Parent Trap

oh. my. god. it's... another chapter! lol. i had a thought while writing this one and the last one. i think because i started this story with the ending already planned out, now that i've gotten to the climax and can see the end drawing nigh, it's a whole lot easier to write it than when i was trying to get to this point. yeah. so. maybe i can finish this one up relatively quickly. and then, to those of you who remember a little ol' story called 'here's to the fox,' i think i finally have a way to end it that won't have people screaming for my blood. maybe. but onward with... other things.

To Jen: i love your review. for many reasons, but also because it points out something that i have, over how many months/years i've been writing this story, apparently forgotten to mention. the story isn't really about naruto and sasuke! ha! i know, it's crazy. the main plot was always itachi and june, but i thought i'd throw them in there to add just a bit more intrigue wherever i could (that isn't to say i'm all that happy with some of their interactions, but eh. i guess you could even say their story line is to relieve that heaviness and intensity of the main plot until the separate plots combine toward the end). sasuke, at least, is a very important plot device in the coming chapters. that being said, i probably wouldn't mind revising this story at a later date, maybe changing a few things, and even fleshing out naruto and sasuke's story a bit more. (just had a thought to write a oneshot prequel at the dance club in college.) but for now, i just want to at least finish the story, since i have such a bad track record about that, lmao. but again, thanks so much for your sincere interest in the story! i hope you continue to read and help me think critically by you thinking critically. ^_^

Warnings: Serious!Naruto, Serious!June, Revealed Affections, Determined!Naruto (and that's basically it)

Technical Warning: this chapter starts a four chapter series of overlapping events. the one after this may backtrack, and the one after that, etc., because the different view points are all in the same place experiencing the same events differently.

that said, enjoy!

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Parent Trap: Chapter 12
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Naruto smiled when he saw Tsunade’s back as he stepped into Konoha Hospital. It was always a wonder that he was home again, in touch once again with the people he loved most in the world. He didn’t regret moving Suna out of high school, with June, meeting Gaara, having Ayame – but nothing really beat home. And even home, he had June and Ayame, but now Iruka and Tsunade and, he couldn’t stress this to himself too much, he was going to have Sasuke, come hell or high water.

“Baa-chan!” he greeted loudly, startling some nurses surrounding Tsunade and causing the woman in question to swirl around, amber eyes wide and full of hellfire.

“You damn brat,” she growled, setting down a chart and walking over to engulf Naruto in a tight hug, squeezing the breath out of him. “What the hell brings you here on a Friday afternoon?”

Naruto gently extricated himself from her embrace and patted her shoulder. “I actually thought I’d see if June needed to go shopping tonight for tomorrow.”

“What’s happening tomorrow?” Tsunade asked, moving her arm around his shoulders and steering him to the elevators.

Naruto smiled mischievously. “We have hot dates.”

Tsunade blinked at him. “You’re going on a date?”

Naruto shook his head. “We are going to a party, and while we are arriving together, I have every confidence that we will soon thereafter be parted for the remainder of the night.”

Tsunade snorted. “Brat, there is nothing funnier on God’s green earth than you trying to sound smart.”

“Hey!” Naruto shouted indignantly. “What the heck to do you mean by ‘trying’?”

Tsunade laughed. “Okay, so you’re going to be parted at the entrance and embark on separate dates. Might I ask with whom you will be spending the evening?”

“That information is classified for the time being, but I’ll let you know how it ends up.” Tsunade squeezed his shoulders. “In other news, I can tell you with whom June will be spending the evening, and it will mostly be through me sacrificing her to him once again, so your support in this will help me tremendously.”

Tsunade’s eyes narrowed, and while some people would have found it terrifying, Naruto knew otherwise. Tsunade was now in the throes of a romantic conspiracy, and whether she realized that this benefited Naruto rather than June, Naruto was content to let her be on the matter.

“Who is it?” Tsunade finally asked.

Naruto smiled in victory. “Uchiha Itachi.”

~*~

Naruto knocked on June’s open door, but she didn’t look up at the sound. He studied her for a moment, his smile from earlier replaced by a frown. She’d come back from Suna two days ago and had been, not avoiding him, but distant, stuck in her head. He watched as she poured over page after page of whatever held her attention, but despite that, she looked good doing it.

It was always a wonder that he’d had her, too. She was gorgeous, as things went, and could have anyone she wanted, really. But for a small time, she’d picked him. And it had saved him, at the time. Now she was into something, and he wasn’t all that sure it was safe, and he felt he owed it to her to make sure she was okay.

But she was being distant.

Naruto shook those thoughts from his mind. June was a big girl and could handle herself. He hoped.

Putting the smile back on, he knocked louder and entered, finally getting her attention.

“Naruto,” she said, a small smile blooming on her face as she pushed the papers in her hands together and put them in a drawer. Naruto almost stopped in his tracks when she smiled it was such a pretty sight, and a very rare one outside of certain circles. He was always happy when he made her smile. She stood and walked around the desk, embracing him in a hug that he heartily returned.

She pulled back, and he was still staring. She raised a fine black brow and asked, “Is there something on my face?”

Naruto blinked and nearly blushed that he’d been so out of it. He quickly covered with, “That doctor’s coat of yours can make a man have wild thoughts,” looking at her from a distance and enjoying the view.

“Uh-uh, lover boy. You had your chance. Rein in your wild thoughts.” Her smile remained good-natured, making him think she was finally moving on from what they’d had, which was wonderful news to him. He hadn’t wanted her to suffer for his lack, but it had apparently happened, according to his latest tongue-lashing from Sakura.

“Done and done,” he agreed. He’d save his wild thoughts for Sasuke.

“Good. What brings you here?”

“I thought that since we were going to a fancy party tomorrow, you might need to get a dress. You up for a shopping trip tonight?”

June pulled a face. “I have dresses.”

“Yes, but these are people that you should impress. You need a killer dress, and who knows how to show off your body better than an old boyfriend?”

June snorted as she made her way back around her desk. “The things this particular old boyfriend would show off of my body would not flatter me, nor would they impress others.”

Naruto laughed heartily. Yeah, he could probably point out the areas of her body that June wasn’t too thrilled about, but for him, it was all good. “Come on. Let’s go shopping. I might even pick up a new tuxedo, just to make you look good.”

June was shutting down her computer. “And just why are you interested in me looking good?”

“Well, actually, if you look good, I’ll look good with you on my arm. It’s all for me, really.”

June was silent for a moment before shutting off the small lamp on her desk and moving to the coat rack to hang up her lab coat. “It just so happens I was on my way out to window shop, and should I come across a nice dress, maybe try it on. If you would like to stalk me and make periodic comments, which I may or may not respond to, you may do so.”

Naruto gave her a flourished bow. “I am at your command, milady.”

“Oh, shut up.” June hit him on the arm on her way by and led him out the door and back down the hall to the elevators. “So, in your infinite wisdom, what kind of dress did you imagine me wearing tomorrow night?”

“Hm, I was picturing a miniskirt and a tube top, to best show off your T and A.”

“Oh, yes, I’m sure that’ll impress Itachi’s guests. I can imagine the dropped jaws and wagging tongues.”

Naruto blinked. “Did you just call him Itachi?”

June tensed next to him as they waited for the elevator car. “Of course not. I think you’re hearing things.”

Naruto smiled slowly, letting it grow until it was a maniacal grin. “You called him Itachi. You are on a first name basis.”

“We are on no such thing.” June’s voice was calm and rational, but her pale skin couldn’t hide the pink flush to her cheeks. Naruto started laughing.

“Maybe not, but you so have a crush on him!”

June whirled on him as the elevator doors opened. “That’s not…! You…! Naruto!” She growled a bit as she turned away, getting on the elevator and trying to regain her calm by breathing. Naruto jauntily followed her onto the car and said nothing as the doors closed.

“How dare you insinuate that the relationship between Uchiha-san and I is anything other than professional?” she hissed after a moment of silence.

“I’m not insinuating anything, Junebug. I’m flat out saying that you have a thing for Mr. Badass President.” He laughed again and waited for the smack to the head he knew was coming.

He was expecting more than that, really, but nothing happened. He turned to look at June and found her frowning thoughtfully, a tiny troubled wrinkle forming between her brows as if what he’d said had somehow been close to the truth.

Naruto’s eyes almost widened in disbelief. He didn’t actually think June liked Itachi, since Itachi seemed like someone who wasn’t all that easily liked outside of his face and fortune, and June was the type not to like people who weren’t easily liked. Then again, June didn’t like a whole lot of people, which probably gave her and Itachi some common ground to bond over or something, but this was way far from ‘bonding,’ if she really did like him.

“June,” he said softly, not really sure if he wanted to break into her thoughts. She turned troubled eyes to him, looking the most vulnerable he’d seen her in a very long time. “Do you like Itachi?”

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “No. No, I….” She paused, her breaths anything but calm. “Maybe so,” she whispered and hugged her arms around her waist. “Oh, God!” she nearly moaned. “What am I going to do, Naruto?”

He brought her close for a hug. “Nothing, June. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to tease you.”

“Like anything you say could scar me emotionally, idiot. I just meant, how am I going to get myself out of this mess? I mean, to think I would like someone as arrogant and uncaring as-”

“Hey, now. I’m sure Itachi’s not as bad as all that. He has to have a face for the media.” Then, hugging her tighter, he said, “But, you know, you can’t help who you like.”

June snorted into his chest. “You would know, wouldn’t you?”

Naruto didn’t know if she was referring to him liking men in general or just his brief relationship with Gaara, but it was funny either way. And then there was Sasuke, who, though he wasn’t the head of a crime syndicate, seemed like he would have more issues than Gaara any day.

“I guess I would. But hey, there’s nothing to be scared about, right? Not unless he likes you back, because it’s at that point that I’d be terrified out of my mind, if I were you. The devil of Japanese business wanting me as his lover?” He shivered melodramatically.

“Shut up, Uzumaki.” June jabbed him in the ribs.

“I’m serious, June! It would be like the demon king capturing the handsome prince and keeping him as his love slave!”

“I think Uchiha-san would outscore you on the handsome scale in that scenario, tiger,” June said as she sniffed in mock disdain. Naruto grinned evilly.

“Ah, so it’s that kind of like! You should have just said so in the first place, Junebug. I’m sure we can get Itachi on board to schedule you a meeting for some desktop dancing with the right bit of makeup and some thigh-high boots.”

June blushed wildly in his arms, trying to pull herself away without luck. “You are such a pervert, Naruto!”

“And yet I don’t hear a denial that you wouldn’t let Itachi rock your world if he offered,” he practically sing-songed.

“Oh!” June was close to being utterly insensible with anger, so Naruto laughed and let her go. She immediately shoved him into the elevator wall, forcibly trying to calm herself down with slow, deep breaths. He noticed the lack of vibration from the car and tried to get a look at the panel behind June. He pushed himself off the elevator wall, rubbing at his right shoulder.

“Ow. Hey, did we ever hit the button for the ground floor?” They both turned to look at the panel of buttons to see none of them lit. The floor indicator still read that they were on June’s floor. Naruto laughed as he reached over and pressed the button for the right floor. “Well, at least we went through all that without the possibility of the doors opening and giving everyone on the ground floor a front row view.”

“Idiot,” June mumbled loud enough for him to hear as she straightened up and pulled her jacket straight. “Now, this does not go beyond you and me. I don’t want Sakura, or Iruka, or anyone else to know about this. It’ll just all blow over, a phase, if you will. Do you understand?”

“Yes, ma’am.” The elevator doors opened, and they stepped out toward the exit, arm in arm. Tsunade saw them and immediately walked away from whatever she was doing to meet them, and Naruto got a very bad feeling. Damn him and his impetuosity.

“Juniper, I must say you aim high,” Tsunade said as they converged. June gave her a confused look. “Naruto tells me you have a date with Uchiha Itachi tomorrow night, and I just want to wish you the best of luck with that man.” She patted June on the shoulder before disappearing down a hallway. June’s forward progress was suddenly non-existent, and Naruto was anchored there by her arm in his.

“Oh, Naruto, my dear,” June said, her head turned back the way Tsunade had disappeared. “Did you tell Tsunade that I had a date with Uchiha-san?”

“Um, maybe?” Naruto said uncertainly, trying to extricate himself from June’s arm. She tightened her grip. "You know, in my defense, I didn't know you liked him before-"

“Did you maybe tell her that with the plan that once we got to the party you’d sacrifice me to Uchiha-san like a lamb to the slaughter once again so you could run off with his younger brother?”

Momentarily ignoring that June had somehow surmised who had snagged his interest, Naruto swallowed audibly. “Now, June, I would like to remind you that… ow, ow, your nails are digging into my arm. June? June!”

~*~

The Uchiha Estates were much more intimidating lit up for a party than during early evening on a normal day, Naruto found as he and June walked up the stairs to the front entry. The front doors were flung open for the arriving guests, and servants were busy taking coats and wraps as the Uchiha family greeted their guests.

“Naruto-kun, how wonderful that you could make it,” Mikoto said as she spotted him, extending her cheek when Naruto bent to kiss it in greeting. She turned her sparkling eyes to June and smiled. “Fujimiya-sensei, I’m so happy you could attend, as well. And you look beautiful tonight.”

Naruto had to agree. Her long black hair was piled high on top of her head and trailing down to the small of her back. The silky dark mass contrasted the simple cut, ivory backless dress and matching slingbacks that she had picked up yesterday evening, the items waiting for her at the store she had dragged him to. He had laughed at her for having pre-planned her attire when she’d been seemingly against the idea of shopping for one earlier. She had smacked him on the head.

“Thank you very much, Uchiha-san,” June politely returned. “I am honored to have been invited.” June curtsied, of all things, before Naruto and she moved out of the way of the other incoming guests, coming up to Itachi, who was also greeting guests.

Naruto hid a smirk as he paid close attention to Itachi, watching for and being rewarded with a slight widening of his eyes as the man took in June’s appearance. Well, he guessed it was June’s appearance that Itachi took in, because if it was his, this was going to be an awkward night.

“Good evening, Itachi,” Naruto said, feeling June’s arm tense on his. “Thank you for inviting us to the party.”

“Of course, Naruto-kun. I’m delighted you could attend.”

Naruto squeezed June’s arm. “Good evening, Uchiha-san,” she said, curtsying again, which Naruto thought might be her way of greeting him politely without having to let go of Naruto’s arm.

“Yes, good evening, Fujimiya-sensei.” Itachi bowed in return, and Naruto felt they should move on for now. He gestured further in, and Itachi nodded his head.

As he passed, Naruto said to Itachi, “Why don’t you come take June off my hands in a bit, ne? She’s a mean drunk, and I intend to have fun tonight.” He could tell that June wanted to step on his foot or something, but he just winked at an impassive Itachi and moved on.

When he’d been here that one night for dinner, Mikoto had taken him into the living room and then the dining room, which ran the length of the first floor on the right. On the left, he was learning right now, spanned a large open hall. What he thought had been a solid wall had been taken down, opening the hall to the front entrance and the grand staircase. French doors led out to a low balcony that had shallow steps leading into the garden, and the expanse of hall was lighted by, incredibly enough, crystal chandeliers. And a string orchestra, of all things, was in a corner providing soft music as the guests milled about.

Over the course of being home, he had come to realize how influential the Uchiha family was in the business world, but this hall brought home the fact that they were overwhelmingly wealthy, as well. Naruto was impressed despite himself.

Naruto spotted Sasuke near the long table topped with alcohol and food at the back, and he was momentarily arrested by the slim figure in what must have been a very expensive and very impeccable tuxedo.

“So, do you still plan to sacrifice me to the demon king in order to woo your lady fair?” He could practically hear the raised eyebrow in her voice.

“I double dog dare you to say that to Sasuke’s face. And don’t even pretend to act like spending the evening with the most eligible bachelor in this room with a rapier wit and a fantastic tux would be a sacrifice on anyone’s part.”

“If I ever hear the word ‘fantastic’ followed by an article of clothing or jewelry from your mouth again, it will be the last thing you ever say to me.”

Naruto grinned as they made their way to the table. “At least I didn’t say ‘fabulous.’”

“There is that,” she agreed, an aggrieved sigh accompanying the words.

“By the way, how did you know about Sasuke?” he asked. It had been bothering him since last night how she’d found out about his soon-to-be-if-he-had-anything-to-say-about-it involvement with the younger Uchiha.

“I took a guess. You’re very careful not to mention him in front of people, but I’ve known you a lot of years, Naruto. I can see the signs of when someone has struck your fancy. And there was the night at the restaurant that you followed after him and left me with his brother.”

“But that doesn’t really explain how you figured Sasuke.” They’d reached the table, and he handed her a flute of champagne and retrieved one for himself.

“Hm.” She sipped at her champagne, holding the rim of the glass to her lip for a moment before looking at him from under her lashes. “Ayame told me that you invited him to stay for dinner the other night. You don’t lightly allow just anyone to interrupt your father-daughter bonding time at the dinner table.”

That was true. He had always been so afraid that her mother would take her away from him that he had taken every minute with her very seriously. He had set aside time every evening, no matter what was going on in his life, to teach her how to cook and share the meal they made together. It had been a sacred time for him. And when June had pretty much ensured that Ayame’s mother would remain out of their lives, it had become a comforting tradition that he let no one below a certain level of intimacy infringe upon.

“So, bearing that in mind, I put two and two together,” she continued. She was quiet a moment, that serious look on her face that often preceded her trips into more emotionally-shaky waters. “Does,” she paused, causing Naruto’s brow to crease in worry. June very rarely was afraid to ask a question. “Does he make you happy?” she finally asked.

Naruto felt like the wind had been punched out of him. He had not been expecting anything like that. He glanced at Sasuke for a moment before turning his attention back to June. Her face was blank, trying not to influence his answer one way or the other by showing any kind of emotion. It only took him a second, really, to know how to answer, but he wasn’t sure he should.

Naruto set his drink down on the table and took a deep breath. He grabbed June’s free hand and squeezed it, looking deeply into her black eyes. “Meeting him again has got to be one of the happiest moments of my life,” he answered quietly, honestly, and it was like time slowed down around them.

June’s face was still blank, but she turned her head to look at Sasuke further down the table. When she turned back to Naruto, her eyes looked moist, but there wasn’t a trace of sadness in the smile she gave him.

“Well,” she began a bit breathy, “I suggest you don’t screw it up this time.”

Naruto was stunned a moment before he replied, “Me?! How have I ever screwed up my relationships?”

“Well, you screwed up with The Bitch by screwing her in the first place, but since we got Ayame out of it, I can let it slide. You screwed up with me by not telling me you were gay, or that you were bi and more into guys than girls, from what Sakura says. And you screwed up with Gaara… well, I’m not sure how, but I bet it’s your fault anyway.”

“That’s…! You…!” Naruto sputtered, not quite sure how to take this. But then he caught the amusement in June’s eyes and tried to calm himself down. “If you must know, I intend to make this one stick.”

June only nodded. “Then go on down there and start sticking.” Naruto began to grin and she blushed as she realized how that might have been taken. “I mean, stop looking like you’re on a date with me and go talk to him.”

“And you?” he asked, seeing Itachi still greeting guests behind her.

She waved her freed hand around. “There’s bound to be someone I know around here. The hospital does have its fair share of backers in the financial world.”

Naruto looked down the table again at Sasuke, who had finally realized he was here. The man nodded after pausing to glance at June before turning toward the table for his drink. Naruto looked back at June. Nodding his head in Sasuke’s direction, he said, “Come meet him. I don’t think you’ve formally done so yet.”

“Oh, no, Naruto, that’s not necessary. Besides, we’ve met already.”

“I think it’s very necessary if the two of you are going to be in my life.”

June’s eyebrow twitched. “I was in your life first.”

“You either walk down there with me to meet him, or I call him out from here to meet you, and you’ll have almost every eye in the room on you as he does.”

A brief look of fear bordering on terror passed through her eyes as she looked around them, almost as if she were looking for someone in particular, before she lowered her lashes. Naruto was concerned by such a look, but before he could ask about what frightened her so much, she agreed to walk down to Sasuke with him. He picked up his glass and started down. Sasuke saw them coming, and Naruto was relieved when the man didn’t find an excuse to leave.

“Sasuke, thank you for inviting us to the party,” he started. “This is Fujimiya June, my very good friend and Itachi’s doctor. I wasn’t sure that you two had properly met.”

“Yes, we met briefly at Inoue’s,” Sasuke said, bowing to June. “Welcome.”

“It’s a pleasure to see you again, Uchiha-san. Thank you.” June curtsied again.

“June, at some point tonight, you may be in the middle of a circle of Uchiha. You can’t call them all Uchiha-san,” Naruto pointed out, his bottom lip extended slightly.

“On the contrary, Naruto, I believe I can and will.”

“Call him Sasuke.”

“I’ll do no such thing. We’ve only just met.”

“Call him Sasuke.”

“Naruto!”

“You may call me Sasuke,” Sasuke interjected, derailing whatever physical resistance June might have perpetrated on Naruto’s body. “It will at least make me feel that I am not my father or brother as the evening, in all its political pomp, progresses.”

Naruto grinned at him as June ducked her head. Sasuke smirked lightly in return.

“Then… Sasuke-san,” June said, bowing her head toward him.

“Are these two men bothering you, Fujimiya-sensei?” a deep voice asked behind them, and Naruto and June turned to find Itachi approaching them. Naruto saw a slight blush appear on June’s cheeks before she ducked her head to hide it.

“Of course not, Uchiha-san. I’m sure your brother could never be a bother.”

“He bothers me all the time,” Itachi said, a smirk gracing his lips. Naruto chuckled silently when he heard Sasuke mutter something along the lines of Itachi also bothering Sasuke, though much more childishly expressed.

“Well, Fujimiya-sensei, I have come at the request of my mother. She’s hoping you wouldn’t mind keeping her company while my father and I talk shop with our guests.”

“Oh,” June said, looking at Naruto before looking back at Itachi. “I’m sure I’d be delighted.” Naruto watched her hesitate a split second as Itachi held out his arm to escort her to where Mikoto stood with Fugaku before letting go of Naruto and stepping next to Itachi. Naruto watched them walk away, slightly jealous that they looked better together than he and June did. It was probably the hair.

“I think my brother likes her,” Sasuke said quietly, stepping up next to Naruto.

“No shit? I’m pretty sure she likes your brother.”

“He’ll never admit it.”

“Like brother, like brother?” Naruto asked, one eyebrow raised as they continued to watch after Itachi and June.

“Don’t start with me, Naruto.”

Naruto looked down into his champagne class and clicked his tongue. “Alright. Whatever you say, Sasuke. Forget I even said it.”

Sasuke grunted and Naruto grinned at the very Sasuke-like reply. He knew Sasuke wouldn’t forget it; he was like a pitbull with perceived slights – he wouldn’t let them out of his teeth, which was exactly what Naruto wanted.

“Fujimiya-sensei looks very beautiful tonight,” Sasuke commented, their eyes still directed in the general direction Itachi and she had headed.

“Yeah, she cleans up rather nice,” Naruto added, content with the small talk for now.

“I’m surprised you’d give her up. You would have been the envy of the party with her on your arm.”

“Oh, I’m sure,” Naruto agreed, smirking behind his glass. He’d have been the envy of every straight man here, that’s for sure, but June would have been the envy of Sasuke, was what Naruto was getting from the Uchiha’s tone of voice. It was rather heartening. “And I gave her up for two very good and beneficial reasons.”

Sasuke cocked an eyebrow and shot Naruto a look from the corner of his eye.

“First and foremost being – and I couldn’t be more serious on the point – that by ‘giving her up’ to someone frees me up to spend the evening with you.”

He just knew Sasuke wanted to frown at that, or smile, because either one meant he knew exactly what Naruto was getting at, but the Uchiha covered any such reaction by taking a strategic sip of his champagne.

“The second reason is that I ‘gave her up’ specifically to Itachi for various and sundry reasons of my own that benefit me in some small ways, but will ultimately, hopefully, benefit her.”

“What benefits to you if she’s with Itachi?” Sasuke asked almost suspiciously.

Naruto smiled, his eyes trained on June’s profile as she was turned toward Mikoto and smiling at something the woman had said. “Her happiness would be my biggest benefit, of course. After everything she’s done for me, and everything I’ve done to her, she really deserves it.”

“I thought she was the one who left you,” Sasuke said, the question he wasn’t asking evident in his tone and the way he was not making eye contact.

Naruto sighed and chuckled a bit. “Yeah, but it was because she thought she was making me unhappy. I wasn’t making the effort to talk to her about… things, and she assumed that the best solution was leaving. It took Sakura and a whole lot of pain killers for that to finally get through to me.”

“So, in other words, you screwed up.” Sasuke smirked over at him.

“That’s the second time tonight that I’ve been accused of sabotaging my own relationships,” Naruto huffed indignantly. “Besides, it was your fault in the first place.”

Sasuke frowned. “How was it my fault?”

“I couldn’t attend to my relationship with her because I was hung up on my one night stand with you,” Naruto dropped nonchalantly, sipping at his champagne while Sasuke mentally sputtered and regrouped internally.

When he finally did, all he managed was, “Excuse me?”

“Yeah, she dumped me because I had a ‘desperado love for you.’”

He’d said it at a normal conversation level, and Sasuke’s eyes widened as he looked around to see if anyone had been close enough to hear. “What the hell does that mean?” he hissed when he’d turned his attention back to Naruto.

“It’s a song that June starts singing when she’s not paying attention. Something about an illicit love, but the guy doesn’t care so, like a desperado, he’s going to break whatever social laws he has to in order to get the girl. I thought it was pretty fitting for the situation.” Naruto shrugged, laughing internally as he could almost see the thundercloud of embarrassed anger that was forming over Sasuke’s brow.

“The stupidity of your analysis aside,” Sasuke finally managed to say, “Could you please not say such things in public?”

“Then where? When, even?”

Sasuke glared at him. “Jesus, Naruto, what do you want from me? I’ve already told you that the time for us is gone. It never even was,” Sasuke nearly hissed at him.

“Now, see, there’s where you and I differ in our opinions, Sasuke. I think there was a time for us, is a time for us, rather, but it wasn’t then. We were young and impetuous. But it set us up for now, and now, I think, is the perfect time. And I don’t know why you’re trying to deny it. Your reaction to me the other day, Sasuke, wasn’t make-believe.”

Sasuke’s lips were thinned out in anger, but his eyes spoke volumes of how confused he was and desperately wanting to yield to Naruto’s calm assurances that they could work. That’s how well he could read Sasuke, why they belonged together.

“You make it sound so easy,” Sasuke finally said, almost too low for Naruto to hear over the chatter and clinking glasses.

“Not at all. But it is simple. I want, you want, we want. Hang the consequences.” Sasuke turned to him fully, and Naruto let the placid smile fall off his face. “I like you, Sasuke. What will it cost you just to say it back?”

Sasuke was quiet a moment. “It might cost me everything,” he finally whispered.

“Only if I don’t like you, which I’ve already said I do, so I think the only one who’s at risk of losing something here is me, whether it be you or my dignity.”

Sasuke looked like he was searching for something to say, anything to say, and Naruto was okay to leave him dangling. They’d settle this tonight one way or the other, so he’d give Sasuke the time to get ready for it. That, and he spotted a group of men headed determinedly toward Sasuke from across the room.

“We’ll continue this later, Sasuke. Okay?”

Sasuke glared and grit his teeth, but Naruto took it for silent acquiesce. Now he just had to get through the rest of this party without dying of boredom, since June was engaged elsewhere and Sasuke would probably stay as far away from any subject that concerned them as he could for the remainder of the evening. But Naruto had the patience of a saint when it was something he really wanted. So he’d be good and leave Sasuke alone for a bit, and then he could, hopefully, finally claim his prize.

TBC


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Desperado Love is a song by Conway Twitty that i've been singing off and on for the past couple of days. and i thought the theme of the song rather than the actual words did fit their situation. on that note, if you read my response at the beginning of this chapter to a reviewer named Jen, i would like to now let you all know that having thought about it, i will change the background story for naruto and sasuke and make subsequent changes after i complete the story. so if you ever re-read it one day, it'll probably be like a whole new story, lol!

thanks for reading! i hope you enjoyed!