Vignette:

Shifting Zones

By gelfling

Warnings: shonen ai, SasuNaru.  Sap. 

There are some cases when sleeping the inside of the dreamers' world is soft and warm and peaceful, full of free floating dandelion fluff and a gentle smile of comfort.  These are the dreams beyond reality.

There are some cases when awakening when the riser smiles softly at the enchanting panorama that the day lays out for him and the smell walnut-banana pancakes cooked just right are wafting from the door, or summer mornings laidback in the afternoon with a bowl of cereal and excellent TV.  This is the reality that births the dreams.

And every now and again, these two spectrums of absolute perfection overlap.  This overlap is called the shifting zone.

***

Sasuke watched the board game happily without thinking.  He wasn't sure what it was called or how to play, but he knew that it brought him pleasure.  He felt proud and satisfied also with his move that showed off his perception and insight of the game and understanding of his opponent's mind. 

Itachi was rubbing his lower lip thoughtfully as he studied the board and admired the intricacies and potential his younger brother had woven into him.  His dark eyes glanced upward with a small, grudgingly proud smile at the tousled mop of his little brother's hair.  While not Sasuke was not winning the game, he was indeed proving equal to his brother in contests of the mind: of strategy and judgment.

Beneath them, soft thumps and voices echoed under the floorboards as servants and family members began the balmy summer day.

***

Fingers, warm and impossibly soft, whispered across his cheeks, as relaxing and comforting as a mother's caress.  He could feel his limbs loose and relaxed, his senses alert and scanning for danger always, and finding none.  It was very quiet and warm, and he felt very safe and cherished. 

Out of childish, natural curiosity, he opened his eyes. 

Crystalline light blue eyes the color of bright silver water in the dark welcomed him with a small, reserved smile. 

Naruto's face was unnaturally clean; the perpetual sunshine grubbiness was gone, as was the foolish stupidity, pitifully disgusting eagerness to please and be seen.  In it's place his quality spoke only of confidence and composure and serenity.  Of assurance and security, a word Sasuke never used in regards to Naruto. 

In fact…with his light, inhumanly endless blue eyes and pale golden hair draped down around his head and ivory skin styled and lanced with his exotic whisker scars on either cheek… …Naruto looked quite ethereal.  Ethereal, pure, and peacefully beautiful. 

And nothing at all like the human outcast obnoxious brat he usually was. 

Sasuke, however, thought nothing of this.  He didn't question or analyze or wonder.  He was barely awake, and still hearing the floorboards creak under the servants' feet. 

The…Forbidden Child.  The words were a bare echo in the deep cavern of his mind, barely even a whisper, and demanded no further attention.

His heart glided straight into his throat in a deliberate and careful movement when Naruto's lips closed over his aggressively—then swung back down to relax in a hammock strung out between his lungs when Naruto fell back instantly, regretfully, and returned relaxed with a gentle nipping on his lips, pressing and brushing fearfully, playfully.

Sasuke inhaled deeply, noted mildly that Naruto's chest bumped against his, their bodies were so close.  A hollow noise rolled up from the back of his throat as a warm and wet raspy tongue traced his bottom lip.  His eyes slid shut and his lips stumbled about, trying to drink down the gentle, alien pleasure Naruto's lips against his were stimulating.  Naruto's skin was hot against his, and Sasuke had worked his left arm halfway out of the sheets to touch him before he lost interest.

Sasuke exhaled mildly annoyed when Naruto raised his head and took his lips away.  He opened his eyes again to glower weakly at the unearthly being that was blinking and blushing down at him. 

And—at long last—a coherent thought was completely formed in Sasuke's mind:  Stupid Naruto…waking me up…

Closing his eyes in a weak scowl, Sasuke squirmed underneath Naruto and brought one pale arm out from eth dark depths and deeps of the comforter blanket and reached for the edge of the bed, and fell onto of Naruto, pinning him to the edge of the bed, Sasuke's arm pressed against Naruto's side. 

With another sigh, and the smell and feel of Naruto and apple shampoo around him…Sasuke fell back to dreams.

A/N: Story in progress.  There's going to be a second chapter to this, and quite possibly a third, depending on what happens.  The next chapter will be from Naruto's POV, and probably be a little angsty and angry.  Not sure though, haven't written it.