History Repeated?

  “This is shit…” Madara whispered to himself, staring at the roof for the hundredth time that morning alone.  “I want to get out of bed for once…”

  Madara sneezed violently, shivering, and wasn’t aware of the front door opening once again.  Naruto had returned with a stack of books in his arms.  Madara jumped slightly as the loud thump of books hitting the floor caught him off-guard but he soon regained his posture.

  “What is this?” Madara demanded, narrowing his eyes.

  “I know you’re bored so I got you some books to read.” Naruto smiled at Madara.

  Madara glared for a few more seconds before leaning over and grabbing the first book.  He looked at the title before gasping and throwing it at Naruto’s head.  He fell into a coughing fit as he tried to scream at Naruto.

  “What do you…” cough, “…think I… “cough, cough, cough, “…am?!” Cough.  “I don't read…” cough, cough, “…porn!”

  Naruto tilted his head.  “I thought all older guys liked to read these books…?  That’s what Kaka-sensei said…”

  “Get them away from me!” Madara snarled, smacking at the pile of books.  “I hate porn!  I hate it!  I hate it, I hate it!”

  “Why?  And…” Naruto smiled sheepishly, chuckling nervously.  “…What is porn?”

  Madara blanched, clenching his hands into fists in obvious anger.  “Don't…!  Don't you dare expect me to explain it to you.”

  With that, Madara rolled over on the couch, his back facing Naruto. 

  Naruto frowned and watched as Madara’s body shook slightly.  Naruto wasn’t sure if he was crying or not, but he wouldn’t be too surprised -- Madara had been crying a lot lately.

  “…I’ll leave them just here in case you change your mind…” Naruto whispered softly.

  “…Hn…”

  --LINEBREAK-- 

  “Do you feel better, Madara?” Naruto asked with a smile as Madara stood in the doorway of the bathroom, contemplating whether or not to have a shower or a bath.  Almost two weeks had passed and the Uchiha already seemed much healthier.

  “Hn.”

  “That’s good.” Naruto smiled.  “Did you read your books?”

  “Some of them.” Madara shrugged.  “Threw the porn ones in the bin, though.”

  Naruto frowned.  “I don't understand, Madara.  What is porn and why do you hate it so much?”

  Madara whirled around savagely. 

  “Are you a simpleton?!” He snarled.  “How can you not know what porn is?!  Every boy knows what porn is!  Stop trying to trick me so you can hurt me, too!  You won’t be the first one!  Even my own clan has done that to me!  My own lover… used me… and a member of his clan took advantage of me!  You shouldn’t be any different, Naruto!  Fuck you!”

  Naruto gasped.  “What… are you talking about…?”

  “Don't play dumb!”

  “Madara, please!” Naruto pleaded.  “I truly don't understand!  I know nothing about you because you won’t let me in!  I could help you if you would only trust me!”

  “You won’t help me!” Madara screamed back, punching the wall in anger and ignoring the blood that splattered everywhere as his hand broke.  “You’ll only make me worse!  I learnt from a young age that you can only trust yourself!”

  “Madara, you’re wrong!” Naruto shot back.  “You have to trust me, Madara!  I know you don't even trust yourself!  I hear you at night talking to your brother!  Asking for advice!  If you trusted him more than yourself, than please!  Please believe that others can be trusted, too!”

  Madara spat at Naruto’s feet.  “When hell freezes over.”

  Madara had turned his back on Naruto to go into the bathroom but he was startled when he was suddenly tackled and knocked away into the wall.  He turned his head, seeing that Naruto was watching him with a look in his eye that he hadn’t seen in anyone but Hashirama.

  “G-get –“ Madara was cut off as Naruto placed his lips over Madara’s.

  Madara’s eyes widened in fear and he shook violently, but there was something about Naruto that relaxed him.  He could sense nothing dangerous about the blonde at that moment, and Naruto wasn’t forcing him at all.  In fact, the Uzumaki was doing nothing but keeping his lips on Madara’s.

  Naruto pulled back with a small smile. 

  “Sometimes…” Naruto placed his hand over his heart.  “…When I think about you, Madara… I get a feeling I’ve never felt before… I asked… Kakashi-sensei about it, and… he said… he said…”

  “What did he say…?” Madara found himself whispering. 

  “…He said… that I might love you…” Naruto smiled softly at Madara, trying to control his nerves -- what if Madara rejected him?

  “…” Madara was stunned.  “…Naruto…?”

  “I truly do care about you, Madara.” Naruto said kindly.  “I want to help you.  It hurts me when you shut me out -- as if I'm only acting like I care…”

  Madara placed his hand over his lips -- no one had kissed him since Hashirama.  He felt tears coming to his eyes and he was helpless as he fell to the ground, letting out so many years of repressed emotions. 

  Naruto sat beside Madara, not touching him, but whispering soothing words to Madara – and helped the Uchiha drift off into a much-needed sleep.

  --LINEBREAK-- 

  “You won’t leave me?” Madara whispered, gripping Naruto’s hand tightly in his own, panic in his eyes and voice.  “You won’t cheat on me or abandon me?  You have to promise me!  Promise me you’ll love me, Naruto!  Please!”

  Naruto smiled.  “I promise I’ll love you and I promise I’ll never hurt you.”

  Madara smiled weakly, leaning forward to place a shy kiss on Naruto’s lips.  He pulled away with a blush.

  “It’s…” he began softly. “…It’s been years since I’ve kissed anyone…”

  “Madara…” Naruto tilted Madara’s head up to look him in the eyes.  “Do you believe me now when I said that I wanted to help you?”

  Madara bit his lip and reluctantly nodded.  The truth was, he had known Naruto had meant it all along but his injured heart wouldn’t allow him to believe those words and instead forced Madara to do all he could to not trust anyone.  

  It wasn’t Madara’s fault -- he had just been hurt so many times and by so many different people.  But now, sitting there with Naruto, things felt… different…

  Madara could only hope things would work out for him now this time; his heart just had no more room left for heartbreak.