Rating: Pg so far.

Disclaimer: Am not making money. Do not own.

This was inspired by a quote from the manga.
"You're strong. It's because you know the same pain of loneliness that I do. And that pain makes people stronger. By breaking these bonds, I'll obtain even greater strength." - Sasuke. Valley of the End.

It's up to you how to interpret that.

Tracing the L-Word

Part I

'The Prompt'

Naruto had figured out a long time ago keeping a diary was not a manly thing to do. Yet his desire to write his thoughts down on a page was too strong for him to resist.

It started off as just him listing his thoughts of people around him.

Sasuke: A freak. Only freaks taste like water. Thinks of murder as a hobby. Is an avenger. Isn't anywhere near as manly as me.

Times changed, people evolved, and a simple list of people turned into an outlet of endless letters. Naruto was not one for boasting that he had stalkerish habits, so they remained secret.

Sasuke:

You weren't dead at all.

Oops.

Maybe I should check next time.

I wonder if anyone could understand how I felt when I turned to see you standing up, alive.

To see you breathing, alive.

To know that underneath your cold skin there was a beating heart.

You're in the bed next to mine, your breath forming crystals in the cold air. You asshole, how did you manage to kick the blanket off and not wake up?

Well, you can just freeze to death.

…

Then you'd be better than me. Dammit. Stupid irrational jerk, saving my life.

I'll never forgive you.

Sasuke:

You don't really understand anything at all, you jaded freak.

You sit in the middle of a crowded classroom, being lavished attention from all sides, with your head cradled in your hands as if human contact is fatal.

Then again: to you, maybe it is.

But they still look at you. The genius. The one among them that is always better, prettier(because you are pretty), smarter, faster, stronger. They love you for it. They watch you from their hiding places and wish they could be you.

But they hate you too. They listen to their parents scream at them 'Why can't you be as smart as Uchiha!' and their girlfriends wish 'Oh, If only my boyfriend were as handsome as him.' And they hate you for it.

They hate you for existing.

Is that why you sit there like that? Because you know? Or is it your own paranoia taking a staring role in the outcome of your life?

Sasuke:

Another month gone, and I still can't run faster than you.

I'm sorry I searched your bag the other day for steroids. It really is the only explanation. How do you keep going, day in and day out?

But I figured something out.

You have emotions. I know you do. I felt them.

I just think that all your emotions translate into anger because you don't let any others have sway over you.

Anger is self-destructive, Sasuke.

Sasuke:

Presents are hard things to find for someone like you.

Especially considering no one was supposed to know about your birthday, anyway.

There was no need to burn the Anger Management book I got you.

You owe me.

I still can't work up the courage to give you the other present.

I don't know why, It's such a normal present.

I wouldn't be scared of giving it to anyone else.

What is it about you?

Sasuke:

You put it on your mantelpiece.

I didn't mean to cry, but you can deal with it.

It's such a simple picture of Team 7, the only one I could find that had you looking murderously at the camera instead of at one of us.

But you put it on your mantelpiece.

I'm sure you think you're discrete and sneaky.

But I saw you move the other picture.

(The one with your family in it.)

Sasuke:

I took a long hard look at my priorities and realized I am truly a pathetic person who has let their (best?) friend take over their life completely.

But I'm manly, dammit. Girls keep diaries.

Men write to their best friends.

…Is that what we are?

I mean, I still hate your hair and think you can have a frustratingly large ego, but there's so much more to you than that.

You're very afraid.

And so am I.

(of each other?) because we really haven't been close to anyone before.

There's also something in you that I don't see in anyone else. You're different. Not in the popular-kid-i-hate-and-am-actively-stalking way. In a way I can't put my finger on.

I don't want to know.

But dammit, I need to.

à continué

The next sequence will be much longer.

Bizarre concept, I know.

All readers loved, flamers accepted, reviewers praised, and constructive criticizers worshiped on a daily basis.