Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Hybrid Host Club ❯ Chapter 8
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: theablackthorn 
Anime/Manga: Naruto Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance | Type: Yaoi | Uploaded On: 07.22.2011 | Updated On: 08.17.2012 | Pages: 3 | Words: 7.5K | Visits: 403 | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: Naruto Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance | Type: Yaoi | Uploaded On: 07.22.2011 | Updated On: 08.17.2012 | Pages: 3 | Words: 7.5K | Visits: 403 | Status: Completed
Hybrid Host Club
Part 8: Childhood (48)
Sasuke stood outside his bedroom door for a few moments, staring at the white glossed wood that bore a very plain looking nameplate. It bore his name embossed in black on a simple brass rectangle the same as Itachi's across the hallway. He remembered a time when he'd had to crane his neck to see it the day his Father had tacked it in place, he'd stood watching him screw the nails into place when he’d been five years old. Sasuke sighed softly, lifting his hand to trace his fingertips over the ridges and dips of the embossed lettering, outlining the letters of his name and remembering another time.
He shook his head slowly at the memories that tried to assail him, an almost smile curling his lips at his own melancholy thoughts. It had been many years since he'd been in this room, the last time had been when he'd packed all his university work and the few books he’d wanted to take to his new flat; that was almost three years ago now. Sasuke had no doubt that his Mother was the only one who’d stepped foot in this room since. She was meticulous in her need to make sure every surface was free of dust and exactly the same as he had left it the first and last time. Sasuke knew that his Mother knew that there would be no visits, no new additions to the space - just like she had with Itachi. And yet the room he had grown up in never changed, as if she expected everything to one day pick up where they had left off.
Sasuke had watched her do the same thing with Itachi's room when he had left Sasuke behind for university. He had been four years younger than his brother and desperate to go after him. Itachi had graduated early from high school and moved on to University at the age of sixteen. Sasuke remembered a time when he’d had worshipped the ground Itachi had walked, following him everywhere if his Mother didn’t intervene. He recognised now that his behaviour, like so many other younger siblings, was just part of growing up. But as the years passed and Itachi had remained away something had changed inside him. His attitude towards his brother twisted from isolation into an insidious anger and now, regret. Sasuke rarely saw Itachi now, even though he had been running the company since before Sasuke had joined fresh out of University and sometimes, in the dark of night when thoughts couldn’t be kept at bay or when he was brushed by the familiar sight and smell of a home that was good if only in memory, Sasuke felt alone.
He sighed, hand dropping to the age worn doorknob, leaving the brass plate that was a piece of his childhood behind. They were both fully grown men, there was little reason to keep these rooms as a shrine to times passed and yet he could understand why his Mother did so. She wanted to hold on to a time and place where they'd all been together and, though it was likely more illusion than truth, when they were happy.
That his Father indulged his Mother in her quest for solid memories was unusual. He was not a sentimental man.
Sasuke and Itachi both avoided this house like the plague, never because of their Mother, Sasuke for one missed seeing her as often as he'd like. He limited phone calls to when he knew his Father wouldn't or shouldn't be home and even those dwindled after the first year. He had grown sick and tired of catching Fugaku at home and receiving yet another condescending tirade of how he wasn’t good enough, how he need to do better - be more like Itachi, that he had a responsibility to the Uchiha name. Sasuke snorted in distaste at his Father’s words echoing around his head. Though the siblings rarely showed it they both adored the woman that had raised them, their Mother had been grout that had kept the family whole for so long. Mikoto Uchiha was a fiercely devoted and exceptionally kind woman; the love she had shown them in spite of their Fathers scorn had always been remarkable to Sasuke. And a blessing. It was the other member and owner of the house that kept them away from her.
Fugaku Uchiha was and had always been a formidable business man and Sasuke couldn't remember if the man had ever really been a Father to them. He was the reason they never visited and the reason there Mother clung to the past with such tenacity. Because that was where, at least the three of them, had been happy. It made something ache in Sasuke’s chest, to know that his Mother looked back to often and not forward as she should. Sasuke let the melancholy shrouding him slide away with firm shrug of shoulders pushing away any further memories trying to sneak through the cracks in the wall around his mind.
Sasuke smoothed the brick and mortar surrounding his mind until it was glass, not allowing the thoughts any purchase and allowing him to shove them back into the darkest corner of his mind. He closed his fingers around the brass doorknob, metal chill to the touch, turning it slowly and pushing the door inwards. The door swung in on silent hinges the lack of sound proof of his Mother's meticulous attention to detail; it was something he and Itachi had inherited from her. That she’d even greased the hinges of his door, as she’d done when he was a child so he could leave his room without disturbing their Father at night, made his lips turn up ever so slightly at the corners.
Sasuke stepped onto the thick carpet and slipped off his slippers, indulging a habit that had been with him since childhood as he dug his toes into the thick pile of the navy blue carpet. He wondered absently if Itachi still did that too. His was a corner room and, with the sun setting on this side of the house, the light flooded in through two large bay windows in the outward facing corner. The pale blue wallpaper kept the light bright and warm, though the room darkened against the lone navy blue wall to the right of the door. He sighed audibly as he gazed around eyes trailing over a part of his past. Familiar posters adorned the walls, the scientific table of the elements and various other educational images and one lone band poster hung above the bed.
He walked to the centre of the room, eyes roaming for a few minutes as he stood inhaling the scent of time passing and his Mother's favourite floral perfume. His gaze finally came to rest on the cupboard; it was comprised of three sliding wooden doors and covered most of the back wall. The things he was searching for to give to the Dobe were hidden inside it. He slid the middle door to the left and came face to face with two rows of clothing hanging from the rails. He chuckled softly, as he eyed them critically, he would never fit in them again and he wished that his Mother would donate them to one of the children's charities she sponsored. But her denial had been rather intense when he had dared to suggest it.
His fingers trailed over a pyjama set and the soft cotton red cape that he had worn every day of his seven year old life. The superhero he had pretended to be whilst wearing it had been very popular then. But that wasn't why Sasuke had worn it. He had been an optimistic seven. He had hoped that if he could complete amazing feats of strength then his Father might take the time to talk to him, to ruffle his hair as he'd seen other Fathers do, as Itachi sometimes did, when they picked their kids up from school and asked about their days.
It had been the naive wish of a child that didn't understand the position his Father held. Sasuke had heard Itachi raise his voice to his Father only once and it had been about that little boy he'd been all those years ago. He couldn't remember what Itachi had said, only remembering that it wasn't long after that Itachi had left for University and that he'd heard his own name a lot. Sasuke could guess what they had argued about, but preferred to leave the memory and speculation about it behind. The past was exactly that, past.
Sasuke slammed the box in his mind shut, turning from the brightly coloured material that evoked far too many memories. He knelt down then leant into the cupboard to reach to pull the neatly stacked boxes nestled on the floor at the very back of the cupboard out. He didn’t realise he was gnawing on his lower lip as he fought back the memories that seemed to be lurking in the corners of his mind. Instead he focused on the task at hand, checking the sides of the sturdy cardboard boxes that he dragged into the light for the dates he had scrawled on them when he'd hidden them inside. He was about to drag the boxes out of the cupboard, hoping he'd picked out the correct ones according to the dates, when he heard a light tap on the door and pivoted on the ball of his foot to see his blond fox standing in the now open doorway.
Naruto stood quietly in place hand raised where he’d knocked on the door. When there was no initial reply he pushed it open, it didn't squeak as the doors in apartment above the club did, swinging silently inwards on apparently well oiled hinges. He caught and held Sasuke's dark eyes where he knelt on the floor, hands cradling a box at his feet that he’d obviously pulled from the cupboard that, Naruto noted, encompassed more than half the wall.
Naruto took a slow, steadying breath, the look of surprise on Sasuke's face catching him completely off guard. He’d never seen the Uchiha look like that, he looked caught, and it stirred something almost protective inside him. He frowned at the feeling, but as the scents swirling through the room filtered through his nose he caught hints of confusion from Sasuke too. He couldn't really say why, but that scent, an odd tumultuous mix of something sharp and acrid mixed with a far softer and fainter scent that was almost familiar, didn’t agree with him at all. The fact that it was emanating from Sasuke, drowning out the pungent chemical smell of polish and carpet cleaner, made his stomach twist into knots.
Frozen in place by the odd play of scents and feelings Naruto didn't press forward into Sasuke room. He blinked slowly, eyes still looked with Sasuke’s as Sasuke's Mother's voice echoed in his head, “Sasuke has always been a very private person, tread carefully with him.” Naruto leant forward, feet firmly planted outside the room as he bent at the waist eyeing Sasuke with concern. "Teme?" Naruto questioned.
He waited for a moment as he watched Sasuke's face shift from open surprise to determined focus in a flash, dark brows furrowing in a familiar scowl that almost brought a smile to his lips. It was one of Sasuke's most common expressions and it settled something inside Naruto, easing the tightness in his stomach.
"Dobe, what are you doing up here? I left you with Okaa-san."
Naruto snorted softly, at Sasuke's words before responding, "Your Mom sent me to tell you that the ramen was almost done."
Naruto watched an unnamed emotion flicker across Sasuke's face, but he couldn't decipher what the elusive emotion had been, but it caused Sasuke’s frown to deepen, lips turning down at the edges. Naruto had tasked himself with deciphering the Uchiha and it irritated him that he couldn't understand or place certain things about him, like that flicker of feeling he'd just witnessed.
He was determined that he would at some point understand everything about Sasuke – then perhaps he would be able to understand the feelings the other man stirred to life inside him. The heat curled into intricate knots inside Naruto belly, Sasuke’s emotional state effecting his own far more than he liked. It was both frustrating and enticing all at the same time and that just made it more confusing.
Naruto's gaze focused back Sasuke when he cleared his throat, pivoting around on the balls of his feet to face the cupboard once more, murmuring quietly, "I'll be down in a minute."
Naruto's frown deepened, ears going back to lay alongside his head; tail stiffening slightly as he said archly, "You know it's rude not to invite a person in."
Naruto could admit that he was curious, he'd never been inside a human's room and that it was Sasuke's room enticed him all the more. It didn’t matter that Sasuke’s Mother had told him that Sasuke wasn't one for company in his personal bit of real estate. Naruto leant forward as far as he could without actually stepping into the room, feet lifting on to tip toes as his fingers held on to the door frame. He craned his neck as far as he could to try and peek around the white expanse of the door. Naruto just wanted to see where all the sunlight was coming in from, wanted to feel it on his face whilst holding himself away from stepping onto the thick, sumptuous navy blue carpet.
But he couldn’t do it, couldn’t see far enough into Sasuke private domain, and refused to allow the need for sensual stimuli to take him that one step further.
"Hn." the sound floated across the space and it had Naruto's hackles rising, annoyance, irritation, frustration and that quiet, almost absent minded dismissal coming from Sasuke riled the short sharp flame of his temper to tempestuous life. And Naruto did what any self respecting person that was running on the flames of his temper would do, “I'll just invite myself in then, Teme." Naruto's words were clipped, tail lashing back and forth as his anger sizzled along nerve endings.
His slippered foot descended onto the dark carpet and he could feel the depth of the pile as he sank slightly into it and he knew it was of the finest quality. Naruto's own rough, thinning brown carpet was nothing compared to this. Naruto didn't see Sasuke rise, ears pricked up as he stared at the ground at his feet - enthralled. His slippers sank into the carpet as a smile tilted the corners of his lips, tail waving unhindered by his sweatshirt as anger fled.
He looked up from to say something to Sasuke only to see him coming towards him, arms stiff at his sides and anger clear in his face. Naruto’s eyes widened at the conflagration he could scent, it was hot, spicy and dark. Caught by that fiery fragrance and the sight of the Uchiha barrelling towards him meant he didn’t move fast enough. Cool hands closed over his biceps, pulling him in and slamming him back against the wall beside the door, pushing all the air out of his lungs. He gasped in an attempt to gather breathe to yell at the irate man for manhandling him but didn’t get the chance to speak as Sasuke leant in. Naruto could feel his hot breath ghost across his skin, raising the fine hairs and making him shiver and something hot unfurl in his belly. Confused by the heat Naruto could only stand there, breathing quickly as Sasuke spat words at him, "I didn't ask you in, you aren't welcome!"
Naruto blinked, digesting those sharp words and feeling them sink into the pit of his stomach like stones. The happiness from moments earlier was shattered like broken glass quickly replaced by hurt and familiar anger. "It's a fucking room! What, you never had anyone come in here before – friends to keep you company! Or were you that idiot in school who though he was better than everyone else and didn't need any friends!" Naruto snarled, panting harshly at the force of the words that left his lips...
Naruto didn’t know where the vicious words had come from but he couldn't seem to put a lid on his temper, fuelled by anger and rejection in was untameable. He watched Sasuke with narrowed eyes, ears back, tail lashing furiously against the wall, only his toes left resting on the carpet as Sasuke held him up. The Uchiha may only be a few inches taller than him but it was clear that he had a lot of upper body strength because Naruto was no lightweight.
Sasuke wasn't sure where the heat and the anger had welled up from but it wasn't easing, the fox’s words making it rage and burn for release. His voice didn't rise to meet the fox’s pitch; he had learnt at a young age that you didn't need volume to make a point. Sasuke's voice was thick with anger when he responded to the Dobe's verbal assault, "Hn. You know nothing. I was the kid who had money and status, the one who got chased by girls because they wanted my name and the social standing that went with it. The guys weren't much better. Their Father's insisting they make friends with me. I couldn't trust anyone – so don't you dare go saying anything about things you clearly don't understand!"
He tried to take a calming breath, but it didn’t ease the frantic beating of his heart. He caught the faint hints of dried straw and sunshine and couldn’t help but lean closer. His forehead touched the fox's as he breathed in again, the soothing scent of dried straw and sunshine flooding his lungs and nose and easing the pulse of blood inside him. He sighed as his muscles eased, the scent soothing him with every breath, the anger ebbing as quickly as it had risen. His hands unclenched from the Dobe's arm’s, leaving his bright orange t-shirt slightly wrinkled, drawing in to press against his chest. Sasuke could feel the Dobe's heartbeat thudding steadily, he could feel toned muscles under his palm but Naruto hadn’t tried to push him back. Hadn’t tried to defend himself at all - why?
He felt heat stir low inside him, the proximity, intimacy and latent emotion shifting to cause that aftertaste of anger to turn into arousal. Sasuke didn't move though, he stood there waiting, silently for a reaction, any reaction from the fox. He hadn't meant to explode at the Dobe but in truth it had made him feel better. The thoughts and feelings that had bubbled up as he remembered his childhood had needed an outlet and the fox had given him that.
Sasuke could only hope it wouldn't affect the Dobe's apparent ease around him. He looked up at the blond then, only to see something that confused him greatly. The Dobe's face was downcast; ears drooping on either side of his head and Sasuke could feel the weight of his body slumped against the wall as if he needed a brace to keep him standing. He saw the Dobe's lips moving and had to lean in closer to hear the mumbled words falling from them. "You're not the only one who couldn't trust people. At least you had people who wanted to be your friends."
Sasuke frowned as he raised a hand and watched, pain lancing through his heart when the Dobe flinched back from his upraised hand. Sasuke sighed softly and leant his weight against the suddenly tense fox. He made sure his hand moved slowly and could see that the fox's eyes were trained on the encroaching appendage as if it were a gun being brought to his forehead in slow motion. Sasuke hummed softly and the fox's ears twitched even as his eyes remained fixed on his hand and squirmed slightly.
"I am not going to hurt you." With that said Sasuke's palm pressed gently to the Dobe's cheek, he saw the fox's lip rise in a snarl, a sharp, milky white canine exposed to the light. It was odd to see the fox behaving so much like his animal half, but he found that he wasn't afraid or repulsed by the sight – quite the opposite in truth. But Sasuke shoved those feelings down, not wanting the Dobe to catch wind of them, especially since they were so close. Sasuke let his palm rest against the fox's cheek for a few minutes, before he let his thumb stroke along the soft skin just under his jaw. He didn't know if the fox would allow him to continue the contact and was surprised when the Dobe's upper lip lowered and a soft sigh escaped slightly parted lips.
Sasuke found his lips twitching and one corner curling up into a semblance of a smile at the way the Dobe was leaning into the touch, his ears having gone back into a more relaxed position, eyes closed as though savouring his touch. Sasuke couldn't deny that the thought and the feel of the fox’s under his hands felt good. He couldn't resist leaning in and whispering into one furred ear, breath shifting the fine hairs, "Does that feel good, Dobe?"
When the blond hummed quietly in response to his question Sasuke hummed back. It wasn't the reaction Sasuke had been expecting, but it made something heavy lift off his chest, he took another deep breath filled with sun and straw and felt light. He'd believed that the fox would come up hissing and spitting at him like he’d done before, immediately on the defensive. But apparently he was as touch starved as Sasuke was.
Naruto couldn't help leaning into the touch, it felt so good to have warm skin pressed against his own. It was an innocent caress, something shared between friends and something Iruka-sensei had done when he was child. He hadn't realised just how much he had missed it until Sasuke’s palm cupped his cheek. The Uchiha’s palm felt warm and slightly calloused, the thumb stroking him was tickling over a delightfully sensitive spot and he couldn't help but hum in response to Sasuke’s question.
Naruto's anger had ebbed as quickly as it had begun, snuffed out like a candle flame in a swift wind. It had been replaced by dark melancholy as he listened to Sasuke, pain and sadness taking it place. He mourned for the boy Sasuke had been and for the boy he himself once was the weight of it made him feel drained and tired. He shook his head attempting to dislodge the unwanted feelings trying to drown him, his ears twitching back and forth in response to the vigorous movement. He lifted his gaze to Sasuke's, looking into dark eyes narrowed in complete focus on his face, dark brows drawn down and a slightly pinched look at the corners of thin lips.
He felt heat steal into his cheeks as he spoke quietly, almost reverently as though they were in a place suited to silence and whispers. This small bit of intimacy was new and it sent Naruto's mind reeling but it felt good, almost too good. "You may have had different reasons not to trust, Teme. But don't think you were the only one who had problems." Naruto watched as Sasuke took in the fragment of information. His mind flickered through a hundred images of scarred concrete alongside scarred skin, the heavy thud of kicks and punches landing on soft skin. He winced but refused to say anything else on the matter, his childhood was far behind him and he was glad of it.
His chest felt tight and Sasuke was too close to body and soul so he raised a hand and pressed it to Sasuke's chest the barest amount of pressure behind it. For a moment Naruto thought the stubborn Uchiha wouldn’t move, resistance pressing warm muscles under dark cloth against his sweaty palm, but then he reluctantly stepping back a sigh parting pale lips. Naruto straightened, giving himself a slight shake to dislodge on memories that wanted to hang on like burrs. He settled himself back in his own skin, everything back in its place before he eyed Sasuke once more a small smile trying to tweak his lips upwards. "You done with your little snit, Princess?"
Sasuke had backed away from the fox as his hand had demanded, missing the warmth and scent of him almost immediately. He watched the Dobe silently, amused by the full body shake that reminded him of a dog shaking water from its coat. He shook his head at the teasing lilt in the fox's words, "Hn." He turned away from the fox, a frisson of nervousness running up his spine as the Dobe took that as an invitation and slipped a little further into his room. He steeled himself for a barrage of questions as he returned to pulling boxes from the cupboard, peeking inside to assess his finds and choosing the relevant ones. He let the faintest smile curl his lips as he decided that as punishment he'd get the snooping fox to help him carry the boxes down and out to the car after lunch.
Sasuke could feel the Dobe padding around behind him and finally turned from his task to catch the fox's hand hovering over the technical drawing papers scattered across his old drawing table. He nimbly launched himself to his feet and striding across to the fox, hand reaching and circling the blond around the waist with his arms easily swinging him away from the sunlit desk. He could feel the fox struggle futilely in his impromptu embrace and deposited him on the single bed beneath the other window.
Sasuke’s hands came to rest on his hips as he chastised the fox’s he’d deposited on his bed, "Keep your sticky fingers to yourself, Dobe. Now, sit and stay there until I'm done." He eyed the fox for a moment, waiting imposingly beside the bed, watching the Dobe sputter in indignation before he started to fume at the treatment, amused by his flailing.
"I'm not a goddamn animal. You tell mutt's to sit and stay not people!" the blond threw the words at him and Sasuke could clearly hear the irritation in the fox's voice and it tickled something inside him. It just made him want to tease him further, so Sasuke leant in close, clearly startling the Dobe into movement as the fox crawled backwards on his hands until his back hit the wall tail between his outstretched legs.
Sasuke got in close, murmuring in the fox's ear, making the mobile appendage twitch and brush his lips, "Hmmmm… but you're a fox, ne? That's pretty close to a dog is it not?" He couldn't resist nipping the Dobe lightly on the ear, feeling that now familiar heat flow inside him, washing over his senses and leaving behind a sweet tingle that lifted the hairs all over his body. He wanted to reach out and touch the fox again. He pulled back far enough to look at the fox’s face and stopped, eyes transfixed he the deep red stain covering tan cheeks, sky blue eyes wide with shock and Sasuke knew that it might be a little too much, too soon. He shoved his hands in his pockets and stood up straight, withdrawing temporarily.
He'd managed to shock the fox into silence, he thought that a worthy accomplishment even though his hands were itching to touch skin and fur. He turned and moved to stack the boxes he retrieved from the depths of the cupboard by the door, ready to pick up before they left. When he turned back to see that the Dobe hadn't moved from the bed, something tightened in his chest concern the delicate brush of a moth’s wings in his mind. He walked back over frowning down at the fox’s downcast face. He dropped to one knee beside the bed, body leaning across the bed so he could peer up into the fox's face. Sasuke went to reach for the other man and was shocked when the fox flinched away from him, confusion and concern competing for attention in his mind. "Dobe?"
When dark focused blue eyes caught and held his own Sasuke could see he'd said something that had hit a nerve, but before he could say anything in recompense the Dobe spoke, "I'm not some animal, Uchiha."
Sasuke's teeth clicked together considering what he’d been about to say. It was a swift realisation that what he had said in jest was likely a sore spot for the fox, proving his social experience did not extend into the realms of gentle teasing. The fox’s distress was understandable bearing in mind what had been discussed earlier in the day. Sasuke wasn't really sure if the blond would ever tell him about what had made his childhood so painful but he wanted, needed to know and he vowed in his silence that he would get the answers and the trust they obviously required from the fox. But, for now, Sasuke could extrapolate from the numerous articles he'd read on the subject and the particular triggers he witnessed from the Dobe to date. He considered asking Iruka-sensei about it later, not sure of the man would give away such information or not but needing to understand, even the fundamentals so he didn’t keep treading on landmines would be a good start. Forewarned is forearmed after all.
Sasuke let his other knee drop to the carpet, hands flat on the bed and within sight. Because though the Dobe protested his animal nature, it was still a part of him, and right now he was behaving like a cornered fox, hackles up and ready to fight or flee at the smallest provocation. Sasuke had the sense not to say anything about it, even as his behaviour shifted to compensate. He made sure to keep a reasonable distance as he spoke softly, "You are not an animal."
Naruto looked at the kneeling Uchiha and felt the tightness in his chest ease at the sincerity he could see reflected back from dark eyes. He was a little surprised the aloof and terminally stoic Uchiha was apologising to him, in his own roundabout way, to him of all people! Naruto knew the Uchiha clan weren't well known for apologising to or for anyone, let alone a hybrid fox who’d wandered into enemy territory for the sake of curiosity.
Naruto couldn’t help but query the phenomenon out of that same bedevilled curiosity and the smallest twist of an irrepressible need to taunt the Uchiha kneeling before him, "You apologising to me. Teme?" He wondered if he could get Sasuke to do it twice in a row. He eyed the other man with interest as a flicker of irritation clearly passed through ebony eyes and he felt a familiar smile tugging at his lips. He'd try to make the Teme apologise just once more to show him just who was boss around here.
Naruto watched with anticipation as dark eyes shifted away, an air of awkwardness settling over the other man, pale hands gripping the comforter a little more tightly. "Yes – suppose I am."
Naruto couldn’t stop the smile that curled his lips at the awkward and yet still defiant confession. He leant forward and poked Sasuke's stomach with two fingers chuckling softly, nodding in affirmation, "Good!"
Naruto watched with amusement as Sasuke’s brow arched upwards in silent reproof, before his gaze slid down his face to pale lips that were twitching slightly but resisting a smile. The restraint just made Naruto’s smile widen, it was typical of Sasuke to hold in his emotions, normal even and it made Naruto feel more relaxed. He paused then, a frown dipping his brow as he concentrated, his senses picking up something that he needed a moment to process. His ears turned back towards the door as the faintest sound reached him; they twitched slightly then relaxed when they identified the tone of Sasuke's mother calling them for lunch.
Sasuke watched his little fox froze in place, ears perking up, flickering back and forth listening for something as bright blue eyes narrowed in focus. He couldn't help the small smile he had been trying to hide from tilting the corners of his lips up as he continued to watch the fox. When the fox's bright blue eyes turned on him, pouty lips splitting into a wide grin spouting one word, "Ramen!"
He watched as the Dobe was up and off the bed in a flash, disappearing in a streak of orange, black and cream. He sighed softly, amusement warm in his belly as he stood to follow the excited fox back to the kitchen, crisis averted for now.
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Two Hours Later…
Sasuke took the Dobe back to his flat after the rambunctious lunch with his mother. Even he could admit that it had been nice sitting at the kitchen table, chatter filling the normally quiet room. He could see in his Mother's small smile and warm glance that she was happy, happier than he had seen her in some time. Apparently even he could make good company with the Dobe in tow.
He worried for her sometimes, having to live in a house alone with Fugaku, but she seemed cheerful when he did get to see her. Though it was that quiet contentment he had always sought on her face that he managed to glimpse today that made him realise just how lonely she must have been. He would have to make a point of trying to see her more, whilst avoiding his father. Maybe he could get Itachi to arrange something for them all, get her into the city, he’d be happy for her to stay with him; it wasn’t as if she took up much room. He had two spare rooms in his apartment that he was sure she wouldn’t mind using on a visit; he wasn’t too sure about Itachi’s living arrangements currently. He hadn't really seen his brother in quite some time either.
Sasuke led the fox into his home and watched with interest as the Dobe placed his boxes down and proceeded to wander around and through all the rooms. Sasuke could see his nose twitching and his ears flicking back and forth, hands clenching open and closed at his sides as if he wanted to touch the space. The fox’s senses were apparently working frantically as he absorbed the sights, sounds and scents of this new place. Oddly enough the Dobe had appeared more at ease in his Mother’s home than he did here which was a bit of a puzzle for Sasuke finding the place of his upbringing unsettling at times.
The fox stopped suddenly at his drawing table and looked at Sasuke blond eyebrows raised in silent question. Sasuke had dragged the fox away from the drawing table in his old room so it was understandable that he would be hesitant now. So Sasuke nodded his assent, he had cleared away anything that he hadn't wanted the Dobe discovering before he’d left to pick him up. Sasuke was rewarded with a toothy smile splitting slightly chapped lips, it made the whisker marks carved into the fox’s cheeks curve upwards and Sasuke returned the warm grin with a small nod of acceptance.
He settled himself more comfortably on one of the arms of the three-seater black leather sofa, watching as the Dobe touched various bits of equipment and papers that were littered across the desk. Sasuke cocked his head slightly, as he watched the blond with interest before saying quietly, the sound travelling well in the spartanly decorated room, "So Dobe, tell me what you think of this place."
A puzzled frown met his dark gaze and he arched a brow in enquiry.
"Honestly, Teme?"
Sasuke nodded, curious to see what the Dobe would say about his current residence after the hesitant query.
"It's cold, minimalistic, it has very little variation on tone or shade, and it’s monochromatic though well lit."
Sasuke nodded at each, finding that the fox was picking up on some of the more aesthetic characteristics of the place more than the design.
"It's not you though." Naruto stated, looking back at Sasuke from under a fringe of soft blond spikes. Those sky blue eyes watched him closely and Sasuke knew from the tight pinch of chapped lips that the fox was waiting to see if anything he'd said had displeased him.
He leant forward, bracing elbows on knees, the dark hair framing his face swinging forward and tickling across his cheeks as he settled once more. He watched the fox, waiting patiently for him to continue, no sign of emotion passing onto his face.
It seemed his body language encouraged the blond as words wouldn’t, and he continued his assessment, "At your house, in your room? That was you once – this place isn't you."
Sasuke waited for the Dobe to continue again, genuinely intrigued by his more personal assessment and not offended in the least. He'd not had the time to decorate the place himself and had let one of the company's interior designers have her way with it. That had been a mistake and yet Sasuke hadn't had the place redecorated because he just hadn't been spending all that much time there to care.
"I'm not explaining this right; it just doesn't feel like you. Doesn't smell like you either?"
Sasuke smirked at the light dusting of pink that highlighted the fox's cheeks. Warmth filling his stomach at the sight of that blush and the completely new perspective that the blond man brought to the table. The fox's way of analysing his flat was more in-depth, more sensual than any normal decorator or architect would look at something. For them it was the visual of a space, not the way it smelt or felt around them. That his smell wasn't ingrained in this place didn't really surprise Sasuke, he was never really here.
"And why do you think that is?" Sasuke questioned, waiting for more of that unique perspective.
Naruto turned to look at Sasuke, really look at him. The way the man perched on the sofa arm rather than sitting in one of the seats, the way his legs crossed ankle to thigh and he could see that he still had his slippers on, even though Naruto knew that Sasuke had taken them off to walk barefoot in his old room.
"You don't live here..." The fox stated, frowning at the notion, before continuing stiltedly, "...you reside here. You didn't decorate this place, there are no knick knacks, no photos – there is nothing personal in this place but for this..." Sasuke watched as the fox ran his hand almost reverently along the edge of his old drawing table.
Sasuke knew the drawing table was clearly well used, the surface littered with dings and scratches, even he could catch the faintest scent of ink, pencil lead, wood shavings and rubber infusing the table when he sometimes lay his head down on it, in those moments when he needed a touch of peace. Sasuke got the impression from the careful hands stroking the surface, fingertips running in the grooves made by overuse that his fox loved it too.
His eyes widened the barest amount at the fox's statement, quickly secreting away the reaction behind the mask he had grown so used to wearing it was like a second skin. He nodded silently, considering, before acknowledging the fox's words, "That is a sound assessment."
Instead of watching the Dobe any longer, Sasuke rose from his perched position and went to bring the boxes in to settle around his drawing table. The piece of furniture was expensive and one of Sasuke's only indulgences, that and the equipment used on it. He settled himself next to the boxes in a crouch and lifted the lids on each box before looking up into curious blue eyes.
"These books are for you. I will get the relevant equipment for you to use. You will be visiting this place quite often, at least once a week if not more. I will give you time to have a read through these whilst I come up with a curriculum of sorts and then the work really begins. You will be using this drawing table, as Iruka-sensei said that you don't have the space for one above the club. Understood?" Sasuke's eyes hadn't left bright blue but watched as they blinked slowly, almost dazedly and a picture of a dazed and flushed fox, sprawled beneath him filled his vision for a few moments.
Naruto looked down at Sasuke then confusion widening his eyes, lips parted on a sharp breath. All these things were for him? That couldn't be right, he felt his head shake in denial but stopped as Sasuke’s expression shifted. He frowned at the way Sasuke's pupils dilated disappearing into the darkness of his iris, eyelids growing heavy and then the man was up and stalking across the room and through a door. Naruto guessed it was the kitchen from the interesting food smells and the distinct scent of tea that had assaulted his nose when passing by it in his explorations.
He frowned and looked at the boxes at his feet, then back at the desk beside him, his fingers running back and forth over a deep groove in the otherwise smooth wooden top once again. "Iruka-sensei really found someone to teach me?" Naruto whispered softly, tail waving slightly behind him, Sasuke blown pupils forgotten in favour of the gift he’d just received, though the Uchiha’s reaction was confounding he pushed it away for later examination.
Sasuke ran the tap, filled two tumblers with water from the fridge, the cold liquid condensing on the room temperature glasses. He schooled his features into his familiar indifference before returning to the living room, answering the fox's whispered question as he manoeuvred around the sofa, "Yes, he did."
He offered the fox a glass of water and motioned towards the boxes at their feet. "You better get reading, Dobe."
Naruto eyed the Uchiha critically, taking in the scent of cranberries and a subtle hint of vanilla. He cocked his head to the side and watched a small almost smile tilt Sasuke's lips. He snorted softly and turned to look out the large window that took up one whole wall of the flat. "At least you have a nice view."
The fact that the Dobe didn't like the flat amused Sasuke. But when he responded to the fox's statement he wasn't looking out the window, "Yes."
Part 8: Childhood (48)
Sasuke stood outside his bedroom door for a few moments, staring at the white glossed wood that bore a very plain looking nameplate. It bore his name embossed in black on a simple brass rectangle the same as Itachi's across the hallway. He remembered a time when he'd had to crane his neck to see it the day his Father had tacked it in place, he'd stood watching him screw the nails into place when he’d been five years old. Sasuke sighed softly, lifting his hand to trace his fingertips over the ridges and dips of the embossed lettering, outlining the letters of his name and remembering another time.
He shook his head slowly at the memories that tried to assail him, an almost smile curling his lips at his own melancholy thoughts. It had been many years since he'd been in this room, the last time had been when he'd packed all his university work and the few books he’d wanted to take to his new flat; that was almost three years ago now. Sasuke had no doubt that his Mother was the only one who’d stepped foot in this room since. She was meticulous in her need to make sure every surface was free of dust and exactly the same as he had left it the first and last time. Sasuke knew that his Mother knew that there would be no visits, no new additions to the space - just like she had with Itachi. And yet the room he had grown up in never changed, as if she expected everything to one day pick up where they had left off.
Sasuke had watched her do the same thing with Itachi's room when he had left Sasuke behind for university. He had been four years younger than his brother and desperate to go after him. Itachi had graduated early from high school and moved on to University at the age of sixteen. Sasuke remembered a time when he’d had worshipped the ground Itachi had walked, following him everywhere if his Mother didn’t intervene. He recognised now that his behaviour, like so many other younger siblings, was just part of growing up. But as the years passed and Itachi had remained away something had changed inside him. His attitude towards his brother twisted from isolation into an insidious anger and now, regret. Sasuke rarely saw Itachi now, even though he had been running the company since before Sasuke had joined fresh out of University and sometimes, in the dark of night when thoughts couldn’t be kept at bay or when he was brushed by the familiar sight and smell of a home that was good if only in memory, Sasuke felt alone.
He sighed, hand dropping to the age worn doorknob, leaving the brass plate that was a piece of his childhood behind. They were both fully grown men, there was little reason to keep these rooms as a shrine to times passed and yet he could understand why his Mother did so. She wanted to hold on to a time and place where they'd all been together and, though it was likely more illusion than truth, when they were happy.
That his Father indulged his Mother in her quest for solid memories was unusual. He was not a sentimental man.
Sasuke and Itachi both avoided this house like the plague, never because of their Mother, Sasuke for one missed seeing her as often as he'd like. He limited phone calls to when he knew his Father wouldn't or shouldn't be home and even those dwindled after the first year. He had grown sick and tired of catching Fugaku at home and receiving yet another condescending tirade of how he wasn’t good enough, how he need to do better - be more like Itachi, that he had a responsibility to the Uchiha name. Sasuke snorted in distaste at his Father’s words echoing around his head. Though the siblings rarely showed it they both adored the woman that had raised them, their Mother had been grout that had kept the family whole for so long. Mikoto Uchiha was a fiercely devoted and exceptionally kind woman; the love she had shown them in spite of their Fathers scorn had always been remarkable to Sasuke. And a blessing. It was the other member and owner of the house that kept them away from her.
Fugaku Uchiha was and had always been a formidable business man and Sasuke couldn't remember if the man had ever really been a Father to them. He was the reason they never visited and the reason there Mother clung to the past with such tenacity. Because that was where, at least the three of them, had been happy. It made something ache in Sasuke’s chest, to know that his Mother looked back to often and not forward as she should. Sasuke let the melancholy shrouding him slide away with firm shrug of shoulders pushing away any further memories trying to sneak through the cracks in the wall around his mind.
Sasuke smoothed the brick and mortar surrounding his mind until it was glass, not allowing the thoughts any purchase and allowing him to shove them back into the darkest corner of his mind. He closed his fingers around the brass doorknob, metal chill to the touch, turning it slowly and pushing the door inwards. The door swung in on silent hinges the lack of sound proof of his Mother's meticulous attention to detail; it was something he and Itachi had inherited from her. That she’d even greased the hinges of his door, as she’d done when he was a child so he could leave his room without disturbing their Father at night, made his lips turn up ever so slightly at the corners.
Sasuke stepped onto the thick carpet and slipped off his slippers, indulging a habit that had been with him since childhood as he dug his toes into the thick pile of the navy blue carpet. He wondered absently if Itachi still did that too. His was a corner room and, with the sun setting on this side of the house, the light flooded in through two large bay windows in the outward facing corner. The pale blue wallpaper kept the light bright and warm, though the room darkened against the lone navy blue wall to the right of the door. He sighed audibly as he gazed around eyes trailing over a part of his past. Familiar posters adorned the walls, the scientific table of the elements and various other educational images and one lone band poster hung above the bed.
He walked to the centre of the room, eyes roaming for a few minutes as he stood inhaling the scent of time passing and his Mother's favourite floral perfume. His gaze finally came to rest on the cupboard; it was comprised of three sliding wooden doors and covered most of the back wall. The things he was searching for to give to the Dobe were hidden inside it. He slid the middle door to the left and came face to face with two rows of clothing hanging from the rails. He chuckled softly, as he eyed them critically, he would never fit in them again and he wished that his Mother would donate them to one of the children's charities she sponsored. But her denial had been rather intense when he had dared to suggest it.
His fingers trailed over a pyjama set and the soft cotton red cape that he had worn every day of his seven year old life. The superhero he had pretended to be whilst wearing it had been very popular then. But that wasn't why Sasuke had worn it. He had been an optimistic seven. He had hoped that if he could complete amazing feats of strength then his Father might take the time to talk to him, to ruffle his hair as he'd seen other Fathers do, as Itachi sometimes did, when they picked their kids up from school and asked about their days.
It had been the naive wish of a child that didn't understand the position his Father held. Sasuke had heard Itachi raise his voice to his Father only once and it had been about that little boy he'd been all those years ago. He couldn't remember what Itachi had said, only remembering that it wasn't long after that Itachi had left for University and that he'd heard his own name a lot. Sasuke could guess what they had argued about, but preferred to leave the memory and speculation about it behind. The past was exactly that, past.
Sasuke slammed the box in his mind shut, turning from the brightly coloured material that evoked far too many memories. He knelt down then leant into the cupboard to reach to pull the neatly stacked boxes nestled on the floor at the very back of the cupboard out. He didn’t realise he was gnawing on his lower lip as he fought back the memories that seemed to be lurking in the corners of his mind. Instead he focused on the task at hand, checking the sides of the sturdy cardboard boxes that he dragged into the light for the dates he had scrawled on them when he'd hidden them inside. He was about to drag the boxes out of the cupboard, hoping he'd picked out the correct ones according to the dates, when he heard a light tap on the door and pivoted on the ball of his foot to see his blond fox standing in the now open doorway.
Naruto stood quietly in place hand raised where he’d knocked on the door. When there was no initial reply he pushed it open, it didn't squeak as the doors in apartment above the club did, swinging silently inwards on apparently well oiled hinges. He caught and held Sasuke's dark eyes where he knelt on the floor, hands cradling a box at his feet that he’d obviously pulled from the cupboard that, Naruto noted, encompassed more than half the wall.
Naruto took a slow, steadying breath, the look of surprise on Sasuke's face catching him completely off guard. He’d never seen the Uchiha look like that, he looked caught, and it stirred something almost protective inside him. He frowned at the feeling, but as the scents swirling through the room filtered through his nose he caught hints of confusion from Sasuke too. He couldn't really say why, but that scent, an odd tumultuous mix of something sharp and acrid mixed with a far softer and fainter scent that was almost familiar, didn’t agree with him at all. The fact that it was emanating from Sasuke, drowning out the pungent chemical smell of polish and carpet cleaner, made his stomach twist into knots.
Frozen in place by the odd play of scents and feelings Naruto didn't press forward into Sasuke room. He blinked slowly, eyes still looked with Sasuke’s as Sasuke's Mother's voice echoed in his head, “Sasuke has always been a very private person, tread carefully with him.” Naruto leant forward, feet firmly planted outside the room as he bent at the waist eyeing Sasuke with concern. "Teme?" Naruto questioned.
He waited for a moment as he watched Sasuke's face shift from open surprise to determined focus in a flash, dark brows furrowing in a familiar scowl that almost brought a smile to his lips. It was one of Sasuke's most common expressions and it settled something inside Naruto, easing the tightness in his stomach.
"Dobe, what are you doing up here? I left you with Okaa-san."
Naruto snorted softly, at Sasuke's words before responding, "Your Mom sent me to tell you that the ramen was almost done."
Naruto watched an unnamed emotion flicker across Sasuke's face, but he couldn't decipher what the elusive emotion had been, but it caused Sasuke’s frown to deepen, lips turning down at the edges. Naruto had tasked himself with deciphering the Uchiha and it irritated him that he couldn't understand or place certain things about him, like that flicker of feeling he'd just witnessed.
He was determined that he would at some point understand everything about Sasuke – then perhaps he would be able to understand the feelings the other man stirred to life inside him. The heat curled into intricate knots inside Naruto belly, Sasuke’s emotional state effecting his own far more than he liked. It was both frustrating and enticing all at the same time and that just made it more confusing.
Naruto's gaze focused back Sasuke when he cleared his throat, pivoting around on the balls of his feet to face the cupboard once more, murmuring quietly, "I'll be down in a minute."
Naruto's frown deepened, ears going back to lay alongside his head; tail stiffening slightly as he said archly, "You know it's rude not to invite a person in."
Naruto could admit that he was curious, he'd never been inside a human's room and that it was Sasuke's room enticed him all the more. It didn’t matter that Sasuke’s Mother had told him that Sasuke wasn't one for company in his personal bit of real estate. Naruto leant forward as far as he could without actually stepping into the room, feet lifting on to tip toes as his fingers held on to the door frame. He craned his neck as far as he could to try and peek around the white expanse of the door. Naruto just wanted to see where all the sunlight was coming in from, wanted to feel it on his face whilst holding himself away from stepping onto the thick, sumptuous navy blue carpet.
But he couldn’t do it, couldn’t see far enough into Sasuke private domain, and refused to allow the need for sensual stimuli to take him that one step further.
"Hn." the sound floated across the space and it had Naruto's hackles rising, annoyance, irritation, frustration and that quiet, almost absent minded dismissal coming from Sasuke riled the short sharp flame of his temper to tempestuous life. And Naruto did what any self respecting person that was running on the flames of his temper would do, “I'll just invite myself in then, Teme." Naruto's words were clipped, tail lashing back and forth as his anger sizzled along nerve endings.
His slippered foot descended onto the dark carpet and he could feel the depth of the pile as he sank slightly into it and he knew it was of the finest quality. Naruto's own rough, thinning brown carpet was nothing compared to this. Naruto didn't see Sasuke rise, ears pricked up as he stared at the ground at his feet - enthralled. His slippers sank into the carpet as a smile tilted the corners of his lips, tail waving unhindered by his sweatshirt as anger fled.
He looked up from to say something to Sasuke only to see him coming towards him, arms stiff at his sides and anger clear in his face. Naruto’s eyes widened at the conflagration he could scent, it was hot, spicy and dark. Caught by that fiery fragrance and the sight of the Uchiha barrelling towards him meant he didn’t move fast enough. Cool hands closed over his biceps, pulling him in and slamming him back against the wall beside the door, pushing all the air out of his lungs. He gasped in an attempt to gather breathe to yell at the irate man for manhandling him but didn’t get the chance to speak as Sasuke leant in. Naruto could feel his hot breath ghost across his skin, raising the fine hairs and making him shiver and something hot unfurl in his belly. Confused by the heat Naruto could only stand there, breathing quickly as Sasuke spat words at him, "I didn't ask you in, you aren't welcome!"
Naruto blinked, digesting those sharp words and feeling them sink into the pit of his stomach like stones. The happiness from moments earlier was shattered like broken glass quickly replaced by hurt and familiar anger. "It's a fucking room! What, you never had anyone come in here before – friends to keep you company! Or were you that idiot in school who though he was better than everyone else and didn't need any friends!" Naruto snarled, panting harshly at the force of the words that left his lips...
Naruto didn’t know where the vicious words had come from but he couldn't seem to put a lid on his temper, fuelled by anger and rejection in was untameable. He watched Sasuke with narrowed eyes, ears back, tail lashing furiously against the wall, only his toes left resting on the carpet as Sasuke held him up. The Uchiha may only be a few inches taller than him but it was clear that he had a lot of upper body strength because Naruto was no lightweight.
Sasuke wasn't sure where the heat and the anger had welled up from but it wasn't easing, the fox’s words making it rage and burn for release. His voice didn't rise to meet the fox’s pitch; he had learnt at a young age that you didn't need volume to make a point. Sasuke's voice was thick with anger when he responded to the Dobe's verbal assault, "Hn. You know nothing. I was the kid who had money and status, the one who got chased by girls because they wanted my name and the social standing that went with it. The guys weren't much better. Their Father's insisting they make friends with me. I couldn't trust anyone – so don't you dare go saying anything about things you clearly don't understand!"
He tried to take a calming breath, but it didn’t ease the frantic beating of his heart. He caught the faint hints of dried straw and sunshine and couldn’t help but lean closer. His forehead touched the fox's as he breathed in again, the soothing scent of dried straw and sunshine flooding his lungs and nose and easing the pulse of blood inside him. He sighed as his muscles eased, the scent soothing him with every breath, the anger ebbing as quickly as it had risen. His hands unclenched from the Dobe's arm’s, leaving his bright orange t-shirt slightly wrinkled, drawing in to press against his chest. Sasuke could feel the Dobe's heartbeat thudding steadily, he could feel toned muscles under his palm but Naruto hadn’t tried to push him back. Hadn’t tried to defend himself at all - why?
He felt heat stir low inside him, the proximity, intimacy and latent emotion shifting to cause that aftertaste of anger to turn into arousal. Sasuke didn't move though, he stood there waiting, silently for a reaction, any reaction from the fox. He hadn't meant to explode at the Dobe but in truth it had made him feel better. The thoughts and feelings that had bubbled up as he remembered his childhood had needed an outlet and the fox had given him that.
Sasuke could only hope it wouldn't affect the Dobe's apparent ease around him. He looked up at the blond then, only to see something that confused him greatly. The Dobe's face was downcast; ears drooping on either side of his head and Sasuke could feel the weight of his body slumped against the wall as if he needed a brace to keep him standing. He saw the Dobe's lips moving and had to lean in closer to hear the mumbled words falling from them. "You're not the only one who couldn't trust people. At least you had people who wanted to be your friends."
Sasuke frowned as he raised a hand and watched, pain lancing through his heart when the Dobe flinched back from his upraised hand. Sasuke sighed softly and leant his weight against the suddenly tense fox. He made sure his hand moved slowly and could see that the fox's eyes were trained on the encroaching appendage as if it were a gun being brought to his forehead in slow motion. Sasuke hummed softly and the fox's ears twitched even as his eyes remained fixed on his hand and squirmed slightly.
"I am not going to hurt you." With that said Sasuke's palm pressed gently to the Dobe's cheek, he saw the fox's lip rise in a snarl, a sharp, milky white canine exposed to the light. It was odd to see the fox behaving so much like his animal half, but he found that he wasn't afraid or repulsed by the sight – quite the opposite in truth. But Sasuke shoved those feelings down, not wanting the Dobe to catch wind of them, especially since they were so close. Sasuke let his palm rest against the fox's cheek for a few minutes, before he let his thumb stroke along the soft skin just under his jaw. He didn't know if the fox would allow him to continue the contact and was surprised when the Dobe's upper lip lowered and a soft sigh escaped slightly parted lips.
Sasuke found his lips twitching and one corner curling up into a semblance of a smile at the way the Dobe was leaning into the touch, his ears having gone back into a more relaxed position, eyes closed as though savouring his touch. Sasuke couldn't deny that the thought and the feel of the fox’s under his hands felt good. He couldn't resist leaning in and whispering into one furred ear, breath shifting the fine hairs, "Does that feel good, Dobe?"
When the blond hummed quietly in response to his question Sasuke hummed back. It wasn't the reaction Sasuke had been expecting, but it made something heavy lift off his chest, he took another deep breath filled with sun and straw and felt light. He'd believed that the fox would come up hissing and spitting at him like he’d done before, immediately on the defensive. But apparently he was as touch starved as Sasuke was.
Naruto couldn't help leaning into the touch, it felt so good to have warm skin pressed against his own. It was an innocent caress, something shared between friends and something Iruka-sensei had done when he was child. He hadn't realised just how much he had missed it until Sasuke’s palm cupped his cheek. The Uchiha’s palm felt warm and slightly calloused, the thumb stroking him was tickling over a delightfully sensitive spot and he couldn't help but hum in response to Sasuke’s question.
Naruto's anger had ebbed as quickly as it had begun, snuffed out like a candle flame in a swift wind. It had been replaced by dark melancholy as he listened to Sasuke, pain and sadness taking it place. He mourned for the boy Sasuke had been and for the boy he himself once was the weight of it made him feel drained and tired. He shook his head attempting to dislodge the unwanted feelings trying to drown him, his ears twitching back and forth in response to the vigorous movement. He lifted his gaze to Sasuke's, looking into dark eyes narrowed in complete focus on his face, dark brows drawn down and a slightly pinched look at the corners of thin lips.
He felt heat steal into his cheeks as he spoke quietly, almost reverently as though they were in a place suited to silence and whispers. This small bit of intimacy was new and it sent Naruto's mind reeling but it felt good, almost too good. "You may have had different reasons not to trust, Teme. But don't think you were the only one who had problems." Naruto watched as Sasuke took in the fragment of information. His mind flickered through a hundred images of scarred concrete alongside scarred skin, the heavy thud of kicks and punches landing on soft skin. He winced but refused to say anything else on the matter, his childhood was far behind him and he was glad of it.
His chest felt tight and Sasuke was too close to body and soul so he raised a hand and pressed it to Sasuke's chest the barest amount of pressure behind it. For a moment Naruto thought the stubborn Uchiha wouldn’t move, resistance pressing warm muscles under dark cloth against his sweaty palm, but then he reluctantly stepping back a sigh parting pale lips. Naruto straightened, giving himself a slight shake to dislodge on memories that wanted to hang on like burrs. He settled himself back in his own skin, everything back in its place before he eyed Sasuke once more a small smile trying to tweak his lips upwards. "You done with your little snit, Princess?"
Sasuke had backed away from the fox as his hand had demanded, missing the warmth and scent of him almost immediately. He watched the Dobe silently, amused by the full body shake that reminded him of a dog shaking water from its coat. He shook his head at the teasing lilt in the fox's words, "Hn." He turned away from the fox, a frisson of nervousness running up his spine as the Dobe took that as an invitation and slipped a little further into his room. He steeled himself for a barrage of questions as he returned to pulling boxes from the cupboard, peeking inside to assess his finds and choosing the relevant ones. He let the faintest smile curl his lips as he decided that as punishment he'd get the snooping fox to help him carry the boxes down and out to the car after lunch.
Sasuke could feel the Dobe padding around behind him and finally turned from his task to catch the fox's hand hovering over the technical drawing papers scattered across his old drawing table. He nimbly launched himself to his feet and striding across to the fox, hand reaching and circling the blond around the waist with his arms easily swinging him away from the sunlit desk. He could feel the fox struggle futilely in his impromptu embrace and deposited him on the single bed beneath the other window.
Sasuke’s hands came to rest on his hips as he chastised the fox’s he’d deposited on his bed, "Keep your sticky fingers to yourself, Dobe. Now, sit and stay there until I'm done." He eyed the fox for a moment, waiting imposingly beside the bed, watching the Dobe sputter in indignation before he started to fume at the treatment, amused by his flailing.
"I'm not a goddamn animal. You tell mutt's to sit and stay not people!" the blond threw the words at him and Sasuke could clearly hear the irritation in the fox's voice and it tickled something inside him. It just made him want to tease him further, so Sasuke leant in close, clearly startling the Dobe into movement as the fox crawled backwards on his hands until his back hit the wall tail between his outstretched legs.
Sasuke got in close, murmuring in the fox's ear, making the mobile appendage twitch and brush his lips, "Hmmmm… but you're a fox, ne? That's pretty close to a dog is it not?" He couldn't resist nipping the Dobe lightly on the ear, feeling that now familiar heat flow inside him, washing over his senses and leaving behind a sweet tingle that lifted the hairs all over his body. He wanted to reach out and touch the fox again. He pulled back far enough to look at the fox’s face and stopped, eyes transfixed he the deep red stain covering tan cheeks, sky blue eyes wide with shock and Sasuke knew that it might be a little too much, too soon. He shoved his hands in his pockets and stood up straight, withdrawing temporarily.
He'd managed to shock the fox into silence, he thought that a worthy accomplishment even though his hands were itching to touch skin and fur. He turned and moved to stack the boxes he retrieved from the depths of the cupboard by the door, ready to pick up before they left. When he turned back to see that the Dobe hadn't moved from the bed, something tightened in his chest concern the delicate brush of a moth’s wings in his mind. He walked back over frowning down at the fox’s downcast face. He dropped to one knee beside the bed, body leaning across the bed so he could peer up into the fox's face. Sasuke went to reach for the other man and was shocked when the fox flinched away from him, confusion and concern competing for attention in his mind. "Dobe?"
When dark focused blue eyes caught and held his own Sasuke could see he'd said something that had hit a nerve, but before he could say anything in recompense the Dobe spoke, "I'm not some animal, Uchiha."
Sasuke's teeth clicked together considering what he’d been about to say. It was a swift realisation that what he had said in jest was likely a sore spot for the fox, proving his social experience did not extend into the realms of gentle teasing. The fox’s distress was understandable bearing in mind what had been discussed earlier in the day. Sasuke wasn't really sure if the blond would ever tell him about what had made his childhood so painful but he wanted, needed to know and he vowed in his silence that he would get the answers and the trust they obviously required from the fox. But, for now, Sasuke could extrapolate from the numerous articles he'd read on the subject and the particular triggers he witnessed from the Dobe to date. He considered asking Iruka-sensei about it later, not sure of the man would give away such information or not but needing to understand, even the fundamentals so he didn’t keep treading on landmines would be a good start. Forewarned is forearmed after all.
Sasuke let his other knee drop to the carpet, hands flat on the bed and within sight. Because though the Dobe protested his animal nature, it was still a part of him, and right now he was behaving like a cornered fox, hackles up and ready to fight or flee at the smallest provocation. Sasuke had the sense not to say anything about it, even as his behaviour shifted to compensate. He made sure to keep a reasonable distance as he spoke softly, "You are not an animal."
Naruto looked at the kneeling Uchiha and felt the tightness in his chest ease at the sincerity he could see reflected back from dark eyes. He was a little surprised the aloof and terminally stoic Uchiha was apologising to him, in his own roundabout way, to him of all people! Naruto knew the Uchiha clan weren't well known for apologising to or for anyone, let alone a hybrid fox who’d wandered into enemy territory for the sake of curiosity.
Naruto couldn’t help but query the phenomenon out of that same bedevilled curiosity and the smallest twist of an irrepressible need to taunt the Uchiha kneeling before him, "You apologising to me. Teme?" He wondered if he could get Sasuke to do it twice in a row. He eyed the other man with interest as a flicker of irritation clearly passed through ebony eyes and he felt a familiar smile tugging at his lips. He'd try to make the Teme apologise just once more to show him just who was boss around here.
Naruto watched with anticipation as dark eyes shifted away, an air of awkwardness settling over the other man, pale hands gripping the comforter a little more tightly. "Yes – suppose I am."
Naruto couldn’t stop the smile that curled his lips at the awkward and yet still defiant confession. He leant forward and poked Sasuke's stomach with two fingers chuckling softly, nodding in affirmation, "Good!"
Naruto watched with amusement as Sasuke’s brow arched upwards in silent reproof, before his gaze slid down his face to pale lips that were twitching slightly but resisting a smile. The restraint just made Naruto’s smile widen, it was typical of Sasuke to hold in his emotions, normal even and it made Naruto feel more relaxed. He paused then, a frown dipping his brow as he concentrated, his senses picking up something that he needed a moment to process. His ears turned back towards the door as the faintest sound reached him; they twitched slightly then relaxed when they identified the tone of Sasuke's mother calling them for lunch.
Sasuke watched his little fox froze in place, ears perking up, flickering back and forth listening for something as bright blue eyes narrowed in focus. He couldn't help the small smile he had been trying to hide from tilting the corners of his lips up as he continued to watch the fox. When the fox's bright blue eyes turned on him, pouty lips splitting into a wide grin spouting one word, "Ramen!"
He watched as the Dobe was up and off the bed in a flash, disappearing in a streak of orange, black and cream. He sighed softly, amusement warm in his belly as he stood to follow the excited fox back to the kitchen, crisis averted for now.
88888
Two Hours Later…
Sasuke took the Dobe back to his flat after the rambunctious lunch with his mother. Even he could admit that it had been nice sitting at the kitchen table, chatter filling the normally quiet room. He could see in his Mother's small smile and warm glance that she was happy, happier than he had seen her in some time. Apparently even he could make good company with the Dobe in tow.
He worried for her sometimes, having to live in a house alone with Fugaku, but she seemed cheerful when he did get to see her. Though it was that quiet contentment he had always sought on her face that he managed to glimpse today that made him realise just how lonely she must have been. He would have to make a point of trying to see her more, whilst avoiding his father. Maybe he could get Itachi to arrange something for them all, get her into the city, he’d be happy for her to stay with him; it wasn’t as if she took up much room. He had two spare rooms in his apartment that he was sure she wouldn’t mind using on a visit; he wasn’t too sure about Itachi’s living arrangements currently. He hadn't really seen his brother in quite some time either.
Sasuke led the fox into his home and watched with interest as the Dobe placed his boxes down and proceeded to wander around and through all the rooms. Sasuke could see his nose twitching and his ears flicking back and forth, hands clenching open and closed at his sides as if he wanted to touch the space. The fox’s senses were apparently working frantically as he absorbed the sights, sounds and scents of this new place. Oddly enough the Dobe had appeared more at ease in his Mother’s home than he did here which was a bit of a puzzle for Sasuke finding the place of his upbringing unsettling at times.
The fox stopped suddenly at his drawing table and looked at Sasuke blond eyebrows raised in silent question. Sasuke had dragged the fox away from the drawing table in his old room so it was understandable that he would be hesitant now. So Sasuke nodded his assent, he had cleared away anything that he hadn't wanted the Dobe discovering before he’d left to pick him up. Sasuke was rewarded with a toothy smile splitting slightly chapped lips, it made the whisker marks carved into the fox’s cheeks curve upwards and Sasuke returned the warm grin with a small nod of acceptance.
He settled himself more comfortably on one of the arms of the three-seater black leather sofa, watching as the Dobe touched various bits of equipment and papers that were littered across the desk. Sasuke cocked his head slightly, as he watched the blond with interest before saying quietly, the sound travelling well in the spartanly decorated room, "So Dobe, tell me what you think of this place."
A puzzled frown met his dark gaze and he arched a brow in enquiry.
"Honestly, Teme?"
Sasuke nodded, curious to see what the Dobe would say about his current residence after the hesitant query.
"It's cold, minimalistic, it has very little variation on tone or shade, and it’s monochromatic though well lit."
Sasuke nodded at each, finding that the fox was picking up on some of the more aesthetic characteristics of the place more than the design.
"It's not you though." Naruto stated, looking back at Sasuke from under a fringe of soft blond spikes. Those sky blue eyes watched him closely and Sasuke knew from the tight pinch of chapped lips that the fox was waiting to see if anything he'd said had displeased him.
He leant forward, bracing elbows on knees, the dark hair framing his face swinging forward and tickling across his cheeks as he settled once more. He watched the fox, waiting patiently for him to continue, no sign of emotion passing onto his face.
It seemed his body language encouraged the blond as words wouldn’t, and he continued his assessment, "At your house, in your room? That was you once – this place isn't you."
Sasuke waited for the Dobe to continue again, genuinely intrigued by his more personal assessment and not offended in the least. He'd not had the time to decorate the place himself and had let one of the company's interior designers have her way with it. That had been a mistake and yet Sasuke hadn't had the place redecorated because he just hadn't been spending all that much time there to care.
"I'm not explaining this right; it just doesn't feel like you. Doesn't smell like you either?"
Sasuke smirked at the light dusting of pink that highlighted the fox's cheeks. Warmth filling his stomach at the sight of that blush and the completely new perspective that the blond man brought to the table. The fox's way of analysing his flat was more in-depth, more sensual than any normal decorator or architect would look at something. For them it was the visual of a space, not the way it smelt or felt around them. That his smell wasn't ingrained in this place didn't really surprise Sasuke, he was never really here.
"And why do you think that is?" Sasuke questioned, waiting for more of that unique perspective.
Naruto turned to look at Sasuke, really look at him. The way the man perched on the sofa arm rather than sitting in one of the seats, the way his legs crossed ankle to thigh and he could see that he still had his slippers on, even though Naruto knew that Sasuke had taken them off to walk barefoot in his old room.
"You don't live here..." The fox stated, frowning at the notion, before continuing stiltedly, "...you reside here. You didn't decorate this place, there are no knick knacks, no photos – there is nothing personal in this place but for this..." Sasuke watched as the fox ran his hand almost reverently along the edge of his old drawing table.
Sasuke knew the drawing table was clearly well used, the surface littered with dings and scratches, even he could catch the faintest scent of ink, pencil lead, wood shavings and rubber infusing the table when he sometimes lay his head down on it, in those moments when he needed a touch of peace. Sasuke got the impression from the careful hands stroking the surface, fingertips running in the grooves made by overuse that his fox loved it too.
His eyes widened the barest amount at the fox's statement, quickly secreting away the reaction behind the mask he had grown so used to wearing it was like a second skin. He nodded silently, considering, before acknowledging the fox's words, "That is a sound assessment."
Instead of watching the Dobe any longer, Sasuke rose from his perched position and went to bring the boxes in to settle around his drawing table. The piece of furniture was expensive and one of Sasuke's only indulgences, that and the equipment used on it. He settled himself next to the boxes in a crouch and lifted the lids on each box before looking up into curious blue eyes.
"These books are for you. I will get the relevant equipment for you to use. You will be visiting this place quite often, at least once a week if not more. I will give you time to have a read through these whilst I come up with a curriculum of sorts and then the work really begins. You will be using this drawing table, as Iruka-sensei said that you don't have the space for one above the club. Understood?" Sasuke's eyes hadn't left bright blue but watched as they blinked slowly, almost dazedly and a picture of a dazed and flushed fox, sprawled beneath him filled his vision for a few moments.
Naruto looked down at Sasuke then confusion widening his eyes, lips parted on a sharp breath. All these things were for him? That couldn't be right, he felt his head shake in denial but stopped as Sasuke’s expression shifted. He frowned at the way Sasuke's pupils dilated disappearing into the darkness of his iris, eyelids growing heavy and then the man was up and stalking across the room and through a door. Naruto guessed it was the kitchen from the interesting food smells and the distinct scent of tea that had assaulted his nose when passing by it in his explorations.
He frowned and looked at the boxes at his feet, then back at the desk beside him, his fingers running back and forth over a deep groove in the otherwise smooth wooden top once again. "Iruka-sensei really found someone to teach me?" Naruto whispered softly, tail waving slightly behind him, Sasuke blown pupils forgotten in favour of the gift he’d just received, though the Uchiha’s reaction was confounding he pushed it away for later examination.
Sasuke ran the tap, filled two tumblers with water from the fridge, the cold liquid condensing on the room temperature glasses. He schooled his features into his familiar indifference before returning to the living room, answering the fox's whispered question as he manoeuvred around the sofa, "Yes, he did."
He offered the fox a glass of water and motioned towards the boxes at their feet. "You better get reading, Dobe."
Naruto eyed the Uchiha critically, taking in the scent of cranberries and a subtle hint of vanilla. He cocked his head to the side and watched a small almost smile tilt Sasuke's lips. He snorted softly and turned to look out the large window that took up one whole wall of the flat. "At least you have a nice view."
The fact that the Dobe didn't like the flat amused Sasuke. But when he responded to the fox's statement he wasn't looking out the window, "Yes."