to the foot of the bed. The cuff around his wrist stopped Sasuke from getting any closer so all he could do was sit there and stare at the blushing blonde, wondering why they had to stop.
Naruto brought his fingers to his kiss-swollen lips, his wide blue eyes staring back as reality closed in around him. "That.. that was a mistake."
Dark eyes narrowed. "Do you moan everytime you make a mistake?"
Naruto turned away- from the heat in those charcoal eyes, and the truth that sat with it. "I told you I wasn't ready.."
"Seem pretty ready to me."
"Are you even fucking listening?!" Naruto shouted.
"Are you going to keep pretending like I'm the only one who wants this?" Sasuke snapped back. "You fucking kissed me back, Naruto. You liked it, and I know you want me just as bad as I want you."
Naruto's entire face turned sharingan red. "I- I don't-"
Yes. You do.
Naruto turned away, letting long blonde locks hide his embarrassment. You can't just pick up where you left off, Sasuke. Especially after everything.. it just doesn't work that way.
Tell me why we should wait, Sasuke argued. Give me one reason why we should act like we don't want this when it's so fucking obvious that we feel the same way.
"Because I don't want to just end up in the same fucking spot I was in before, ok!" Naruto turned away from his prying gaze and roughly dragged his fingers through his hair as he fought to rein in his emotions. I don't believe that you're really going to stay.
Sasuke clenched his jaw tight, a familiar spark of anger flashing in his eyes. "What reason do I have to leave?"
"I know how you feel about this place." His throat clicked as a thought occurred to him. "You.. never were going to come back, were you?"
"I have no intention of being apart from you again" Sasuke said firmly.
"If it wasn't for Kakashi and Yamato.. would you have ever come back..?"
"Naruto" Sasuke tried to scoot closer, but with the restraint on his wrist there was no chance of reaching him. He glared at the unnecessary hindrance before turning his attention back to the forlorn blonde. "I don't care where we are, just as long as we're not apart. I won't let that happen again."
So you would have tried to keep me from coming back too.
Sasuke didn't answer. He didn't have to.
You really thought I would just abandon the Leaf?
Sasuke gritted his teeth together, his anger rising. You really think these assholes deserve to have you stay?
I have people here that I care about, Sasuke!
"And you fucking left them to come find me!" Sasuke screamed back. I already know that wasn't a mission, Naruto. You left without a word, and you had no idea how long you'd be gone- just like I did. Stop acting like you don't fucking care!
"I do care!" Naruto shouted, finally looking up. "Obviously I fucking care!"
"Then stop pushing me away! I'm here, I'm right here." Sasuke held out his hand. "Just be here with me."
Naruto couldn't stop the tears from filling his eyes, but he did keep them from falling. Barely. He wanted to be strong, composed- everything that Sasuke had been. He wanted to hide the desperate, needy side of himself- the Naruto that fell apart when he left. The Naruto that manically gathered every bit of intel on Orochimaru, putting everything into a total whim. The Naruto that, despite everything he had put him through, had never stopped loving Sasuke.
He hated his weak vulnerable heart, and yet he couldn't stop himself from putting it in Sasuke's hands all over again.
Knowing it was very possible that all of this would blow up in his face, just as it had before, Naruto reached out and offered his hand.. and his tattered heart. And Sasuke took it. He pulled him down and wrapped his arm around his waist, holding him close. Naruto stiffened, but that was a ruse too. This was exactly what he wanted- what he had been chasing after ever since he left.
And maybe Sasuke was right.
Maybe he should stop pretending it wasn't.
Naruto finally gave in and curled up against him. He laid his head down on his chest and grabbed hold of Sasuke's shirt, tightening his fist around the soft fabric. His eyes were growing heavy, and this time he was going to make sure that when they reopened his person would still be there.
He wouldn't lose him twice.
Sasuke smoothed back his bangs and kissed his forehead, then wrapped his arm around the blonde once more. It felt like the most natural thing in the world- aside from the handcuffs. Lying in bed with Naruto snuggled in close like this… It was enough to make him forget the hate and his failed revenge. The pain and his countless mistakes.
He could only hope that it had the same effect on Naruto.