Wasteland

Disclaimer: I don't own a thing. At all. Move along.

A/N:

After much consideration, I realised that I was impulsive and, yes, rude to have deleted this. Especially towards the few who were interested in where this was going. I apologise for this stupid, foolish move on my part and hope you won't hate me too much for it.

Before, I forget this fic has nothing to with Becca Abbot's classic Ai No Kusabi fic "Wasteland" or T. S. Eliot. I just chose the title because it fits the mood, and direction the fic is going to take best.

All criticism is accepted.

I thank Out Of Sheol for bet'ing this.

...

One of Sasuke's freakish neighbours was knocking loudly against the wall again – on and off, off and on.

Each time this person did so, a loud and shrill bang resounded, rousing Naruto from his sluggish state, as if he'd been poked by a needle -- deliberately and sadistically slowly -- so that the pain could gradually spread and twirled over his body like vines.

Then, to make things even better, another jackass, probably related to the wall-knocking asshat, started to listen to rap music, cranking the stereo up the highest volume. So high that whatever came blaring out of it, attacked both Naruto and Sasuke's ears with an ear-drum splintering intensity and – nearly – knocked them over.

Naruto slammed his fist against the wall; Sasuke didn't even look up, though he knew why his best friend's patience had cracked.

Enough was just enough.

"Say, does that fucker over there never stop?" Naruto finally asked, wincing when another wave of Coolio's haphazardly arranged sentences invaded his ears; he shook his throbbing hand, wincing a little more when he noted how his skin burnt. Perhaps, driving his fist against the hard concrete wall hadn't been a good idea.

Furthermore, Naruto could feel a headache coming on, the sort that blinded and dazzled you to such an extreme that it induced you to jump out of windows, break bones and scream until your lungs exploded.

Sasuke shook his head. "No. He's like this all the time. Just like the one who's knocking on the wall."

Naruto threw him a "you're kidding me" look and was about to bolt through the door, probably intent on giving Sasuke's neighbour a good kick in the head, or murder him single-handedly. Naturally, neither of them were necessarily favourable solutions to this (as previously described) awful situation.

Therefore, Sasuke stopped Naruto before he could wreak any havoc. Experience had taught him that letting Naruto loose his cool just wasn't a good idea; he'd given too many people a taste of his wild and rebellious side, and they'd either ended up getting nursed by their mothers or had moved away. Naruto wasn't exactly a gentle person.

Understandably, Sasuke didn't want any trouble. He had already had enough on his plate; he didn't need any more, really.

Naruto was such an idiot.

Dragging Naruto by the sleeve of his cotton shirt back into the centre of the room, Sasuke, rolling his eyes in that manner, which signified annoyance and would have made anyone than his best friend run for his life, said:

"You'll get used to do this."

"Fuck no!" Naruto replied, and plopped down on Sasuke's bed with a loud and violent plump. He looked up to the Heavens and shook his hands before speaking again,"Your new place sucks. Your mother should have at least allowed your old man to keep his house."

Sasuke seemed to be compelled to roll his eyes again. For starters, this apartment wasn't new: he, his brother Itachi and his jolly-good Daddy had moved in here when he'd been twelve. Which, as far as Sasuke could recall, had happened some good six years ago. Naruto was total shit when it came to numbers, it seemed. Then again, he wasn't surprised. As far as Sasuke was concerned, he'd never grown used to this poor excuse of an apartment.

"Well, my father should have been smarter than starting an affair with her best friend. You wouldn't take it well either, if the person you built your universe upon betrayed you like that," Sasuke noted, feeling cold and chilly when he'd thought of how his parents' marriage had fallen apart. Even now, the sound of his mother's crying still sent goosebumps running up and down his arms. Whenever he saw her, which wasn't as often as he'd liked, she stared out into space and avoided talking about his father.

Sasuke knew that it still hurt too much.

As much as he hated to admit it, his father deserved it. No, scratch that, he deserved to rot in hell for tearing their family apart.

Naruto didn't respond. His own mother had been dead for years, so he really couldn't say anything on that subject. What he could do though was cheer Sasuke up, and he would do just that.

"Sorry. I guess I'll just miss sleeping in a villa. It made me proud – I could always brag around that it belonged to me."

Sasuke huffed. "So you only befriended me because of that?"

"No, 'course not. You're also a blast with homewo-"

Sasuke threw a book at Naruto, who instinctively caught it with one hand. Sasuke shook his head, and grinned:

"Shut it. So nice to know that you only hang around with me because I actually bother to do my homework."

Naruto sighed loudly and Sasuke fell silent again, focusing on his work once more. Naruto smirked: he'd always admired Sasuke for his ability to be able to deal with his – admittedly – annoying whining and still focus on his assignments.

Click, Clack, Clash were the sounds that Sasuke's continuous typing produced. Even if there was nothing outrageously special in typing things, Sasuke made it look like an art. The words flowed out of him seamlessly and he only paused – never more than half a minute – to either look at his pre-written homework or flex his aching fingers.

With ardent fascination, Naruto observed how swiftly Sasuke's long pale fingers hit the letters of the keyboard, never seeming to do anything wrong. Wanting to get a closer look, Naruto rose from the bed in silent steps and carefully made his way over to Sasuke's well-organised desk, which wasn't drowning in files of papers like his was.

Sasuke stiffened momentarily when he noticed Naruto standing behind him. He couldn't help it – it was some sort of nervous impulse. Or so he told himself internally. And yet, at the sound of Naruto's voice – his breath hitched.

"You know that I'm only kidding, don't you? I mean, you're my best friend and – nothing will ever change that," Naruto said hoarsely.

Sasuke halted in his typing movements, looking up at Naruto with poorly disguised surprise. His black eyes were probing deeply into the other's soul, searching for something that only Naruto was capable of giving to him – Naruto stared back in the same way, even though he did not realise this himself.

Taken a bit aback, Naruto walked away again, not realising that he was trembling slightly. He took a loud breath and began to lick his lips, forcing himself to think of something else – like, say, food. Food was good; food always made him happy. Subsequently, Naruto's stomach growled – loud enough to attract Sasuke's attention yet again.

"Hungry? I can get you something from the fridge..."

Naruto shook his head in a decisive way. Cold tuna fish didn't appeal to him.

"How about we go out and grab some at McDonald's?" Naruto suggested, hoping that Sasuke would take him up on the offer.

"That's unhealthy."

"Oh come on. It won't kill you."

"It won't because I don't eat that crap," Sasuke said tersely and crossed his arms in what looked to be indignation. Indeed, the very thought of oily hamburgers and way too salted chips made the bile come rising to his throat. And all the documentaries he'd watched about cooks spitting into food didn't help ease that sensation one bit.

"You could like just tag along. To talk. You spend way too much time in that blasted room."

Again, Naruto found himself looking at the room, this time paying more attention to it. Everything about it was so pristinely tidy – not a book was out of place. In all the years that Naruto had known Sasuke, he'd never seen his friend's room or things look messy before. Everything about Sasuke spelled orderliness. Indeed, he possessed a nearly samurai-like disciplined approach to life.

Sasuke met Naruto's eyes. He knew what Naruto was going to say, and he didn't like it.

"We're graduating this year, Naruto. This isn't the -" Sasuke started, rubbing his forehead rather hurriedly. He was starting to feel cold again; it chilled him right through the bone.

Naruto knew Sasuke well enough to know that he had to interrupt him. Before Sasuke got way too passionate about lecturing him on the importance of being studious. Not that Naruto disagreed with Sasuke, but right now, he just wasn't in the mood. Besides, throwing a quick glance around the room, Naruto knew they had to get out here; it was damned stifling and oppressive in here.

"This is exactly the time to be having fun, Sasuke."

"You're so totally stupid."

"Why? 'Cause I want to live rather than spend all my time locked up in a room studying?" Naruto uttered, his voice rising up quite a bit, so much that he was nearly yelling. "Well, excuse me for wanting to have a bit of fun before university drains the crap out of me."

"Fine," Sasuke answered through gritted teeth. "Let's go."

"Awesome! You're the best, man."

Saying that, Naruto tackled the just rising from his seat Sasuke and his fingers curled themselves – nearly aggressively – around Sasuke's shoulders. At first, the other boy, as if he were shell-shocked by that gesture, didn't react at all, but remained motionless. Naruto swore that he could hear Sasuke's heartbeat hammering against his ribcage, and that – inexplicably – made him feel electrified. If only because Naruto knew that he was the only one to evoke such kinds of reactions out of Sasuke. In that instant, Naruto didn't even question whether this was appropriate. Whether holding Sasuke that intimately was really platonic.

"Naruto..."

Then, his hands carefully wrapped themselves around Naruto's own shoulders, and Sasuke closed his eyes, allowing himself to enjoy that brief moment. Naruto was so warm, so full of warmth and vivacity that even touching him was a scorching feel. Against reason, Sasuke's hands gripped even tighter Naruto's broad shoulders, covered by a warm cotton pullover; his fingernails dug into Naruto's skin and it felt wonderful.

All of a sudden, Naruto let go, gurgling in his throat – he didn't know why – and only briefly patted Sasuke on the shoulder.

"I guess we should be going," he said jovially, a large grin playing on his face.

Sasuke nodded. "All right."

...

In spite of the fact that it was a Monday evening, the streets were – as per usual – bustling with fierce energy.

Cars zoomed by at a frightening , people walked about mindlessly and everywhere you looked, lights – be they green, red or yellow – flashed down on everyone and everything. It was the most vexing experience of sounds and sights that Sasuke had ever been exposed to. Naruto, of course, thought differently – for him it was the very epitome of being alive.

"This isn't so bad, is it?" Naruto asked, rubbing his hands hastily and surveying the scene with wicked delight lighting up his features, most notably his blue eyes. They sparkled; Naruto was that excited.

"It's brilliant," Sasuke answered in a dead-panned voice, and turned his eyes away from the scene, feeling he'd die of a heart attack instead.

"You don't have to sound that enthusiastic, you know?"

Sasuke sighed, and pulled Naruto into a darker corner. This was better, he thought: the lights were less dazzling here and, even if the urine odour was slightly pungent to his delicate senses, Sasuke preferred it to the smell of heavy perfume and alcohol coming from other people.

"I thought we'd go some place else. It's loud."

Naruto started to shake – more and more with every passing second. He sunk down onto the dirty, filthy and in wrappers covered floor, all the while holding his stomach. Then, as if triggered by some feverish impulse, Naruto burst out laughing; he laughed so hard that even the rats hiding in their holes came out to see what had happened.

"What?" Sasuke spat out, wondering what happened to his idiot of a best friend. He didn't recall anything humorous in his previous actions.

"If you weren't my best friend, I'd thought you'd dragged me here to indulge in public sex."

For a moment, Sasuke was perfectly silent. Then his hands balled to a fist and, gnashing his teeth, he finally yelled out:

"You stupid pervert! I didn't mean it like that !"

"Hey, I was only kidding. But you should have seen your face, Sasuke-dear. Nearly made me believe that you'd been planning something along these lines."

"In your wildest dreams."

"No thanks, man. I'd rather do it with a woman," Naruto said laughingly, poking his tongue at Sasuke and the moving to get out of the depressingly dark alleyway. The smell of rotting apples and cigarette ashes just didn't settle with Naruto.

Naruto never saw Sasuke flinch at that comment; he never saw how the words that had so carelessly rolled past his tongue made Sasuke downcast his eyes, square his shoulders, and bite his lower lip in recurring and cruel motions. If Naruto had seen, he'd have thought twice about what he'd said.

"Right," Sasuke muttered non-committally, though he was still nabbing at his lower lip with his teeth. He stopped when he tasted a copper, bitter taste flowing inside of his mouth; it was blood. He quickly wiped it off before Naruto could see it.

...

McDonald's being a cultural phenomenon that not only prevailed in the USA and Europe, but was also beginning to sink its greedy teeth into the Asian civilizations, was crowded and noisy. The sounds were like an unstoppable wave, soaking all the individuals sitting, crowding the place wet with its overwhelming attacks.

"God, this is perfect. Only ramen is better," Naruto announced proudly before he took a full bite of his hamburger.

Sasuke watched this with disgust. Even if the Age of the Barbarians had long since transpired, Naruto was one of the few specimen that still had not been extinct. He ate like a pig – no, he ate like an entire hoard of pigs.

"You could at least eat with your mouth closed."

"Mmmh?"

"Forget it," Sasuke growled and continued to tap his fingers against the plastic surface of the table. Naruto was incorrigible, but that was just the way things were. And Sasuke liked it.

All of a sudden, a cellphone rang. It was Naruto's and he picked it up immediately, fishing the metallic-grey object out of his jean pocket with exited happiness.

"Ah Sakura! Ah, I'm at McDonald's. Sure you can come if you want. We'll be waiting."

Naruto put the cellphone back into his pocket. "That's fine with you isn't it, Sasuke?"

Sasuke's jaw clenched and he turned his head away for a moment – to the left, looking at a couple of boys munching grotesquely away at chips.

"Sure, it is. You didn't have to ask," he said coolly, so coolly that Naruto looked up.

"It's just that you start getting all bitchy and irritated when Sakura-chan comes bursting in. At least, that's what you've been doing lately."

"That's your imagination."

"You sure? Don't worry, she no longer has a thing for you," Naruto said. "She's dating me now."

"Naruto, you and I've known Sakura since we're kids. Just because you're dating her, it doesn't have to change things between me and her. Or you and me, for that matter."

It was perfectly rational, really. Sasuke was his best friend, and he didn't see why a girlfriend should worsen things between the two of them. So far, it hadn't changed anything.

"That's what I'm thinking exactly," Naruto said, nodding in appreciation. But his hands were clenched, and Sasuke was biting his lips – again.

"Yes, then I don't see why we're wasting any more words on this matter."

"I'm just thinking that maybe-" Naruto started, clenching his hands even tighter.

"No, Naruto. Just no."

"You didn't even hear me out!"

"I knew what you were going to say. I'm not going to go out with Ino, thank you very much."

Naruto buried his head in his hands, feeling better like this – the warmth emanating from his calloused and dry hand was comforting, even soothing to his aggravated nerves, which he'd kept pent up for too long. Sasuke was once again being an idiotic stubborn prat. So, he couldn't give up on him just yet.

"She's not such a bad girl, seriously. And she's got a fine ra-"

The very mention of "racks" was enough to make something wild and inhumane flare up in Sasuke: he seemed to be so mortified by the very suggestion that he rose from his seat. Naruto looked up at Sasuke, and shook his head.

"Gee, Sasuke... what the hell? I wasn't saying anything offensive, was I?"

"Say more and you'll regret it," Sasuke promised darkly, his eyes glinting dangerously and Naruto knew that it was time to change the topic. He'd known Sasuke for way too long, and he knew that an angered Sasuke wasn't a pleasant one.

"Fine, fine. Have it your way, bastard. I don't care if you die as a grimy old grit who's never lost his virginity."

And Naruto was on the verge of giving up. He hated it how upset Sasuke looked whenever Sakura's name was mentioned; he'd thought that finding a girl for Sasuke to hang around with would make him less irritable. Ah, whatever, he thought, throwing another look at his grim friend while slurping out of his coke.

He shouldn't have given a damn, honestly. But Naruto couldn't help it, and at times he felt he never would. He just cared too much about Sasuke.

...

Sakura had always loved going to the city at night. It seemed to her that everything was more magnificent and glorious at night, even the dirtiest and filthiest areas. Indeed, glorified by majestic lights and groovy music bouncing outwards from the discos, the aforementioned shanty places were made more alluring.

She smiled when she saw Naruto and Sasuke sitting in one of the farthest corners of the restaurant. This had to be Sasuke's influence, she reasoned. Only he would have chosen such a place, being the anti-social person he was.

"Hey," Naruto called out, waving his hand when he spotted her, again smiling in a way that made Sakura feel welcomed and cherished; she made her way to him quickly, grinning when she observed the smile on his face. He was practically glowing with mirth and excitement.

Naruto pulled Sakura into a bone-crushing hug and kissed her – briefly and sweetly – on the lips. He pulled back just as quickly as he'd pecked her, leaving a slightly disappointed-looking Sakura behind. Sometimes, just sometimes, she wished that Naruto would kiss her a little more enthusiastically. It wasn't as if they had to be ashamed of anything! After all, they were dating, weren't they?

In spite of that reassurance, Sakura froze momentarily when her eyes met Sasuke's – she could very well sense that something wasn't alright. He was way too silent.

"Sasuke, how are you doing?" Sakura said, immediately taking a seat, so she could talk to him face-to face.

"Fine," was his gruffly-uttered reply, and Sasuke looked away.

"Ah, that's nice."

"Yeah, it is."

They'd have probably taken turns at this monosyllabic conversation, if Naruto hadn't interrupted him. Energetically, he'd risen from his seat and was rummaging his wallet for some coins.

"Say, Sakura-chan, what should I order you?"

"Just an ice-cream – chocolate flavoured."

"Right, I'll get you that. Sasuke, you want anything?"

"No."

"Sasuke, you don't look happy. What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Sasuke said," It's nothing you've got to concern yourself with."

Not buying it, Sakura grabbed hold of Sasuke's hand, twining her own fingers around his in a gentle, soothing manner; he had such cold hands and Sakura felt the need to warm them with her own.

"Hey, don't lie. I'm your friend. You can always confide in me, you know?"

"Shouldn't you be saying these things to Naruto? I don't think-"

Sakura snorted, and let go off Sasuke's hand again – as if she'd been burnt; he was doing this again. Again, he was insinuating things that made her feel as if she'd been the most flirtatious and fickle whore this side of town. Even the way he looked down at her with that upturned nose and through those heavy-lidded eyes made Sakura feel cheap, sick even.

"I'm not offering you free sex or something like that. I'm just saying that you can talk to me – like a friend."

"Whatever," Sasuke retorted, regarding her in such a grim and callous way that Sakura felt like she'd been slapped in the face. Or been pushed down a cliff. It was hard to keep the mortifying agony, which was forming in her chest, from manifesting itself physically – Sakura knew that crying in front of Sasuke would have only made her all the more appalling to him.

"And I'd never hurt Naruto like that. And I'm over you, Sasuke-dear. Have been for a quite a while. But it doesn't mean that I don't get to care for you," Sakura pleaded, though it didn't work: Sasuke remained imperviously impassive and there wasn't a flicker of emotion in his face. "Though sometimes I really don't know why."

Even at this, Sasuke merely rolled his eyes, and looked up at the ceiling, which was white and where yellow, ugly little lamps gave light to the whole of the building.

"Just leave it be then, Sakura."

"Fine," Sakura agreed, snappishly and looked away; hot-cold anger was flooding inside her like a volcano, and it would have only taken a simple click for it to explode, and come spewing forth.

"Good."

"I just don't understand why you hate me, Sasuke. I really don't."

"I don't hate-"

"You do. You didn't even treat me like this when I was drooling over you like a fluff-brained idiot."

"That's just what you think."

Sakura wanted to open her mouth to say more, but the sounds of footsteps approaching stopped her. It was Naruto, carrying a large tray with ice-cream and coke placed on it.

"Sorry for the wait, guys. There was a queue, and I really couldn't get out sooner. Some guy was practically ordering the whole store, so to speak."

Sakura laughed. "Don't apologise, Naruto."

Naruto smiled back and was just about to place the tray on the table, when he noticed that Sasuke was rising from his seat.

"Sasuke, where are you going?"

"Home. I need to get that essay done."

"But- it's not due till Friday. You've still got time."

"I'd rather do it now. Bye."

With that, Sasuke turned away and walked out of the door. He didn't even look back once.

Naruto shook his head, frowning. "Strange. Why is he so pissed off?"

"I don't know. It might have been me," Sakura complied silently.

"You? Why would he be angry at you, Sakura-chan?"

Sakura shrugged her shoulders. "I've been trying to figure that out, Naruto."

"Ah, never mind. He's probably just angry that he's not getting any, though I've been trying to get him to date a few girls."

"You really think that's the problem, Naruto?"

"Yeah, what else would it be?"

Sakura shrugged, and commenced to eat her ice-cream; it tasted delicious and she sighed contently when she felt the chocolate-flavoured ice-cream melt in her mouth.

"You're probably right."

Naruto grinned, and grabbed hold of her hand; he squeezed it firmly.

"Just don't think about it, okay? I don't like seeing you sad."

"I'm not sad. I can't be sad when I'm up with you, Naruto."

Naruto's hand let go of Sakura's abruptly. Sakura was about to ask what had happened when she felt Naruto's lips brush against her own again, still gentle, but with more passion and need this time; his tongue was massaging her, begging for entrance, igniting feels of excitement and thrill to build up inside of her. Sakura shuddered at these sensations– they'd not kissed like this that often before. In fact, she couldn't recall that Naruto had ever been that forward with her up until now.

It was a bit odd, really.

However, she gave Naruto permission and edged closer to him, feeling the end of the table dig rather uncomfortably in her stomach. But she didn't stop.

All of a sudden, loud cheers erupted around them and Naruto broke the kiss, noticing that a couple of kids were leering at them – he didn't like it. The couple of kids weren't actually kids anymore – at least not small ones. Rather it was a gang of about six adolescent boys, all dressed in baggy pants and adorned with heavy, evidently expensive jewellery hanging down their necks. Sakura restrained a giggle; they looked ridiculous to her.

But Naruto wasn't quite as amused.

"What the hell you staring at?" Naruto roared, obvious embarrassment and frustration at having been interrupted intermingling with his anger.

"Go to a love hotel, you freaks."

"You go to one, fuckers."

Naruto sat down again.

"Eh, sorry. I got a bit carried away," Naruto apologised; his ears were red and he was scratching his head.

"No, it's fine. It's fine, Naruto. I'm happy when you do that," Sakura admitted, allowing her small, agile hands to caress Naruto's cheek gingerly, brushing past the fox-like markings that he'd been born with. "I love you, Naruto. I really, really love you."

"I love you too. I just wish Sasuke-idiot weren't such a bastard."

...

The streets were nearly deserted and stark black, save for a few blinking lights here and there, when Naruto approached the grey and dull-looking apartment. It was more than dull perhaps – ugly would have been a better word. Surrounded by crooked, leafless trees and painted in that drab and depressing grey that was peeling off bit by bit, it was the most appalling edifice Naruto had ever seen. And yet, he didn't care. Maybe because appearances just weren't everything.

Besides, Sasuke lived here.

Naruto didn't have to knock, but searched his pockets for the single key hanging from a Son Goku key chain; Itachi had given him the key as a birthday gift a few years ago.

Since you're here so often, you might as well own a key.

Naruto smiled at the memory.

...

With a loud shuffling of jackets and trainers squeaking against the floor Sasuke was informed of Naruto's arrival: Naruto, even after the clock toiled one, was never quiet. But it didn't matter – no one stopped Naruto from being loud. He was the only thing that kept the apartment vibrant, alive even.

"Hey-" Sasuke started when Naruto entered his room, but stopped when he saw the wild and dangerous aura coming from Naruto. This wasn't good. Sasuke put the book, which he'd been reading down, and decided to focus all of his attention on the other boy.

"What happened?"

Naruto kicked off his shoes angrily, and paced around the room before he answered. When he spoke, his voice seemed to crackle with fury.

"You know Sasuke, you don't have to treat Sakura like shit. She was upset over it today."

"And you cheered her up, didn't you?"

"Yeah, I did. But-"

"Then, it's not important anymore."

"Sasuke-"

"I don't want to hear anything about your or Sakura's sex life," Sasuke cut in curtly, and he kept his eyes averted from Naruto's; he found his white-washed – perfectly white-washed – walls to be more comforting. He hadn't realised how comforting they were before.

Naruto stomped one foot on the ground. "Moron! You know as well as I do that we haven't done that yet."

"But you want to."

"So? Is there something wrong about it? She's my girlfriend, you know!"

Naruto didn't get it. He just didn't. When you loved someone – a lot – then it was only natural that you'd like to be physically intimate with them.

"Am I saying something?" Sasuke asked, throwing his hands up in the air in a dramatic fashion that made Naruto inclined to disbelieve him. As long as he'd known Sasuke, he knew that the bastard had a flare for theatrics.

"No. And that's it – you're not saying anything. And still, for some damned fucking reason, you've been impossible for the past nine months!"

"How?" Sasuke asked; he sounded incredulous.

"You get all snarky and sarcastic whenever Sakura's mentioned – I mean since I've started to date her, you've only been an asshole about it!"

"Naruto-"

But there was no stopping Naruto now – Sasuke had been rubbing salt into the wound for too long.

"Is it because you think I don't deserve her? Or are you just jealous – can't you tell me what's going on?"

"No, because you wouldn't get it, Naruto. You just wouldn't."

Naruto sighed. "Well, fine then. Don't talk. But in the future don't make her feel like garbage anymore, Sasuke. Sakura deserves better than that."

"I know. She's more important than I am, isn't that what you're going to say?"

Naruto stopped. He shook his head and, all of a sudden, grabbed Sasuke by the hem of his shirt.

"No, for fuck's sake – no. You're both important to me. I love you and Sakura – so much it hurts. I hate seeing you like this."

Sasuke's left hand grabbed hold of the tanned and calloused hand that was holding his hem; he let his fingers run over it, liking how Naruto – unconsciously – edged closer at the contact.

Once again, Sasuke looked up at Naruto, this time fixing him with a glare that rendered Naruto immobile. He still hadn't let go off Sasuke.

"Naruto, you're an utter, utter moron. The biggest idiot of all," Sasuke finally admitted, still touching Naruto's hand with his own.

The bed creaked; Naruto had used the intermittent silence as a signal to sit down – and this he'd done. It was a large bed, which was fantastic to sleep in due to having a soft mattress and comfy pillows. As much as Sasuke proved to be an irredeemably cold-hearted jerk at times, his bed never disappointed.

"I'll be staying over, if you don't mind."

"Of course."

"It's because Kakashi, that damned pervert, would give me hell otherwise. I really hate-"

"Yeah, yeah. You hate him, Naruto. I get it."

"How so?"

"You've been saying this for the past ten years," Sasuke simply supplied, pulling a cover over him. He was already dressed in pyjamas.

"I'll just never understand why my father had to choose to be gay for Kakashi, of all people."

Sasuke didn't answer, but Naruto hadn't expected one. "I mean, I don't have a problem with them being together...it's just that Kakashi's stupid perverted jokes drive me crazy. He always asks me whether I've finally managed to get myself laid."

Sasuke grinned, which grew into a wide smile – something other people never saw him do and then he was laughing – laughing in such a hearty and carefree way that it was quite unlike him. Naruto could barely speak properly for a few minutes; the last time he'd had heard Sasuke laugh like that had been ages.

"That's not funny!" Naruto insisted.

"I'm sorry, it is."

"You're really just a bastard. I'd wonder what you'd do if Itachi kept asking you things like that all day long."

"Itachi wouldn't do that," came the brief response, but Naruto didn't feel like giving up yet.

"I mean, if he would-"

"Itachi wouldn't."

"Whatever, you and your stupid brother complex. He's not perfect, you know?"

"No, but it doesn't mean that you get to insult him."

"I wasn't insulting him, just – forget it."

"I know..." Sasuke said simply and carefully brushed Naruto's slumped shoulders with his hands, liking how the other boy's warmth seemed to flow into and eventually envelop his body as well. Sasuke decided that he had to be an idiot for thinking such cheesy thoughts, but he couldn't help it. "How about we go to bed? It's way past curfew."

"Sure, why not?"

Naruto didn't change into any spare pyjamas, but merely took off his sweatshirt and got into bed beside Sasuke; it didn't strike him as odd or unnatural: he'd also switched the light off before climbing into bed with Sasuke. Hence, darkness enveloped the room now and the only thing Naruto could sense about Sasuke were the cold feet brushing against his, and the boy's constant breathing. Naruto liked it.

"Sasuke?"

"What?"

"I'm sorry for yelling at you earlier. I'm not angry at you, okay?"

"Okay."

Sasuke wanted to add that it wouldn't have been necessary to apologise. Since, to be fair, Naruto had been right to be angry at him. After all, he had behaved wrongly: he'd been doing that for the past few months.

And in the still darkness, feeling Naruto's body warmth gingerly curl around his own body, slowly warming him, Sasuke's heart constricted and something similar to nausea swept over his body; he shuddered and hugged himself tighter.

He had to apologise.

However, by the time Sasuke found the courage to say what he wanted, it was too late: Naruto's soft snores filled the room already.

"Well fuck it," Sasuke whispered out into the mocking darkness.

...

TBC