In the cold of space you find the heat of suns
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Naruto › Yaoi - Male/Male › Naruto/Sasuke
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
91
Views:
3,734
Reviews:
636
Recommended:
1
Currently Reading:
3
Category:
Naruto › Yaoi - Male/Male › Naruto/Sasuke
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
91
Views:
3,734
Reviews:
636
Recommended:
1
Currently Reading:
3
Disclaimer:
This story has some of Masashi Kishimoto's characters from Naruto in a universe of my own devising. I do not own Naruto. I do not make any money from these writings.
Crew
Apologies if the characters have grown differently in their new environment.
Spacer crews travel the Far Borders and the Fringe of occupied space, trading. Spacing is an ancient and honourable profession carved out by millenniums. Most spacers start out as fourteen-year-old boys seeking a future. Few survive a decade spacing.
28. Crew
Naruto paced; first up to the airlock and then back down the corridor. He had tried to occupy himself once the others had left. With the ship prepared for immediate lift there had not been many available options. He had settled on running the latest simulations Shikamaru had prepared for him. He had forced himself to stay away from the airlock until a time when they could possibly return. Even so, he had had done a lot of pacing.
Finally the intercom buzzed. “You can open up, Naruto,” the Captain told him. “They are crossing the field. No sign of trouble.”
Naruto overrode the safety protocols and opened both doors of the airlock. Mindful of not being recognised, he resisted the urge to stand on the threshold, settling instead for the limited view provided by the camera. He caught glimpses of Haku, posing as the crew’s new cat, and two containers on hover platforms. One would contain Sasuke but the second was unexpected. Naruto thought back to the message. It had mentioned three people: the ex-spacer, his fiancée and her brother. Sasuke must have been trying to warn them about a third person.
Shikamaru was guiding the first hover platform up to the platform and into the airlock. Naruto knew that Shi-chan would send Sasuke in first. Naruto was certain he could smell him. He managed to delay long enough to move the hover platform through the airlock and well into the corridor, so the others would be able to embark. Then he grounded the platform and ripped the lid from the container.
Sasuke’s arms were around his neck before he could let go of the lid. Naruto hugged him close and lifted him clear of the container. He felt Sasuke’s legs wrap about his waist. Naruto wanted to hold him forever. He smelt and felt so good.
“Are you two ever going to let go of each other?” asked Shikamaru.
“No,” answered Sasuke but Naruto felt the grip around his neck loosen. “I need to introduce you to Neji,” he admitted and Naruto replied by lifting him off his hips and standing him on the ground. Naruto could see Haku in the airlock. The other container was being manoeuvred through the outer hatch.
Shikamaru smiled. “You haven’t even noticed how he’s dressed.”
Naruto looked. Sasuke was wearing women’s clothes. It was a good idea for a disguise: purebred humans were so reliant on their sight. “Still smells like Sasuke,” he replied.
He felt a touch on his arm, a gesture of apology for moving away from him, and then Sasuke walked over to where Ibiki was grounding the second platform. Naruto noticed that Haku also moved towards the container. Whoever this Neji was, both Sasuke and Haku cared about him. Sasuke opened the lid and a young man, about Shikamaru’s age, stood up. He was very pale and very slim. He had a very distinct smell, not unpleasant but different. It made Naruto wonder if he were purebred human; the only person he had met with a more distinct scent was the sharkman.
He stepped out of the container and Sasuke led him directly to Naruto.
“Naruto, this is Neji-san, who helped us stay hidden. Neji, this is my Naruto.”
The young man bowed formally, “It is an honour to meet you, Naruto-san.”
Naruto was still recovering from the surprise of Sasuke describing him as ‘my Naruto’. He was, but Sasuke had never felt the need to say it and using it in an introduction had to mean something. He took refuge in formality. “I am also honoured, Neji-san. Thank you for helping Sasuke and Haku-kun.”
“It was a privilege,” Neji replied, “as is being allowed onto the ship. Would it be possible to pay my respects to the captain?”
“Perhaps after lift,” Kakashi answered. He went to the intercom. “All aboard, Captain. Ibiki-san is setting the security.” He turned to Iruka. “Shikamaru can lift in the Control Room. That will give you enough bunks prepared in the crew room.”
Naruto and Sasuke stowed the hover platforms and secured the containers in one of the storage holds. By the time they reached the crew room Haku and Iruka had finished altering Shikamaru’s acceleration bed for Neji. Everyone else had shed and stowed anything that would be uncomfortable under high gee and were strapped or strapping in. Naruto watched as Sasuke stripped off the most of his disguise, stuffed it into one of the lockers, lay down and fastened his straps. He was the last and Iruka announced that the crew room was ready for roll call.
“Crew guest Neji, are you prepared for lift?” Shikamaru’s voice asked over the intercom.
“This is Neji, strapped and ready,” Neji replied, which confirmed to Naruto that the young man had spaced.
“Haku, strapped and ready.”
“This is Sasuke, strapped in and ready.”
“Naruto, strapped in and ready.”
“Shino. Strapped. Ready.”
“Rin, Strapped in. Ready.”
“This is Ibiki, strapped in and ready.”
“Jiraiya, strapped in and ready.”
“This is Iruka. I am strapped in and ready. The crew room is prepared for lift.”
“Shikamaru, strapped in and ready.”
“Kakashi, strapped in and ready for lift.”
“This is the Captain, strapped in and ready. The Control Room is prepared for lift. Lift in ten seconds.”
Naruto monitored the familiar changes in vibration from the ship’s lift engines. Then as the count fell to zero, the force began building and lift had begun.
By the time the unstrap was issued, Sasuke had fallen asleep. Naruto stared down at him, uncertain whether to wake him. Iruka came over to see if there was a problem.
“We’ll work around him for now,” he decided. “Haku isn’t much better. Apparently they have been travelling from before dawn. Add an extra bunk to your sleeping platform. Use a spare and add Sasuke’s in later.”
Naruto was grateful. They were very junior to be given an extra bunk. He turned his acceleration bed bunk side up and slid it into its usual position, then swung one of the spares out of the wall and attached it. Reinstating the crew room happened so often that it was second nature, although he had to think about the parts Sasuke usually did. One the bunk was ready, he went back to Sasuke. Kakashi was standing studying him.
“It was too close,” Kakashi said quietly as they carefully undid the straps holding Sasuke to the bed. “Word will spread from Chanx. We have to return to Tarrasade and rethink.” He looked at Naruto. “I wish I had managed to give you and Sasuke a little more time.”
Naruto understood, first the encounter with Itachi, now this. Hiding was no longer the safest option. “I will adapt, Kakashi-sensei,” he promised. He lifted Sasuke, who stirred slightly but settled in the familiar embrace as Naruto carried him to their bunk.
Shikamaru set up a bunk for Neji because both cats were too exhausted to do so. Neji tried to help but Shikamaru held up a hand. “Not a chance,” he said, “if Iruka-sensei catches me allowing a guest to set up his own bunk I’ll be scrubbing the heads for eternity.”
Neji found himself wanting to smile. Partly it was relief, because this crew was so different. Another part was seeing the crew doing such mundane tasks in the remnants of their disguises. Shikamaru had tied his hair back from his face but he was still wearing the skin-tight leather pants and the purple makeup.
“I’ll show you the heads and the showers,” Shikamaru said as he finished hanging the drapes. “Is there anything I can get you from the closet or the galley? Are you hungry?”
Neji was not particularly hungry and he was weary. On the other hand, the opportunity for a conversation with Shikamaru was not something he wished to miss. “If you are having something to eat, Shikamaru-san, it would be a privilege to join you.”
Shikamaru had scrubbed off the make-up and changed by the time they settled at the galley table, although his fingernails were still purple. Shino appeared in the doorway.
“Sasuke’s out of it and Naruto is watching him,” he told Shikamaru. “I can hear his stomach rumbling from halfway across the room.”
Shikamaru sighed. “Excuse me, Neji-san,” he said. “I will be back soon. Shino, could you heat up some of the soup?”
“Where is Iruka-san?”
“No idea. He said we should get something if we wanted it. Heat the soup, Shino.”
Shikamaru vanished into the crew room and quickly reappeared towing a reluctant Naruto.
“He’s not going to wake up before morning, Naru-kun,” Shikamaru was saying. “You know that. You need to eat. Also, you can get to know Neji-san.”
Naruto stopped resisting and sat at the table. “Some soup and bread would be nice,” he admitted.
“Neji-san can tell us what happened on Chanx,” Shino suggested.
Neji shook his head. “No. Sasuke-san and Haku-kun will wish to tell you themselves,” he said and was rewarded by a stunningly direct look from Shikamaru. It was breathtaking, like expecting to see an ordinary light and encountering a laser.
Naruto was nodding. “Yes, we would not want to spoil it for them. Haku?”
“Asleep.” Shino confirmed.
“It has been stressful for them, particularly Sasuke-san,” Neji admitted.
“You seem to be coping,” Shino observed.
“I am older and I only had to be myself,” Neji replied. “Pretending to be someone you are not is very tiring.”
“That soup ready yet?” Shikamaru asked.
“Soup? There’s soup?” asked Ibiki as he walked through the door.
Before long everyone other than the two cats were sitting around the table eating soup and breaking bread. Neji was too tired to observe properly, so he settled for gathering impressions of the emotional flow between crewmates. There was so much affection and friendship, even love, that it was a little overwhelming. Then the meal appeared to be over. Naruto returned to watching Sasuke. Rin-san took her leave, followed by Ibiki. Neji was about to excuse himself when Kakashi stopped him.
“If we could have a few minutes, Neji-san,” he said, “and a little privacy.”
Shino and Shikamaru stood up, but Iruka and Jiraiya stayed. Neji briefly wished that they had waited until morning. He watched Shino leave. Shikamaru was standing, looking at him.
“I would like Shikamaru-san to stay,” Neji heard himself say, which was true but he did not know why he was thinking it and, even more strangely, saying it.
Kakashi frowned, but gestured for Shikamaru to slide the door closed and sit.
Shikamaru spoke before he had even sat down. “Just take out your contacts, Neji-san,” he advised. “It will make everything so much easier.”
Neji nodded. So that was why he had asked if Shikamaru could stay. He slowly took out the brown contact lenses he had worn every day for almost ten standards. Then he raised his head and looked Kakashi in the eye. “I want to serve him, Kakashi-san.”
Kakashi swore. Then Jiraiya saw and started asking questions that Neji was far too tired to decide if he wished to answer. Iruka was demanding to know what was wrong with both of them. Neji could no longer cope. He had coped for so very long. He was so weary. Jiraiya-san’s interrogation rolled over him. Kakashi was still swearing.
“Iruka-sensei,” Shikamaru’s voice pleaded. “Please. Look at him.”
And it was quiet. Kakashi and Jiraiya were gone. The hated lenses were taken away for safekeeping. A cup of tea was placed before him. Neji had to wait some time before he could drink it; his hand was trembling too much to hold the cup. He was pleased when he managed to finish it without making a spill.
“I am here for you, Neji-kun,” Iruka told him. “Shika-kun, please make sure that Neji-san makes it safely to his bunk.”
Neji managed the walk to his bunk. Shikamaru walked beside him, hands in pockets, watching while appearing not to watch.
Author's note 25/02/2010
I would like to thank those who left reviews or emails. I will be continuing this fic but after we to chapter 30 the updates will be less frequent. If you wish to be informed when there is an update, please email me (see my profile).
Spacer crews travel the Far Borders and the Fringe of occupied space, trading. Spacing is an ancient and honourable profession carved out by millenniums. Most spacers start out as fourteen-year-old boys seeking a future. Few survive a decade spacing.
28. Crew
Naruto paced; first up to the airlock and then back down the corridor. He had tried to occupy himself once the others had left. With the ship prepared for immediate lift there had not been many available options. He had settled on running the latest simulations Shikamaru had prepared for him. He had forced himself to stay away from the airlock until a time when they could possibly return. Even so, he had had done a lot of pacing.
Finally the intercom buzzed. “You can open up, Naruto,” the Captain told him. “They are crossing the field. No sign of trouble.”
Naruto overrode the safety protocols and opened both doors of the airlock. Mindful of not being recognised, he resisted the urge to stand on the threshold, settling instead for the limited view provided by the camera. He caught glimpses of Haku, posing as the crew’s new cat, and two containers on hover platforms. One would contain Sasuke but the second was unexpected. Naruto thought back to the message. It had mentioned three people: the ex-spacer, his fiancée and her brother. Sasuke must have been trying to warn them about a third person.
Shikamaru was guiding the first hover platform up to the platform and into the airlock. Naruto knew that Shi-chan would send Sasuke in first. Naruto was certain he could smell him. He managed to delay long enough to move the hover platform through the airlock and well into the corridor, so the others would be able to embark. Then he grounded the platform and ripped the lid from the container.
Sasuke’s arms were around his neck before he could let go of the lid. Naruto hugged him close and lifted him clear of the container. He felt Sasuke’s legs wrap about his waist. Naruto wanted to hold him forever. He smelt and felt so good.
“Are you two ever going to let go of each other?” asked Shikamaru.
“No,” answered Sasuke but Naruto felt the grip around his neck loosen. “I need to introduce you to Neji,” he admitted and Naruto replied by lifting him off his hips and standing him on the ground. Naruto could see Haku in the airlock. The other container was being manoeuvred through the outer hatch.
Shikamaru smiled. “You haven’t even noticed how he’s dressed.”
Naruto looked. Sasuke was wearing women’s clothes. It was a good idea for a disguise: purebred humans were so reliant on their sight. “Still smells like Sasuke,” he replied.
He felt a touch on his arm, a gesture of apology for moving away from him, and then Sasuke walked over to where Ibiki was grounding the second platform. Naruto noticed that Haku also moved towards the container. Whoever this Neji was, both Sasuke and Haku cared about him. Sasuke opened the lid and a young man, about Shikamaru’s age, stood up. He was very pale and very slim. He had a very distinct smell, not unpleasant but different. It made Naruto wonder if he were purebred human; the only person he had met with a more distinct scent was the sharkman.
He stepped out of the container and Sasuke led him directly to Naruto.
“Naruto, this is Neji-san, who helped us stay hidden. Neji, this is my Naruto.”
The young man bowed formally, “It is an honour to meet you, Naruto-san.”
Naruto was still recovering from the surprise of Sasuke describing him as ‘my Naruto’. He was, but Sasuke had never felt the need to say it and using it in an introduction had to mean something. He took refuge in formality. “I am also honoured, Neji-san. Thank you for helping Sasuke and Haku-kun.”
“It was a privilege,” Neji replied, “as is being allowed onto the ship. Would it be possible to pay my respects to the captain?”
“Perhaps after lift,” Kakashi answered. He went to the intercom. “All aboard, Captain. Ibiki-san is setting the security.” He turned to Iruka. “Shikamaru can lift in the Control Room. That will give you enough bunks prepared in the crew room.”
Naruto and Sasuke stowed the hover platforms and secured the containers in one of the storage holds. By the time they reached the crew room Haku and Iruka had finished altering Shikamaru’s acceleration bed for Neji. Everyone else had shed and stowed anything that would be uncomfortable under high gee and were strapped or strapping in. Naruto watched as Sasuke stripped off the most of his disguise, stuffed it into one of the lockers, lay down and fastened his straps. He was the last and Iruka announced that the crew room was ready for roll call.
“Crew guest Neji, are you prepared for lift?” Shikamaru’s voice asked over the intercom.
“This is Neji, strapped and ready,” Neji replied, which confirmed to Naruto that the young man had spaced.
“Haku, strapped and ready.”
“This is Sasuke, strapped in and ready.”
“Naruto, strapped in and ready.”
“Shino. Strapped. Ready.”
“Rin, Strapped in. Ready.”
“This is Ibiki, strapped in and ready.”
“Jiraiya, strapped in and ready.”
“This is Iruka. I am strapped in and ready. The crew room is prepared for lift.”
“Shikamaru, strapped in and ready.”
“Kakashi, strapped in and ready for lift.”
“This is the Captain, strapped in and ready. The Control Room is prepared for lift. Lift in ten seconds.”
Naruto monitored the familiar changes in vibration from the ship’s lift engines. Then as the count fell to zero, the force began building and lift had begun.
By the time the unstrap was issued, Sasuke had fallen asleep. Naruto stared down at him, uncertain whether to wake him. Iruka came over to see if there was a problem.
“We’ll work around him for now,” he decided. “Haku isn’t much better. Apparently they have been travelling from before dawn. Add an extra bunk to your sleeping platform. Use a spare and add Sasuke’s in later.”
Naruto was grateful. They were very junior to be given an extra bunk. He turned his acceleration bed bunk side up and slid it into its usual position, then swung one of the spares out of the wall and attached it. Reinstating the crew room happened so often that it was second nature, although he had to think about the parts Sasuke usually did. One the bunk was ready, he went back to Sasuke. Kakashi was standing studying him.
“It was too close,” Kakashi said quietly as they carefully undid the straps holding Sasuke to the bed. “Word will spread from Chanx. We have to return to Tarrasade and rethink.” He looked at Naruto. “I wish I had managed to give you and Sasuke a little more time.”
Naruto understood, first the encounter with Itachi, now this. Hiding was no longer the safest option. “I will adapt, Kakashi-sensei,” he promised. He lifted Sasuke, who stirred slightly but settled in the familiar embrace as Naruto carried him to their bunk.
Shikamaru set up a bunk for Neji because both cats were too exhausted to do so. Neji tried to help but Shikamaru held up a hand. “Not a chance,” he said, “if Iruka-sensei catches me allowing a guest to set up his own bunk I’ll be scrubbing the heads for eternity.”
Neji found himself wanting to smile. Partly it was relief, because this crew was so different. Another part was seeing the crew doing such mundane tasks in the remnants of their disguises. Shikamaru had tied his hair back from his face but he was still wearing the skin-tight leather pants and the purple makeup.
“I’ll show you the heads and the showers,” Shikamaru said as he finished hanging the drapes. “Is there anything I can get you from the closet or the galley? Are you hungry?”
Neji was not particularly hungry and he was weary. On the other hand, the opportunity for a conversation with Shikamaru was not something he wished to miss. “If you are having something to eat, Shikamaru-san, it would be a privilege to join you.”
Shikamaru had scrubbed off the make-up and changed by the time they settled at the galley table, although his fingernails were still purple. Shino appeared in the doorway.
“Sasuke’s out of it and Naruto is watching him,” he told Shikamaru. “I can hear his stomach rumbling from halfway across the room.”
Shikamaru sighed. “Excuse me, Neji-san,” he said. “I will be back soon. Shino, could you heat up some of the soup?”
“Where is Iruka-san?”
“No idea. He said we should get something if we wanted it. Heat the soup, Shino.”
Shikamaru vanished into the crew room and quickly reappeared towing a reluctant Naruto.
“He’s not going to wake up before morning, Naru-kun,” Shikamaru was saying. “You know that. You need to eat. Also, you can get to know Neji-san.”
Naruto stopped resisting and sat at the table. “Some soup and bread would be nice,” he admitted.
“Neji-san can tell us what happened on Chanx,” Shino suggested.
Neji shook his head. “No. Sasuke-san and Haku-kun will wish to tell you themselves,” he said and was rewarded by a stunningly direct look from Shikamaru. It was breathtaking, like expecting to see an ordinary light and encountering a laser.
Naruto was nodding. “Yes, we would not want to spoil it for them. Haku?”
“Asleep.” Shino confirmed.
“It has been stressful for them, particularly Sasuke-san,” Neji admitted.
“You seem to be coping,” Shino observed.
“I am older and I only had to be myself,” Neji replied. “Pretending to be someone you are not is very tiring.”
“That soup ready yet?” Shikamaru asked.
“Soup? There’s soup?” asked Ibiki as he walked through the door.
Before long everyone other than the two cats were sitting around the table eating soup and breaking bread. Neji was too tired to observe properly, so he settled for gathering impressions of the emotional flow between crewmates. There was so much affection and friendship, even love, that it was a little overwhelming. Then the meal appeared to be over. Naruto returned to watching Sasuke. Rin-san took her leave, followed by Ibiki. Neji was about to excuse himself when Kakashi stopped him.
“If we could have a few minutes, Neji-san,” he said, “and a little privacy.”
Shino and Shikamaru stood up, but Iruka and Jiraiya stayed. Neji briefly wished that they had waited until morning. He watched Shino leave. Shikamaru was standing, looking at him.
“I would like Shikamaru-san to stay,” Neji heard himself say, which was true but he did not know why he was thinking it and, even more strangely, saying it.
Kakashi frowned, but gestured for Shikamaru to slide the door closed and sit.
Shikamaru spoke before he had even sat down. “Just take out your contacts, Neji-san,” he advised. “It will make everything so much easier.”
Neji nodded. So that was why he had asked if Shikamaru could stay. He slowly took out the brown contact lenses he had worn every day for almost ten standards. Then he raised his head and looked Kakashi in the eye. “I want to serve him, Kakashi-san.”
Kakashi swore. Then Jiraiya saw and started asking questions that Neji was far too tired to decide if he wished to answer. Iruka was demanding to know what was wrong with both of them. Neji could no longer cope. He had coped for so very long. He was so weary. Jiraiya-san’s interrogation rolled over him. Kakashi was still swearing.
“Iruka-sensei,” Shikamaru’s voice pleaded. “Please. Look at him.”
And it was quiet. Kakashi and Jiraiya were gone. The hated lenses were taken away for safekeeping. A cup of tea was placed before him. Neji had to wait some time before he could drink it; his hand was trembling too much to hold the cup. He was pleased when he managed to finish it without making a spill.
“I am here for you, Neji-kun,” Iruka told him. “Shika-kun, please make sure that Neji-san makes it safely to his bunk.”
Neji managed the walk to his bunk. Shikamaru walked beside him, hands in pockets, watching while appearing not to watch.
Author's note 25/02/2010
I would like to thank those who left reviews or emails. I will be continuing this fic but after we to chapter 30 the updates will be less frequent. If you wish to be informed when there is an update, please email me (see my profile).