Nostalgia

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Sasuke slipped out of bed, making no sound as he made his way to the bathroom, not waking the blonde that was currently in deep slumber. It was sticky, the trail of dried semen that ran down his thighs; and it was extremely uncomfortable, already crusting, he cursed softly as he turned on the water, squirting a little body foam on his hand, and he proceeded to cleaning himself, rubbing at his arms, his neck. He leaned against the glass panel, turning his head to the side, he sighed, faintly amused at how the transparent pane frosted at the warmth of his breath.

It was the only proof that he was still alive.

He let his thoughts wander, blankly watching the water run into the drainage.

He just slept with his best friend.

He never thought he would actually stoop so low for physical contact.

He almost winced as he heard the covers rustle, signaling that the other boy, no, MAN, was now awake.

“Sasuke?” It was frightening; the way Naruto’s voice made his heart beat just a little faster.
He remained silent, snapping out of his daze, he continued washing himself.
He tensed as he heard Naruto draw nearer to the open bathroom door.
“Sasuke...” The taller boy almost sounded relieved, and he slipped in, closing the door behind him, he cautiously inched his way toward the Uchiha.

Naruto didn’t dare move too close; like if he did, the ebony-haired boy would just disappear in a puff of smoke.

He didn’t even dare believe last night actually happened.

He was afraid.

He was afraid when he woke up to find the bed empty, afraid when he wasn’t holding onto a particular pale, skinny, raven-haired boy who was just a few months older than him.

He was afraid he was discarded again.

He was pulled back to reality when his ears picked up the slightest of Sasuke’s voice.
“...Naruto.”

He didn’t know what it was that possessed him to take those few steps closer to the Uchiha, to enter the shower stall and press him against the glass, what possessed him to claim those beautiful lips.

He was answered with a little moan, and then those wonderful arms came to circle his neck, pulling him closer still; the shower head was dropped to the floor with a ‘clunk’, unimportant, forgotten.

***

The soft rustling of sand was carried off by the wind; light footsteps that would have gone unnoticed made its presence on the soil of Konoha.
Flame red hair was combed by the gentle breeze, the gourd on his back proudly proclaiming his identity, pale skin kissed by the sun’s rays, jade green eyes that seemed to pierce through everything they fell upon scanned the gates, the brief tilt of his head to acknowledge the existence of the guard on duty almost went unnoticed, and he looked up, almost as if he was challenging the brightness of the sky above his head, before lowering his sharp gaze, silently regarding the people on the streets who now stared in fear.

There was little of anything else but fear in their eyes.

He made his slow progress to the Hokage’s Building.

***

A black cloak flapped in the strong breeze, the red cloud insignia seemed just alive, blood red eyes regarded the people whose faces they were met with coldly. A scarred forehead protector glinted; a fair hand reached up to a perfectly sculpted face to brush away a stray lock of raven black hair, before touching the tall collar of the coat, adjusting it slightly, exposing the scarlet ring on his right ring finger, a mark of power.

His footsteps were soundless. People normally didn’t notice him; he made sure they didn’t.

But he was there, in the very place he had abandoned so readily before, the village he betrayed without turning back. And he wanted to pay a visit to someone he held close to his heart.

Someone he would kill for.

No, somebody he already killed for.

***

Onyx eyes snapped open; Sasuke was panting, beads of sweat gathering on his brow.

He had the worst feeling of foreboding.

Naruto was beside him, a strong tanned arm cradled him at the waist, and he willed himself to calm down, lest he wake the other boy. He watched the blonde’s leveled breathing, somehow instilling a sense of security in his being; he closed his eyes again, letting himself relax his muscles again, leaning into the younger boy’s embrace a little more.

‘So this is how it feels to be loved.’

He stiffened when he realized what he had just thought, shaking his head; he opened his eyes again, blinking a few times.

No, no, no. He couldn’t afford to get used to this.

Naruto stirred, and Sasuke tensed as the grip of his waist tightened.

“What’s wrong?” A tanned face nuzzled his shoulder, causing him to unintentionally stiffen.

Naruto didn’t pull back though.

No, not this time.

He held the pale boy in place, planting soft kisses on the boy’s neck and shoulders; he gently turned Sasuke over so that they were face-to-face.

“I’m not letting you go again, Sasuke.” His fingers ran over the ebony-haired boy’s skin.
“.....Not again. Not in this lifetime.” He pulled the smaller boy into his arms, burying his face in the shorter boy’s shoulder; he inhaled, clearly savoring the Uchiha’s scent.
And because of this action, he didn’t catch the expression on the latter’s face.

***

“The Hokage will see you now, Uchiha-san.”
Sasuke stood, the area between his legs still a bit sore after Naruto’s brutal claim the night before, but he made little of it, making his way into the Hokage’s office bravely, he closed the door behind him.

Immediately he heard the rustle of sand, and he could practically taste the killing intent in the air.

“Ah, Sasuke...You have a visitor.”

Sasuke lifted his gaze, widening slightly as they regarded the boy, no, MAN who stood before him now.

Sabaku no Gaara.

The Sand shinobi had grown; he was almost as tall as the blonde dobe, his eyes still that same shade of cold green, his hair a flaming red, the word ‘ai’ a perfect contrast to pale skin.

Gaara stepped forward, regarding the Leaf shinobi with blatant interest.

“So it is true.”

Sasuke tensed as the red head moved closer, in a full circle around him.

“It’s not genjitsu.”

He slowly raised a hand, as if to touch the Uchiha’s face, but he stopped short of it.

“Uchiha Sasuke came back.”

The Kazekage slowly put his hand down, smiling a little, he turned to the Hokage.

“Uchiha Sasuke came back. I did not believe it when I first heard of it; I had to come see for myself....”

He turned back to the Uchiha, as if he was amazed the other boy was still alive.

“Is Orochimaru of no more?” The look of anger that flashed across the ebony-haired boy’s face was gone as soon as it came.

“Yes, his head was brought in when Sasuke came back.”
The Hokage’s face was stern, void of much emotion as her gaze settled on the Kazekage.
The raven-haired boy let out an almost inaudible growl as he stood in place, obviously not enjoying the direction the conversation was heading at all.
There was silence from the Kazekage, a nod, and then a slight forced smile.
“I see.”

Gaara turned to face Sasuke again, his eyes glinting with amusement.

“You have become stronger, Uchiha.”

Sasuke felt like laughing, a kind of sick, twisted happiness overcame him.

‘Not quite strong enough.’

The red head sighed somewhat wistfully, his eyes never leaving the Uchiha’s face. The Hokage cleared her throat a little, before addressing the Konoha Shinobi before her.
“Sasuke, I think now is a good time to bring the Kazekage around. It’s been a while since he’s been here, and since the Sand is on good terms with us, I’d like you to make sure he’s entertained.”

Sasuke scowled.

***

Naruto ran a hand through his hair, he sighed, eyeing the red head with fake anger, he put his hands on his hips.
“What took you so long to visit?”
Gaara’s expression remained unchanged for a few seconds, but a smirk slowly graced his lips.
“I am Kazekage, Uzumaki Naruto, and I am busy, unlike some of the people here.”
Naruto was comforted for a moment – Gaara hadn’t changed a bit, because everything that left the Kazekage’s mouth the last time they met were blatant insults as well. Of course, that was before he absorbed what exactly it was the Kazekage meant.
“What the hell do you mean? That I’m a free loader?” He glared at the red head, before leaning closer and lowering his voice.
“I’m ANBU, IF YOU DON’T MIND.”
The Kazekage smirked again, now turning to face Sasuke, who had been silent in the corner spacing out, he just stared.
“Uchiha.”
Sasuke jumped a little, feeling extremely awkward at being caught absorbed in his own thoughts, he bowed his head a little, unconsciously, before he realized what he was doing, he immediately sat up straight, his eyes empty as he stared back at the Kazekage in question.
“You are not to space out in my presence.”
The Uchiha’s anger flared a little, but he remained silent, which puzzled the Sand shinobi greatly, for the Uchiha Sasuke he knew before would have argued back and tried to pick a fight.

....Uchiha Sasuke had changed.

But of course.....They were no longer children.

The red head regarded Sasuke from head to toe again, and he had to admit, the boy had grown up pretty well, his perfect features showed little sign of severe fatigue, his body though slight was well toned, slim and seemingly agile. The hair that framed his face and crowned his head showed little change, perhaps maybe it had grown longer over time? Gaara couldn’t really tell.

It was almost as if the ebony-haired boy could feel the Kazekage’s eyes on him, because he visibly tensed, his beautiful obsidian eyes darting to Naruto for a second, before focusing on the Kazekage, almost as if he was eager to make eye contact to declare that he wasn’t afraid.

...And he wasn’t.

And it was at this moment Naruto decided to take Sasuke into his arms, clean off the floor, as if telling Gaara to ‘back off’, with a look that said, ‘Sasuke’s mine’.

“You’re looking at Sasuke as if you want to eat him.”
Gaara looked at the blonde pointedly, easily figuring out the relationship between the two, he smirked, deciding to have a little more fun.
“And what if I do?” Naruto’s muscles tensed visibly, increasing his hold on the Uchiha, completely ignoring the ebony-haired boy’s weak pushes and harsh whispers to let him down.
“Naruto! Put me down!” Gaara let his eyes linger on the slim Konoha shinobi again, this time taking in how pleasant his features looked, actually making an effort to appreciate the pretty features on the Uchiha’s face, how pink and soft his lips looked as they moved, how pretty the blush settling on his cheeks made him, how his dark eyes and lashes fluttered close and open again in every blink.

And he turned away, making his way deeper into the city of Konoha.