Fading Scars

This was written as a one-on-one RP, so the point of view of the story will change, usually with every paragraph. Scenes will also change abruptly and large periods of time will pass with little notice, though I’ll try to give some warning at the beginning of the chapter.

***Warnings for some graphic material***

Thoughts in Italics


Please read and enjoy!

Fading Scars
Chapter Thirty-Eight:

"That's what you get for jumping me in the bath," he retorted lazily, taking another moment for himself to stretch and let the hot water ease the last of his aches. As he finally crawled out, he couldn't help chuckling at the mess they'd made--water had splashed all over the stone floor. "Want to stay in my room tonight?"

Sasuke grinned at the offer. "Sure." He tried to dry off quickly; between so much studying, and so much 'exercise,' he wasn't sure how much longer he'd be awake.

Neji was more careful, wrapping up his hair before attempting to dry the rest of himself off. He hadn't cut his hair in a while now, and it easily reached to his waist--which, of course, made for a long night of trying to get it dry. He finally drained the tub and pulled on a robe to follow Sasuke across the hall. "You look beat," he remarked humorously as they walked.

"You look worse," Sasuke shot back, though he didn't mean it. Neji always managed to look good. He shook his hair out and hopped onto Neji's bed once they'd reached it. "At least we have an excuse for staying in our rooms all day."

"Not if Koshaku's brother returns," Neji pointed out, sitting at the edge beside Sasuke and unwinding his hair. He scooped up his brush and began the long process of drying. "At least they don't wake us up early for morning training."

"Yeah, really." Sasuke stretched out, propping his head on one hand as he watched Neji brush his hair. It was oddly fascinating. "Will you need me to cover for you?" I was pretty sore after our first….

Neji shifted, considering the condition of his body. "I don't think so," he said truthfully. "The water helped a lot, though we'll see how I am in the morning." He smirked a bit. "Are you hoping I am? To make up for how sore you were?"

Sasuke glanced away, feeling a little guilty. He...really had been kind of hoping. "Not really."

Seeing his expression, Neji couldn't help laughing. "Vindictive, aren't you?" he teased, slapping at Sasuke's hip with the flat side of his brush. "Remind me never to piss you off."

"Well, I was really sore," Sasuke complained. He pulled himself closer. "But really, I'm glad." Maybe we'll get to do it again later, then….

Neji shook his head, still grinning. "That wasn't all my fault, you know," he pointed out. "You wore yourself out long before I got there, don't forget." He turned back to his hair, closing his eyes to better enjoy the long sweeps of his brush.

"I guess so...." Sasuke watched him a moment more and then sat up, setting his hand over Neji's. "Let me...?"

Though surprised, Neji handed over the brush with a softer smile. It seemed like such a strange, intimate thing, letting Sasuke take care of him like this. Something almost too lover-like. He straightened, tilting his head back and shaking his hair out behind him.

Sasuke sat up, and bit back a little smile as he began to brush Neji's hair for him. "You know," he said. "I really didn't mind. When...you were in charge, I mean."

He snorted quietly. "In charge? You mean on top, right?" Neji reached back to pat Sasuke's thigh. "Well good. All that complaining was making me think you'd just roll me over next time we tried." He was teasing, of course, and…found it rather fun.

"Well, maybe I still will," Sasuke retorted, giving his hair a tug. He sobered a little afterwards, and leaned forward, pressing a kiss to Neji's shoulder. "But I did enjoy it. And I want to...get better."

Neji smiled, touching Sasuke's cheek before he could get too far away. "That means we'll have to practice, you know," he pointed out softly. "A lot."

"A lot. Over, and over…." Sasuke ran his hand lightly over Neji's thigh. "Several times a night, even. You know, to get it right."

He laughed quietly, leaning back a little. "You mean if we have the energy," he reminded. Neji elbowed him lightly in the side. "I thought you were just saying you were exhausted."

"That's why we have to get used to it," Sasuke replied. "Get ourselves in shape. Work up to it…." Already he was feeling a little more awake, and he had to remind himself to finish his brushing.

"I see." Well, if that was the case, then Neji fully intended to take advantage of the situation; he, after all, wasn't quite as tired. Giving Sasuke only a moment more, he finally pulled his hair away from him, turning with a sly grin. "Maybe we...should start now," he said, setting a hand on Sasuke's chest and urging him back onto the mattress.

Sasuke gulped as he was prodded down. "You're not tired?" he asked. He hadn't expected this, and was suddenly both wary and excited.

He smiled, sitting at Sasuke's hip and just running his hands over the other's chest. "Not too tired," he admitted, bending down to give Sasuke's ear a little bite before kissing at his throat. "What about you?"

Sasuke tilted his head back. "Not too tired," he replied, giving a little sigh. He idly traced Neji's biceps; he'd always admired his strength. "Not yet, anyway."

"Then maybe we should change that." Neji slid a hand low, creeping through the folds of Sasuke's robes to circle his slowly hardening erection. "Think you're up to some practice?"

Sasuke hissed quietly. "I think I'd like to find out," he replied. He reached up, curling his hand behind Neji's neck to pull him down to him.

They met in a deep kiss, and for a moment Neji's hand stilled as he concentrated on the simple movements of their lips. Really, Sasuke was so much more eager now, since they'd been together. Neji finally separated them, leaning back so he could urge both their robes off.

Sasuke sighed when their lips were separated, and devoted himself quickly to stripping out of his robe. "Maybe you'll go easy on me, since we're both tired...?" he said with a half grin.

Maybe...I'll just take care of him. "All right," he agreed, stealing another kiss before pulling away, hunting up the vile of oil he'd gotten for them to use instead of polish. "Get comfortable."

Sasuke licked his lips, flopping onto his back as he settled. I'll just have to really relax this time, that's all. We've already done it once, I'm better prepared…. He wriggled his toes against the mattress.

Neji rolled his eyes. "Stop looking so nervous," he scolded lightly, dropping down beside him again. "You know I'm going to be careful." He set the bottle aside for the moment, turning his hands on Sasuke's hips and thighs, massaging the toned muscles firmly.

"I'm not nervous," Sasuke protested, his eyelids fluttering with Neji's treatment. "I'm excited."

"Well, good." Neji continued the movements of his hands until he was sure that Sasuke had forgotten all about protesting. He really is something. I hope...everything goes well.... His eyes narrowed, just slightly, and he finally pulled back to get himself prepared.

Sasuke murmured quietly as Neji pulled back. He turned his head enough so that he could see the other apply the oil; it was strangely exciting to watch. He licked his lips. "Ready?"

He nodded. "Yeah. You...want to do it this way?" he asked, patting Sasuke's stomach with a faint grin. “Last time, you were louder when you were turned over."

Sasuke gulped. "Yeah…." He remembered what it had felt like to have Neji pressed against his back, their bodies scraping together with every movement…. He twisted onto his stomach anxiously. "Yeah, let's do it like this…."

Neji chuckled at the other's enthusiasm, but seeing the other spread so desperately before him.... He trailed a pair of fingers down Sasuke's spine, slowly, enjoying the feel of warm muscles. "You really have grown, you know," he murmured offhandedly. "Since we came here."

"I'd hope so," Sasuke muttered, propping himself up on hands and knees. "We've worked so hard--that wasn't for nothing." He glanced at Neji over his shoulder, and was taken in himself a moment by the attentive gleam in Neji's eyes. "You, too," he added.

"Not as much." Neji rose up behind him, a little surprised by how easily Sasuke took to this position--not that he was about to complain, of course. Licking his lips in anticipation, he leaned over the other's back a moment so they could rub together, sighing at the feeling of warm, waiting flesh. "Ready?"

Sasuke licked his lips again, and found them dry. "Yeah." He rotated his shoulders; he liked feeling so much raw skin pressed together, already warm and still moist from the bath. He glanced ahead, and after a thoughtful moment lifted his hands to grip the short but sturdy headboard. "Come on."

Neji ran his own hands up and down Sasuke's arms briefly, kissing the center of his back before straightening, positioning himself. "Alright," he murmured as a last warning, just before pushing slowly and firmly into the other. His breath hissed and eyelids fluttered, and he didn't stop until he was completely buried.

Sasuke took in a deep breath, but he'd been too tired to really tense up, and it didn't hurt nearly as much as the first time. It still stung, but he found he was able to relax without much trouble. "Neji…." He groaned, shifting his position just slightly.

He rubbed at the small of Sasuke's back, for now just gently rocking them together as his voice fell in quiet murmurs. "You okay?" he asked, just to be sure.

Sasuke shivered, bracing his arms better as they swayed. "Yeah," he gasped, his toes curling as Neji stroked something deep and fiery in him. "Fuck, that…feels really good." He pushed back against him in encouragement.

Neji set a hand on his hip to help steady him, groaning as the added movement brought them more strongly together. "Keep moving like that," he hissed. Bracing his other hand on Sasuke's shoulder, he gradually began to pick up his pace, to move faster and deeper....

Sasuke choked on a groan; it was somehow encouraging that he could move with his partner, adding to their lovemaking. He tightened his grip on the headboard and pushed back into Neji's thrusts, eventually getting the timing down so that every meeting of hips sent warm shudders all through him.

"Ah, shit...." Neji curled forward, forehead pressing between Sasuke's shoulder blades. "That's--" He couldn't finish, his breath needed to continue his firm thrusts. It felt incredible, every arching of his back sending fire through his veins until he couldn't hold out any longer. Neji moaned recklessly as he met his end, voice spilling along his lover's spine.

Sasuke gasped as he was filled; by now he was so exhausted that the sensation was enough to finish him as well. His head drooped wearily as he groaned and panted through his release. "Neji…." He chuckled weakly. "Mm, you're heavy."

Chuckling softly, Neji took the hint, separating them and falling back on his ankles. Damn, that was.... He ran a hand back through his hair, only realizing now that it had gotten everywhere and was tangled again. Sighing, he shook it back to wait until he had his breath back enough to deal with it.

Sasuke peeled his hands off the headboard and slumped with a quiet sigh to the bed. "Damn, you always wear me out…." He stretched slowly, and was relieved to find he wasn't as sore as he'd imagined. Come morning might be a different matter….

"Just returning the favor," Neji reminded, smirking faintly. "Now get off that blanket--it needs to be washed." Without waiting, he snuck the top sheet out from under Sasuke, wiggling around until he could free it and toss it to the side. "It's chilly now. Get under."

"Mmm…." Sasuke complied eagerly. By now he felt ready to pass out. "I really hope they don't get back tomorrow," he murmured, stretching out on his side.

Neji shrugged. "Who cares. We can show them what we got done today, say it took a long time. It'll be fine." Dropping onto his back, he slid an arm around Sasuke's waist to pull him closer.

Sasuke kind of oozed over to him, flopping bonelessly across his chest. "I don't mind," he murmured, arranging himself comfortably. "Being the bottom."

Smiling at that, Neji offered a tender kiss to his lover's forehead. "Neither do I," he replied softly. "So we'll just keep enjoying ourselves, hmm?" If they made it--if he survived.

Oblivious to Neji's concerns, Sasuke closed his eyes. "Yeah, okay." With a quiet sigh he relaxed, and was quickly asleep.

Neji remained up a while longer, listening to the sound of the other breathing in the otherwise quiet room. Hopefully, his worries would end up being for nothing. Hopefully this wasn't the last time they would be able to sleep together like this....

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