A spur to the Heart

"I am now quite cured of seeking pleasure in society, be it country or town. A sensible man ought to find sufficient company in himself”- Emily Bronte

“I want half of the profits from your vineyard in Italy for the next ten years, as well as a guaranteed place in your next fur trading expedition, along with a guarantee that all of my business ventures for the rest of my life will have the Uchiha stamp of approval and backing.” Were the words Neji Hyuuga greeted him with upon entering the study. No hello, no pleasantries, just straight to point.

Sasuke snorted softly as he loosened his silk tie and unbuttoned his vest, not taking Neji’s little tirade the least bit seriously. He didn’t notice Neji narrowing his eyes or how his fingers tightened on his glass.

“I’m not making a joke. If you don’t give me what I want, I very capable of stopping your plans for that little farm and its filthy animals from ever coming to fruition. Your brother may be allowing this plan of yours, but I have information that will not only halt it but will most likely have you sent far far away for the rest of your life.”

For the first time in a long time, Sasuke felt fear curl up through his body. He stared, stunned, at the man he had previously thought to be the only one left in his life that could understand his burdens and trust with his secrets. Not that he could call Neji a friend, but the long haired genius could, on occasion, carry on a decent conversation.

But now, as Neji lounged on the expensive tooled leather chaise longue with an ultimatum on his lips and a smirk in his pupil less eyes, Sasuke decided he would rather have no one to talk to. Ever again. Fury replaced the fear and coiled hot and sharp in his chest. Instead of acting on it as a plebian non-Uchiha would, he simply raised one prefect brow in an eloquently silent question.

Standing in the doorway of his own study, another strike against the Hyuuga, Sasuke debated against simply walking away from Neji and his stupid little game. Dark eyes narrowed as Neji calmly sipped his whiskey, not seeming to care at all about Sasukes actions. The anger inside of him pulled tight, ready to snap at any moment. No one ignored an Uchiha.

Sasuke turned on his heel, quite done with the entire situation, but Neji’s voice stopped the impending stomping out.

“ If you ever want to show up your bother, or get out from under his thumb, if you want to be able to go to this little farm of yours, I would suggest listening.”

Sasuke stopped dead in his tracks, his back muscles so tense it almost hurt. His plans for the small cattle ranch in Abilene were his only chance of ever being able to separate himself from his brother and the looming Uchiha legacy. He took three calming breaths before slowly turning to face a smirking Neji with his usual apathetic façade in place. He concentrated on comfortable feeling of his silk vest sliding over the Egyptian cotton of his shirt, instead of how Neji’s neck would feel under his fingers. Sasuke paced back into the study before closing the door softly behind him.

He didn’t hesitate to walk calmly across the room and flow gracefully into the leather chair behind the large oak desk, regaining some face by placing himself in a position of power. As he crossed his legs in one smooth motion, Sauke noticed that Neji had recognized the move for what it was by the amused look he gave the Uchiha. Moving long elegant fingers into a steeple in front of him Sasuke nodded silently in Neji’ds direction, allowing him to continue.

“ I’m sure you are aware that the man you negotiated with here in New York was not in fact the owner of the farm you plan to invest in, but a trusted friend of the owner-” Neji paused, waiting for Sasuke to nod in agreement. At the slight incline of the dark haired man Neji continued.

“ It has come to light that the owner is someone you know, someone who, if Itachi ever found out that you were going have contact with again would without a doubt punish you severely before either exiling you or cutting you off from the Uchiha fortune entirely. Luckily for you, I am the only one who knows.”

Sasuke decided that “lucky” wasn’t the word he would have chosen. He sighed and leaned back into the comforting embrace of his chair, long fingers delicately rubbing his forehead, where a headache was building, in a rare show of nerves. His mind was whirling, sifting over names and faces, places and people.

For his part Neji was simply enjoying the delightful burning of expensive whiskey running down the back of his throat, knowing Sasuke well enough to know that pushing him would not get him any closer to his goal. While the seconds ticked by, Neji couldn’t stop his heart from beating frantically. This was the only way to ever achieve his goal.

“Why Neji? We both know I would be glad to lend a hand if you were in some sort of trouble.” It was unspoken but was none the less there that Sasuke only would have helped if it benefited him in some way.

Neji remained silent for a long moment, simply staring into his whiskey. The question was unexpected, but not terribly so. He knew that he would want to know why someone was trying to extort money from him.

“I can’t answer that.” He finally replied.

“Its because this is the only way Hinata’s family will let you marry her, isn’t it?”

Sasuke smirked when the usually stoic Hyuuga nearly dropped his whiskey glass before whipping his head to stare at him with an almost comical expression of shock marring his otherwise elegant face. He let the shock wear off before speaking again.

“I don’t know why you’re so shocked. Surely you can’t have believed that you were the only one keeping tabs on someone? Really Neji…” Sasuke let his voice sound gently chiding and smirked when Neji’s features darkened in anger.

“Don’t be so smug Uchiha, I still haven’t told you who owns the farm.” Neji’s voice was low with barely controlled anger.

“Don’t jump the gun Neji, I could still tell her family about your relationship with Hinata and they would whisk here far far away, quite ruining your little plan.” Sasuke had to exercise the classic Uchiha restraint to stop from outright grinning at the expression on Nejis face.

Although outwardly he was calm, Sasuke’s mind was churning out different scenarios as he gauged if he wanted to take the risk of not knowing who this mystery man was. As the silence grew thicker, he continued to be of two minds but could only come up with one possible option.

“If you tell me who its, me and only me, I will swear to keep silent about your relationship with Hinata. It is the only thing that will work.” By the lack of surprise on Nejis face, he surmised that the Hyuuga had come to the same conclusion. A long apprehensive silence settled over the study.

“Naruto Uzumaki”

-- "

Shall we never, never get rid of this Past?" cried he, keeping up the earnest tone of his preceding conversation. "It lies upon the Present like a giant's dead body."- Nathaniel Hawthorne


It was silent in the Uchiha mansion. Until a blonde blur burst in the elegant foyer with a loud cry of “SASUKE!”.

Even two stories up in his room, sixteen year old Sasuke Uchiha could here the exuberant cry. Since he was alone, he allowed a small but entirely sincere smile to crack his usual mask of ice. He quickly stood and exited the room, not wanting the idiotic blonde to wake the entire household.

Coming to stairs he gave to a small wave to disheveled blonde standing in his entry way. Naruto grinned wildly back up at him, as usual not seeing a reason to tone down or control any of his impulses. As much as the dark haired teen wanted to rush down to meet his friend, a lifetime of lectures on “proper Uchiha behavior” kept his pace slow and deliberate.

He smirked when he noticed Naruto fidgeting impatiently at his slow pace. Even if his world was turned on its head, Saduke could count on his blonde idiot to… act like an idiot. When he finally reached Naruto, the blonde launched himself at Sasuke, catching the teen in an unexpected hug.

Sasuke told himself his heart beat so fast because he was startled.

Naruto squeezed him tightly, his musky scent filling Sasukes nose. Sasuke had to stop his instinctive reaction to return the hug full force; his arms shot up to rest on the blondes back but he managed by shear force of will to simply brush his fingertips over the soft cotton of Narutos shirt. To make up for his shocking breech of conduct, Sasuke murmured a soft “idiot” before gently detangling himself.

Sasuke told himself that he was only being gentle because Naruto has still recovering from his illness.

“Since my parents are still in bed, and so they totally don’t know what I’m doing, I vote we go to central park!” Sasuke resisted the urge to roll his eyes at the blondes vapidly excited flow of words. Narutos parents were slightly overprotective, mostly due to their high standing in society, and strictly forbid him going to central park without adult supervision.

“Only you would take your parents getting seriously ill as a chance to blatantly break the rules they only enforce for your protection.” Sasuke’s voice was deliberately dripping condensation just to annoy the other boy. Smirking at the responding flush of anger that dusted Narutos tanned cheeks, Sasuke sidled past his now irate friend to grab his coat.

“Come on idiot, we have to be back by noon” Sasuke tossed over his shoulder as he opened the door and stepped out into the slightly damp air, and smirked at the indignant squawk that followed in his wake.

Naruto caught up to the dark haired boy a few moments later, panting and cursing. Sasuke smirked, but refused to show the other how much actual pleasure he derived from his childish behavior.

“Really Naruto, such language. What would your mother think?

“Shut up bastard.”

Since the Uchiha mansion was located on prime retaliate near central park, the boys walked the few blocks in a very plebian act that would have appalled all adult involved. Dodging carriages and street vendors the two made the trek to the park wading through humid air and the loud conversations of strangers.

Not that Naruto lacked for conversation.

“… and its scary Sasuke. My mom has never been sick for as long as I can remember and neither has Dad. I mean remember a few years back when mumps was going around? I got it, the servants got it and my parents were FINE! But now… they can barely get out of bed anymore.” Sasuke was startled out of his revere by the saddened, dejected tone of his friend. His head jerked to stare wide eyed at the blonde beside him. At his sudden movement, Naruto turned to stare right back.

Sasuke felt his heart stutter at the blank, hopeless look lying in those familiar cerulean orbs. Stopping suddenly, ignoring the fact that they were in the middle of crossing a street, Sasuke grabbed Naruto by the shoulders and forcibly pulled him into a tight desperate hug. Uchihas weren’t known for showing affection, or comforting others. In fact Sasuke was fairly sure there were familial rules against it. But for Naruto, he’d make an exception.

“It will be okay, everything will be okay. I promise.”

--

Somehow the duo had managed to find a secluded quiet spot among trees and seemingly far away from noise, strangers and the constraints of families that couldn’t decide if they wanted to care or not. It was a typical summer day in New York; the air muggy and dank with pollution from the new amazing technology. But under the trees in their little corner it was cool and somehow the air seemed clearer and unsullied.

But mostly the two were happy to be alone, away from scornful gazes and strict rules. The two ere leaning against the broad trunk of a maple, Sasuke ramrod straight (as he was supposed) with his legs straight in front while Naruto sprawled with his limbs splayed like he’d fallen down.

“Hey bastard, I’m uncomfortable!”

Sasuke raised a perfect eyebrow at the sudden outburst from the blonde lump on the ground. Naruto glared up at him when he wasn’t instantly recognized. Before Sasuke could formulate a properly degrading response, Naruto climbed up his legs before settling his head into the gentle crook where Sasukes waist became his hips. Sasuke tried desperately to phase into the tree, a blush dusting rose onto his pale cheeks.

On his lap, Naruto smiled to himself and nuzzled into Sasukes stomach, breathing in the slightly sweet musk of his friend. The light dappled over tan skin and Sasuke found himself fascinated by the muscle twisting and straining under the golden silk of Narutos skin.

He didn’t say a word as tan fingers rubbed circles endlessly around his hipbones through the fabric of his shirt. And he only ran his fingers through the silky gold strands of his hair because Naruto needed comforting and that was better than talking about feelings.

They sat, each trying to come to terms with the uncomfortable tightness around their hearts and the tingling along their nerve endings. But then in tandem, both decided “to hell with my family” and turned toward each other. Obsidian met cerulean; muscles tensed with adrenalin and fear as faces yearned closer and closer…

There was a crash in the underbrush nearby. Both boys struggled to detangle limbs and cool the blushes on their cheeks. Sasuke ended up leaning against the tree, his heart trying to beat its way out through his ribs as his hands danced nervously over the expensive fabric of his pants in clear show of settling nerves.

Naruto was still sprawled on the ground, on his back staring up at the canopy of trees like he’d seen the face of God telling him to elope with a monkey. Stranger things had happened in the midst of a Naruto daydream.

The crashing got louder and louder, but not loud enough to drown out the beating of his heart Sasuke noticed angrily, until finally an impeccably dressed man stumbled into their corner. Sasuke turned to look over his shoulder, a sneer on his lips.

The sneer died when he saw it was a manservant from the Uchiha mansion. Startled, he jerkily turned to face the intruder, tragic scenarios running through his head in a startling imitation of Narutos thought process.

“Sir-“The man inclined his head respectfully at Sasuke, totally ignoring Narutos presence altogether, “you are needed immediately by your brother.” Instantly incised, Sasuke stepped forward slowly, menace dripping from his slim frame.

“I told my brother that I was going out with Naruto and he agreed. He can’t just take back his word. I’m staying here, go tell my brother he can wait his turn” At his feet Naruto grinned happily and sat up before scooting backwards to lean against Sasukes legs.

The servant remained unimpressed. With the sneer of a man finally getting to take his betters down a peg he gestured towards the blonde.

“It concerns you friend. In fact the young master should be getting home… to his parents” At the mention of his parents Naruto stiffened and looked up at Sasuke. Without words, both knew what they had to do. Naruto slowly stood, ignoring the presence of the servant completely. Their eyes met again, before Naruto captured Sasuke in a tight hug.

“I’ll see you later.”

--

Sasuke stared in horror at his brother. Itachi smirked and leaned back in his chair, quite comfortable in the wake of a horrified silence. Sasuke shook his head in silent denial. Back and forth, back and forth.

“You’re lying.” Sasuke stated, his voice finally cold and hard enough to please even his brother.

“Lying to you is not amusing enough to waste time on little brother.” Itachi smiled inwardly as his brothers lithe body trembled under the onslaught of such, apparently, gruesome news. Itachi waited in case his brother tried again to dispute his truth before continuing.

“I’ll explain it one more time. Your little friends parents, before either of you were even born, made our parents the legal guardians of their little blonde bundle incase anything should happen to them-“ Itachi paused to let it sink in and savor the look of dawning comprehension on his brothers face.

“And something did happen to them. At about ten thirty this morning I believe. And since mother and father are not here anymore, I am in charge of the little fellow.” Sasuke was pale and shaking now, possible outcomes bouncing off the insides of his head. He had lived with Itachi long enough to know that his next words were not going to be pleasant.

“You may think that you’ve been quite clever, but my dear boy you are just an amateur. I have seen the character of this Uzumaki boy, and although he may have high standing by blood and money, he is quite below us.” Sasuke could actually feel his heart start to slow and weaken as Itachi came closer to the final blow. The weight in his chest was growing and growing and by god he could feel tears welling up inside.

“And since I am his guardian, I feel quite justified in sending him away somewhere where he can attempt to grow into something tolerable. You might see him again someday.”

In that moment, Sasukes heart gave up. Just a tiny bit weaker, but none the less not whole anymore.

--

"You said I killed you - haunt me, then! The murdered do haunt their murderers, I believe. I know that ghosts have wandered on earth. Be with me always - take any form - drive me mad! only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you!" - Emily Bronte


Sasuke stared out the window of the train and prayed to God that Naruto had forgotten about him. He was so tense that even the rattling and loud creaks of the train did not penetrate the miasma of fear and painful memories he had wrapped about himself.

Although he was in first class, traveling by train was an ordeal in itself. The seats were padded and covered with expensive fabrics; but padding and embroidery could only protect the ass from so much rumbling. The food was tolerable, but the simpering waitress was not. The bathroom was elegant, with expensive mahogany paneling, a marble sink and flawless mirror. But the toilet still led directly to the tracks and let cold air wash up onto his private parts. All in all, Sasuke was not pleased.

“I’ve never actually been in first class before… its nice” Sasuke was pulled out of his favorite past time of late, brooding, by the tentative conversation started by the man beside him. Sasuke turned, cynical mask firmly in place, to stare at Iruka as if he had just made a fecal comment. Iruka swallowed and plowed onward.

“I’m rather excited for the two of you! Ten years apart and now you come back without warning, Naruto will be so surprised!” Sasukes heart tried its damndest to faint and his face tried to slip in a human, oh no!, expression of shock.

“Are you telling me that Naruto hasn’t guessed that the Uchiha you negotiated with is me? There are only two of us…” Sasuke was grateful for the chance to use scorn to cover up his surprise. Without his consent, Sasukes fingers twitched and plucked nervously at the cloth on his leg.

The smiling man beside him laughed, and if he was anyone else he would have admitted that the stock broker turned wild west school teacher had a charming, infectious laugh. But he was Sasuke Uchicha. The man who hadn’t smiled in ten years.

“Naruto trusted me to find a backer, and didn’t give a flying flip who it was. I thought it would be wonderful to bring the two of you back together, and so I simply told him it was son from an old money family who wanted an adventure.” The scarred man obviously thought his plan not only was wonderful but oddly funny. Sasuke thought it might be funny if he tossed the teacher out on his tanned ass.

Iruka was beaming at him, doe eyes sparkling, expecting a pat on the head or a medal Sasuke thought irritably. After a long moment of staring into furious obsidian pools, the school teachers smile faded. A few moments later he coughed and turned to face the opposite window.

Sasuke’s heart was sputtering under the onslaught of long buried emotions. His heart was fearfully beating against the cage of his ribs, frightened at the new found weight of memories long forgotten. His heart was fluttering to a close as it tried to squeeze back into its protective covering.

His heart ached.

--

"Yes! you are the ruin--the ruin--the ruin--of me. I have no resources in myself, I have no confidence in myself, I have no government of myself when you are near me or in my thoughts. And you are always in my thoughts now. I have never been quit of you since I first saw you. Oh, that was a wretched day for me! That was a wretched, miserable day!"- Charles Dickens


Naruto dunked his heart into the blessedly cool, but not exactly clean, water of the horse trough. It was a hot day, humid to the point where he got the sneaking suspicion that he could just run with his mouth open to get a drink. Happily reviling in a feeling of water washing off sweat and dirt, he blew a few bubbles simple because he could. The flipped his head back and sighed at the wonderful feel of water dripping down his back.

He absentmindedly wiped stray water droplets off his brow as he reviewed what had to be done before nightfall. It was just about noon, but Naruto and the two other hands had been working since long before dawn; setting up fence, digging ditches, repairing the old barn so that the boys out on the range would have somewhere to sleep when they returned and all around working up a sweat.

Walking into the newly finished barn, he felt a pride swell up in his chest. Although Naruto wouldn’t get the money from the backer until he came to “inspect” the ranch, the blonde knew better than to neglect the horses. When he finally scrapped enough money to buy the dilapidated ranch, all that he got was a rotting house, a rickety barn and acres of land that hadn’t seen a fence in twenty years.

But he had worked, and worked hard. Even though it was his name on the deed Naruto and the other ranch hands had worked as equals until the glorious day came when Iruka’s letter had reached him. They had finally snagged a backer.

Naruto was just slinging his saddle onto the back of his precious dun mare, when the unmistakable sound of a carriage split through the air. Hands still on the pommel and cantle, Naruto turned to stare out the open barn door. The sounds got louder, convincing the confused blonde that the damn city slicker had not only decided to come in a carriage but the bastard had come a day early.

Cursing, he pulled the saddle off and stormed out of the stall. Resting the heavy leather pommel against his hip he marched out into the Texas heat. He was blinded for a moment by the bright gold of the sun. When the moment passed, he found himself staring at a dream.

It looked to him like Sasuke was standing in front of his barn, dressed in denim no less. Which was totally impossible. Naruto didn’t notice the saddle slowly slipping to the ground, or how Iruka came around the back of the carriage; only retreat again once he saw what was happening.

The bastard was still slim, lithe and too fucking beautiful. Blue black hair framing a pale face that was angular, mysterious, and far to familiar for his piece of mind. Naruto let his eyes drag over the slim frame. He was wearing a shirt and boots that could have paid two of his ranch hands for months. Naruto concentrated on that instead of how hope and fear flickered over pale features. He concentrated on the fancy carriage instead of how elegant fingers plucked nervously at the hem of that expensive shirt.

He concentrated on how he had to clean his saddle instead of how much he wanted to wrap himself in Sasuke until no one could tell them apart. He shook his head in fierce denial and turned on his heel before retreating back into the barn. Naruto was in a stall desperately brushing any speck of dirt foolish enough to land on one of his horses before he heard the sound of slow deliberate steps behind him.

He ignored it. The blonde concentrated on detangling the horses tail instead of how dirty and sweaty he was, the low quality of his clothes and the holes in his boots. He walked to the far side of the horse, putting the animal between him and Sasu- who ever was outside the stall. He leaned into the warm side and brushed and brushed.

Never mind that stupid little water droplets kept appearing on the honey colored fur.

“I didn’t abandon you. I tried to fight Itachi but…”

Naruto jerked, and the horse skittered away at the harsh contact. Carefully not looking at the door, he gently moved to the horse and started brushing again. He ducked his head down, so the other man couldn’t see his expression.

“You fought Itachi and got your way before. Was I just not worth the effort?” Sasuke felt himself gasp at the very sound of his voice; apparently within the last ten years Naruto had developed the knee quaking Texas twang.

Naruto, for his part, paused when he heard a sudden intake of breath from outside the stall. He told himself those water droplets were because horse hair kept getting in his eyes.

“I fought until he had me sent to boarding school oversees with instructions that I get no outside contact.”

“Like that could stop you.” Naruto’s heart stuttered at his own words.

“I sold my mothers necklace to pay for searching for you.”

Naruto jerked again, and this time the horse turned around, ears pinned and bared teeth at the blonde. Years of working with horses saw the blonde quietly stepping out of the stall. He quickly shut the door behind him, keeping his eyes down. Silence stretched out strong and as heavy as the air itself.

Sasuke stared at the blonde hair he though he’d never see again. His heart hurt and he wanted so badly to scoop the other man into his arms, but stopped himself by sheer force of will. His idiot had changed over the years, which although painful was not unexpected. Instead of the short slim body he possessed as a boy, Naruto’s body had filled out with thick chorded muscle earned from years of hard labor. His tan had deepened, making those damn eyes of his stand out like jewels on sand.

Without his consent, Sasukes hand slowly reached out, giving the blonde time to dodge, and caught that strong jaw with gentle fingers. Softly he raised Narutos head until their eyes met again. His idiots face was tired and worn, and the expression in his eyes told Sasuke that he fully expected to be slapped any second.

They stared at each other, trying desperately to give and take everything of the last ten years silently, to afraid to actually speak or touch.

“I’ll show you your room” Naruto jerked his head of Sasukes grasp and started walking towards the door.

--

Sasuke was sitting at the kitchen table, waiting for Naruto. It was late, darkness had settled hours ago and the stars dotted the sky like runaway suns. After arriving to the most uncomfortable situation imaginable, his life had been surprisingly calm. Mostly because he hadn’t seen hide nor hair of his blonde idiot in about a week. One sided conversations at the dinner table, with him picking up the blondes role as the spring of conversation, did not count either.

Much his dismay, a little voice appeared in his head and told him that with three thousand head of cattle arriving before the ranch was prepared might have had something to do with it. He told that voice to go fuck a cow. Sasuke had come to terms that his feelings before they were separated were not that of a good friend. He had come to terms that those feeling hadn’t faded.

Which would be surprising to the point of a drug addled brain except for the fact that all Sasuke had to do was brush horses and think about Naruto for the last week. Never say that Uchihas were not efficient. Never say that they weren’t obsessive.

Sasuke had decided it was the blondes turn to get in touch with his emotions. As the little voice in his head was telling him not to push the blonde after such a long and painful separation, said blonde stepped into the kitchen. Sasukes head shot up like it was attached to a string and obsidian eyes fixed on the object of his spinning thoughts.

Naruto was leaning against the doorway, covered in sweat mud and things neither man wanted to think about. Naruto found his eyes following the slim line of Sasukes body as he lounged in the chair, even as Sasuke found his eyes following the path of a droplet of sweat as it slid over pouting lips to disappear under the collar of his shirt.

Sasuke told the voice in his head to shut the hell up as the flowed into a standing position.

“Naruto, why the hell have you been avoiding me?”

At his words Narutos mouth slid open in shock. His body froze as the meaning of the words sunk in, and before he could stop himself he was striding across the room. Before either could wrap their mind around what just happened Naruto had grabbed Sasukes shoulders in a crushing grip before slamming him into the wall. Sasuke struggled, angry that the blonde hadn’t reacted the way he wanted, but years of hard labor had given Naruto strength. He viscously pinned the other man to the wall, stilling his squirming.

“I’ve been avoiding you? I’VE BEEN AVOIDING YOU?” Any other moment Sasuke would have been glad at being so close to his idiot, but now with all ten years of abandonment being centered on him, he only felt sick. He swallowed before leaning foreword to rest his cheek against Narutos.

“We were both abandoned. But now…. Now we have a chance to start over. We have a chance at a life of our choosing.”

Naruto snarled and threw Sasuke away from him before storming out of the Kitchen.

--

"Hot hate is twin brother to hot love."- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle


It was dawn in Abilene. The dark blue velvet of the night sky was slowly retreating into pink, purples, yellows, and the softer blues of the day. Ribbons of purple pastels curved and twisted around the silver outline of the moon as pink and yellow clouds expanded under the awakening heat of the new days golden sun. The tan and brown of the Texas landscape stretched on into forever, only meeting the palette of the dawning day’s colors when forever slowly morphed into the finite of “today”.

And Sasuke didn’t pay it the least bit of attention.

It had been four days since the confrontation in the kitchen, and the little voice in his head hadn’t let him forget that it was his fault. A fact he wouldn’t admit to under pain of death. Shirtless under the pale blue light of dawn he was gently cleaning around the bruises left by Narutos hands. It was awkward washing his upper biceps but he was in no way stupid enough to ask Naruto.

No matter how tempting that scenario seemed to be.

He dipped his rag back into the trough, trying to ignore the fact that he could be having a real bath inside, but alas, a certain blonde was using the washroom. And he really didn’t want to think about how Naruto would react to him barging in during a bath.

No matter how tempting that scenario seemed to be.

He raised the rag to the back of his neck and squeezed, reveling in the feel of the cool water sliding across his heated skin. He let his head fall back with a soft sigh, staring up at the few remaining stars. A noise from behind saw him spinning around, ready to run if it was snake.

It was Naruto, standing in the shadow of the house. And for the life of him, Sasuke couldn’t decide if he’d rather have a snake. He didn’t want to deal with his heart pretending to be a faint belle. He stared at Naruto, drinking in the sight of fading moonlight caressing tan skin and pooling around cerulean eyes. As usual his heart started acting like a hussy at the very sight of his idiot.

“Di- did I give you those?” It was a relief to here something other than anger inside that beautiful baritone. Sasuke glanced at the bruises; they really were a sight to see. An ugly blue black that faded to a sickly green yellow around the edges.

“It would seem that way wouldn’t it” Sasuke was tired of hurting, and tired of being separated when they slept under the same roof, and felt no remorse for making the idiot feel guilty. It might even be good for him to be the one hurting for once. Sasukes thoughts darkened from there as he absentmindedly rubbed his over the tender flesh of his bruises.

Some of his though must have leaked over onto his face, or maybe the idiot wasn’t quite as much of an idiot that he was when Sasuke knew him last, but for whatever reason the blonde strode across the pools of the awakening days sunlight and was suddenly right in front of him.

Naruto rocked on his heels which brought his face achingly close to Sasukes. The lines around the Uchihas mouth grew tight and a look of almost pain washed across his delicate features before he looked pointedly away from the blonde. Shocked Naruto could only stare at his friend.

“I want us to be like we were before” ‘ I want us to be so much more than before’

Naruto nodded before remembering that since Sasuke wasn’t looking at him, he actually had to speak.

“Me too”

“Then start acting like it, idiot”

--

“. . . Love is no hot-house flower, but a wild plant, born of a wet night, born of an hour of sunshine; sprung from wild seed, blown along the road by a wild wind. A wild plant that, when it blooms by chance within the hedge of our gardens, we call a flower; and when it blooms outside we call a weed; but, flower or weed, whose scent and colour are always, wild!”- John Galsworthy


Sasuke sat seething at the kitchen table and tried not to think about the similarities between the now and a certain night all those weeks ago. After what he jokingly called the “talk” between the two of them Sasuke was relieved to have found a life with startling similarity to the one that was shattered all those years ago.

Naruto had starting talking to him again. And talking. And talking. But after a long day of doing nothing besides reading and playing with horses it was almost terribly good to have Naruto come into the house, sweaty, muddy and grinning like mad. And start talking.

Talking about the upcoming cattle drive.

Talking about his horse.

Talking about Iruka.

Talking about the past.

Talking about the past usually led to the two of them sitting a little too close on chase lounge, thighs and hands barely brushing. It wasn’t perfect, it wasn’t easy, but by god Sasuke would take what he could get.

Or at least that’s what he had thought until the idiot had actually started avoiding him. It had started with the blonde going out to work before he’d woken up for the day. Which really wasn’t that hard considering that he liked sleeping until at least mid morning. But then it became not coming home in time for dinner, or being “too tired for dinner” Then it became an all out hunt to find the blonde anywhere on the farm.

Not acceptable. Not at all.

The kitchen door creaked open and Sasuke was instantly on his feet. Anger was a tight, hot ball in the pit of his stomach. Through narrowed eyes he watched Naruto slink in, not making eye contact and slowly slipping off his boots. Sasuke was tired of playing games.

Tired of waiting for the blonde.

So he made his move.

“Since you seemed to have changed your mind, and I’m sick of waiting like some suitor for some spoiled little belle, I’m leaving in the morning.” Sasuke smirked as Narutos head shot up and those damn blue eyes widened in shock. He turned on his heel and started walking out of the kitchen.

“I’ll just give the money to Iruka from now on.” Sasukes prayer to God that this would work was cut of by Naruto tackling him to the ground. He felt the air leave his lungs in one painful cough as his abdomen made harsh contact with the unforgiving wood of the floor. Before he would think Naruto rolled him over and straddled his legs, effectively pinning him.

pairing

“No damn you! You can’t leave now!” Sasuke did his best to glare and look condescending while wheezing for breath.

“Why exactly are you getting so worked up? You obviously stopped caring these past weeks, so why the hell do you care now?” Sasuke wasn’t one to look for divine intervention, but maybe Naruto just brought that out in him. He prayed that this gamble would pay off. He prayed that Naruto would just this once not be an idiot. He prayed-

The last prayer was cut off abruptly by the feel of soft full lips gently brushing against his own. Sasuke gasped, too shocked to even gloat that his plan had worked. Naruto grabbed his face with calloused hands and took full advantage of the new open orifice.

Sasuke stiffened at the first ruthless brush of Naruto’s tongue against his, but when the musky taste invaded his senses he relaxed. He felt the blond smile against his lips, as his hands tentatively entwined themselves in the gold silk of Narutos hair. The kiss intensified like fine whiskey. Slowly the harshness fading into the hot burning of bubbling amber down the back of the throat.

Suddenly Naruto pulled back, eyes blazing like facets on a gem. Hot breath fanned his face and Sasuke fought the urge to lean up and connect their lips again.

“I care too much you bastard”

“Idiot, what took you so long?”

With those words of wisdom imparted, Sasuke brushed his lips against Narutos. Once, twice, and again. As much as his body wanted to concentrate on how soft the others lips were and how hot his chest was pushed up against his own, Sasuke pushed it down ruthlessly. That would come later. It had better fucking come later.

“Naruto, this will be forever.”

The blonde simply kissed him again, a delicate melding that just barely gave the hint of something deeper.

“So you had better not fucking back down”

“I love you too, bastard”

Sasuke chocked at that, that spur to the heart.

--

This is my first attempt to write Naruto fiction, and I deserve to die. I can't begin to count all the fandom cliches I used, and I deserve to burn for it. Not only that, but I'm just not happy with how I wrote this, I'm really not. But I'm sick and tired of the damn thing and by God I'm going to post the fucker. There's no sex, because I hate this story and refused to go any further (which also explains the bad ending. There are grammar mistakes because I'm a lazy fat ass and need run over my a semi truck.

I might go back and add porn later... maybe. Have fun kids.