Repercussions

Naruto flinched when he landed on a branch, the impact jarring the deep wound that pierced his side, still oozing blood. No matter how gently he tried to land, the impact traveled up his legs with mindless vengeance, merging with the blazing agony in his side as if like was drawn to like. Normally his body would already be attempting to heal the wound, but it was not the only wound that had been inflicted on his person, and he’d been forced to expend serious amounts of chakra in his latest mission.

Biting his lip, Naruto continued to travel amongst the tree tops, determined to keep his discomfort hidden from his companions. They were almost home, and he didn’t want them to try and slow down for his sake. They’d already been gone far longer than they’d originally planned, and he wasn’t willing to waste any more time. Not when they were so close.

Landing on a particularly large branch, Naruto was unable to muffle his groan, only sheer determination keeping him from clutching at his side.

“You might as well give it up Naruto. I can smell the blood.” Kiba landed beside him, dark eyes piercing as they stared into startled blue. He smirked, revealing white canines that were far sharper than a normal man’s.

“I agree with mutt face.” Shikamaru landed on his other side, hands shoved in his pockets as he glared at Naruto. “Even a genin would be able to see that you’re badly injured.”

Naruto chuckled weakly, leaning heavily against the thick trunk now that the kunai was out of the bag. “I suppose it was kind of obvious.”

The others only looked at him. Then Kiba sighed, running a hand through his long shaggy hair. “Look Naruto, I know you want to get home as quickly as possible.” He sighed. “Hell, I’m dying to get back to Hinata, but you can’t push yourself like this. With the way you’re going, I’m going to end up carrying your unconscious body through the gates.”

“Then at least I’d be in Konoha,” Naruto stated firmly. He was tired, he was bleeding, and all he wanted to do now was go home and pass out for the next week. He’d promised Sasuke he would be back in one week. That had been three weeks ago. At this rate, he’d be lucky if the bastard didn’t skin him alive with that glare of his.

Naruto inwardly shuddered. He hated that look.

Shikamaru scowled at the blonde. “Why do you have to be so troublesome?” He rubbed the back of his head, chewing on the long piece of grass he’d picked up a while back. “Sasuke’s only going to be more pissed at you if you bleed to death just outside the gates.”

“Only because he wasn’t there to watch,” Naruto griped, closing his eyes as another wave of pain slid through him, making him grit his teeth. “Bastard’s a sadist when it comes to my pain.” He chuckled weakly. “I suppose I should hurry. That way I can get back into his highness’s good graces by letting him watch me bleed to death.”

He shoved away from the tree, then paused as if considering. “Besides, I can’t die. Sasuke would kill me.”

Shaking his head, Shikamaru spat out the piece of grass. “You are an idiot Naruto, and I really don’t want to know any more about you and the Uchiha. My stomach can only take so much.” Then he sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Fine, we keep moving. But only after you replace the bandage around your waist. That’s the one that seems to be causing you the most trouble.”

Although impatient to be moving, Naruto submitted to their ministrations, flinching when Kiba tightened the new bandages with more force than needed. “Are you trying to kill me?” Naruto yelped, jerking away.

“Nope,” Kiba grinned, wiping off his hands. “You’re doing that well enough on your own. You don’t need my help.”

“Okay, enough talking,” Shikamaru ordered. “Let’s get Naruto home before we’re forced to carry him. That would be way too troublesome.”

The three of them darted amongst the tree tops, with Naruto in the lead. It was obvious his wounds were still troubling him, but the bandage seemed to help.

By the time they reached the gates of Konoha, Naruto was limping heavily, but he was still on his feet, unaided by either Shikamaru or Kiba. Smiling weakly, Naruto leaned against one of the massive doors. “See,” he panted harshly, leaning his head back. “I told you I could make it.”

Kiba eyed him dubiously, hand resting on Akamaru’s enormous head. “If you say so Naruto.” He glanced at the village stretched out before them, eyes seeking the massive tower in the distance. “We should probably check in with the Hokage. She needs to know what happened.”

Naruto snorted, pushing away from the gate. “Thinking of the old lady, we need to have a talk. She said this mission would be short and simple.” The blonde scowled as he marched towards the tower, blue eyes glinting with menace as he considered the Godaime’s orders.

It was supposed to have been a simple reconnaissance mission to the Cloud village, who were rumored to have been hiding the remaining survivors of Akatsuki. Tsunade had been hesitant about sending Naruto, considering how eager they had been to get their hands on him in the first place. But Naruto had been persistent, and a persistent Naruto was an irritating Naruto.

The mission should have been a simple get in and get out, but things had gotten rather...complicated. He noticed that seemed to happen a lot on his missions.

It turned out Cloud hadn’t been harboring any Akatsuki fugitives, but they had been responsible for a considerable amount of raids across Sand’s northern border. Obligated by the treaty recently created between their peoples, Naruto and his teammates had tracked down the tresspassers, a long and exhausting process. In the end they had managed to locate the leader of the raiders and had delivered him bound hand and foot to Gaara for punishment.

Naruto shivered. The Kazekage might have had Shukaku ripped out of him, but he was still a force to be reckoned with. The punishment...hadn’t been pleasant. It was mildly disturbing to know that sand could be that deadly.

“It wouldn’t have taken nearly so long if you hadn’t insisted on attacking the leader in his lair,” Shikamaru pointed out, rolling his eyes. “We should have simply waited until he left. Like I said we should.”

Naruto simply scowled, clearly unrepentant. “We got the job done didn’t we?” he muttered. He rubbed his head, sighing wearily. “Lets go see the old lady. The faster we get this over with, the sooner I can get some ramen.”

If he was lucky, Sasuke would be out on a mission or something.

It was nighttime when Naruto finally stumbled into the apartment he shared with the Uchiha. It was a small place, with the single bedroom and living area that doubled as a kitchen. The one bathroom they had was accessible only from the bedroom. It was a small place, Naruto knew, but it was what they wanted.

Naruto staggered towards the couch, bleary-eyed with exhaustion. The meeting with Tsunade had taken over an hour, with her making him recount every moment of their mission, once, twice, then three times just because she could. Then to make matters worse she’d ordered him to the hospital, complete with ANBU escort.

Sinking into the deliciously soft cushions, the blonde allowed himself a grim smile that would have done Sasuke proud. Even tired as he was, he’d still managed to shake them. He shifted, groaning as knives of white fire sliced through his side. Once the pain subsided, he gave a dry chuckle, letting his eyes fall closed. It didn’t matter that they knew where he lived. With the protections Sasuke had put in place, anyone wanting to get in without permission would have to take out the whole building. If there was anything Sasuke had learned from his time out of Konoha, it was to always create a secure bolt hole.

Naruto sobered at the reminder of his lover’s past.

It had taken some time, but he had come to know the man that Sasuke had become. His life with Orochimaru had shaped him in so many ways, he was no longer the youth that Naruto had trained with while on Team 7. Sasuke was always aware of the people around him, never truly relaxing until they were alone in their apartment, surrounded by the wards he had created to protect them in their times of vulnerability. And Naruto doubted that the old lady would be able to get through those wards without some serious effort.

He’d noticed that Sasuke had become even more contained, if that were possible. Sasuke never thought out loud, preferring to keep his thoughts to himself. He watched everything and everyone with those dark, expressionless eyes, always calculating, learning. Then there was his incredible focus. When Sasuke decided he was going to do something, he did it with no hesitation, and perfect skill, whether it be a mission, cooking, or seducing Naruto.

Again, Naruto groaned, arching upwards as pain shot through him. Sweat beading on his forehead, he curled on his side, eyes clenched as he fought to breathe through it. It seemed like forever before the pain eased, leaving him gasping and shivering. Shifting onto his back, Naruto stared blankly up at the ceiling; listening to the way his breath rasped against the back of his throat, the way his heart hammered in his ears.

Damn, Sasuke was going to be pissed. He hated it when Naruto was stupid enough to get himself injured. He’d keep making snide remarks about it, followed by ‘the look’. The one that could strip the flesh of his bones and incinerate with a thought.

Thinking about his coming confrontation with the Uchiha, Naruto groaned, covering his face with his hands. He’d heard that Sasuke hadn’t been sent out on any missions. Since he wasn’t around and judging from the time of night, that meant that Sasuke was most likely training. Preferring the more remote locations to train, he wouldn’t have found out about Naruto’s return. A small blessing, since if he knew, he would no doubt have a plan already set in motion on how to punish Naruto for the prolonged absence. If he didn’t already.

A disturbing thought.

Moaning Naruto hauled himself up off the couch and into the bedroom, irritated by his weakness. Why couldn’t his body heal him just a little faster? Sasuke was going to be pissed enough that it took him so long to come home. If he found out Naruto had skipped out on the hospital while seriously injured...? The blonde shuddered, unable to finish that thought. There were some things he was better off not imagining.

It took several painful minutes to peel his clothes off his body, revealing the grimy, blood streaked skin beneath. The bandage covering his side was soaked with blood, the sharp coppery tang filling the air. He winced as his movements pulled open the wound on his shoulder, created by a stray kunai. The rest of his injuries were minor scratches and bruises, peppering his body in random patterns. He barely noticed them, his true concern the wounds on his side and shoulder. There was no telling how long it would take for the healing to begin, all depending on how quickly his chakra returned.

Naruto sighed, wrapping a towel around his waist as he limped into the bathroom. He supposed the lack of chakra was a sign that he had pushed too hard this time. If he of all people ran out of chakra, something was wrong. He’d just been so determined to get home that he hadn’t stopped to really think things out. Not like he really thought things out in the first place. Why think when he could act?

Reaching into the shower, Naruto turned on the water, stepping in only once he was comfortable with the heat. He hissed as the scalding water stung his scratches, biting his lip when the water sluiced over the hole in his shoulder. Tilting his head back he took deep breathes until he was able to push aside the fierce ache. Reaching for the bandages around his middle, he carefully unwrapped them, movements slow and careful. Wrinkling his nose, Naruto tossed the sullied bandages over the stall and onto the floor, figuring he would throw them away later.

Now he took the time to take a look at the gash in his side. Gazing at the torn flesh, Naruto flinched in spite of himself, the pain increasing when he realized just how ugly it was. It had been in the middle of a fight when the enemy had managed to hit him with one of their shuriken. Naruto had hardly noticed the explosion of pain in his side, thoroughly involved in keeping three ninja from taking his life. He had noticed however, when one of the enemy had reached out and ripped it from his side.

Naruto gazed at the torn flesh with revulsion. The flesh was torn and ragged, crusted with blood turned black. The gash continued to ooze fresh blood, a bright red that glowed against the white tile beneath his feet. Pain had settled over his side as a sharp ache, making him want to clutch at it and curl in on himself. Instead, he turned his face into the water, letting the heat wash over him. He almost screamed as the water hit his side, instead biting down on his finger. He knew enough about first aid to want to wash out the wound.

Normally he wouldn’t have to resort to such drastic measures, but his body was taking its time right now, and he didn’t want to allow time for infection to set in. If it did, then it would be interesting to see what killed him first; the infection, the old lady, or Sasuke.

He didn’t know how long he stood in there when he felt the wash of cool air over his backside. Stiffening in surprise, Naruto carefully twisted around to glance over his shoulder. He refused to give into the wince of pain as the movement sent little darts of agony flaring to life in his side. His shoulder echoed the pain, but wasn’t as intense as the gash in his side.

Through the cloudy glass door of the shower, Naruto glimpsed the dark figure that was Sasuke.

Even with the hot water pouring over him, he couldn’t suppress a shiver of awareness to his lover’s presence. He watched as the blurry figure reached for the shower door, shoving down the spike of anxiety as he braced himself for the Uchiha’s reaction. He understood that Sasuke had a right to be pissed with him right now, but that didn’t make it any easier to bear.

His surprise as the brunet stepped into the shower fully dressed quickly shifted to wary arousal as he gazed into familiar dark eyes. Narrowed dark eyes. Pulling his eyes away from the fierce emotions writhing in the pit of his lover’s black gaze, Naruto glanced down. “You’re still dressed,” he pointed out uselessly, knowing his cheeks were red from more than the heat.

“I ran into Shikamaru on the way back from the training field,” Sasuke stated tonelessly, having yet to move from his current spot. “As well as several disgruntled ANBU.” The Uchiha’s dark eyes sought out his side, regardless of the fact that he could not see the wound from that angle. Then they flicked to his shoulder, darkening with disapproval.

Moving slowly, Naruto turned around to face the Uchiha fully, refusing to give into the urge to sag against the shower wall. Silently promising to make Shikamaru pay, he chuckled weakly, rubbing the back of his neck. “Old lady Tsunade worries too much. I figured I would give them some time off.”

Sasuke stared at him. “You are an idiot.” Uncaring of his dressed state, he stepped closer and knelt, fingers gently probing the wound in Naruto’s side.

The blonde hissed and tried to pull away, but Sasuke’s restraining hand on his hip held him in place. “That hurts, bastard!”

Seeing the dark look Sasuke flicked up at him, Naruto clamped his mouth shut, the sound of his teeth clicking together audible over the sound of the shower. Satisfied that the blonde was going to stay quiet, Sasuke returned to examining the wound. “You were careless,” he stated coolly, prodding the wound hard enough to make Naruto groan. “Your opponent should never have gotten this close.”

“I was busy keeping three other guys off my ass,” Naruto grit out, head tilted back as he gazed up at the ceiling, breathing through his nose. It helped to keep him from making too much noise, as well as keeping his eyes off the dark haired man kneeling before him. Wet, Sasuke’s training attire didn’t leave much for the imagination. It didn’t help that it had been three weeks since they’d last seen each other, the longest time they’d spent apart in their relationship.

As much as Naruto wanted to smooth his hands over Sasuke’s sculpted chest, he kept his hands to himself. As the rules of their relationship went, it was Naruto who had fucked up, so it was Sasuke who got to call the shots. Naruto swallowed hard. He could still remember what happened the last time he pissed Sasuke off this badly. It had certainly made their love life interesting for a few days. His ass ached with the memory.

Naruto was trying to decide how best to apologize when Sasuke abruptly stood. The blonde could only watch wide-eyed as the brunette glared at him, black eyes furious. “You drained all your chakra.” His voice was filled with quiet menace, lips pressed into a thin line.

Raising his hands, the blonde spoke quickly. “We were pretty much on the move the entire time we were gone, with the last week spent tracking down the bastards that were raiding Sand. We didn’t have time to stop and rest.” He deliberately left out that he hadn’t allowed himself any time to rest. That he would keep to himself for now. Or forever.

Sasuke stared at him for a long time, forcing Naruto to watch his feet in order to escape his penetrating gaze. When he finally turned away, Naruto ignored the sharp twist near his heart, silently consoling himself that eventually Sasuke would speak to him again. Maybe.

But instead of leaving Sasuke grabbed the shampoo from a corner shelf. Opening the bottle, he poured a liberal amount into his palm. Setting it aside, he stepped close once again. “Turn around.” His voice brooked no argument.

Knowing he had no choice, Naruto turned, bracing his hands on the slick tile walls and let the hot water wash over him. Immediately strong fingers were buried in his hair, massaging the lemon scented shampoo in. Naruto’s eyes slid closed in heavenly bliss as Sasuke’s fingernails scraped over his scalp and down the length of his neck. So involved in the sensations created by Sasuke’s strong fingers, he jumped in surprise at the feel of teeth biting into the firm muscle of his shoulder.

Naruto’s head lolled back, neck gone limp as Sasuke firmly bit down. The pressure of his teeth steadily increased, making Naruto squirm between the Sasuke’s heat and the cool shower wall. When the Uchiha finally pulled back, the teeth marks were just short of drawing blood. Panting, Naruto tried to turn, but the brunet reached around him and grabbed his wrists, holding him in place.

“I don’t think so, Dobe.” Maneuvering Naruto under the running water, he pressed his hands against the wall. “Stay.” Releasing the blonde’s wrists, he pulled back, rinsing the soap from his hair. As he did so he continued to nip the strong line of Naruto’s throat, earning an appreciative moan in response. “I do not like it when you bleed,” he growled into the blonde’s skin, scraping his teeth across the sensitive patch behind his ear.

Bowing his head, Naruto gasped. “You mean when your not the one to make me bleed, right?” He jumped when Sasuke bit his ear lobe in punishment. “Its not my fault any way. Fucking Cloud made things complicated.”

Sasuke growled, nipping at the nape of his neck. “You would find Cloud hard to manage.”

“Shut up, Bastard!” Naruto tried to push away from the wall, but a warning hand dangerously close to the wound in his side stopped him. Sensing the threat, the blonde froze. Blue eyes wary, he glanced over his shoulder, and met a pair of blazing black eyes. Passion crackled in the depths of cool black, and Naruto was relieved to see that he was not the only one left wanting for the touch of flesh.

Once Sasuke was sure that Naruto’s hair was rinsed of all the shampoo, he pulled him from beneath the spray and pressed him up against the cool wall, earning a hiss of discomfort. A small smile gracing his pale lips, Sasuke pressed closer, careful of Naruto’s wounds. Lifting his hands, Sasuke traced his face, caressing the line of his jaw. When Naruto tried to grab his hips, he caught his wrists with a glare, pressing his hands against the shower wall. The Uchiha held his wrists for a long moment, gazes locked in a silent contest. Naruto was the one to look away first, baring the vulnerable curve of his throat.

Satisfaction humming through him, Sasuke settled his mouth over Naruto’s pulse, feeling the strong beats quicken beneath his tongue. He did not linger for long, sliding his mouth lower to nip and tease the flesh over Naruto’s collar bones, hands sliding over firm muscle and water slick skin. Gradually Naruto’s breaths grew shorter, rasping in the back of his throat as desire pooled and throbbed. Surrounded by wet heat, Sasuke drank in Naruto’s soft sounds of pleasure, lifting his mouth from the enticing play of skin over muscle and bone when the temptation to taste the blonde’s mouth became too much to resist.

Instead of claiming the dobe’s lips in a fierce kiss, like he wanted, Sasuke took his time, feathering his lips over Naruto’s in soft exploration. He pressed their lips together with infinite gentleness, the pressure so light the blonde wasn’t even sure he was being kissed. Desperate for a true taste, Naruto tried to push forward, careful to keep his hands and back touching the wall. But Sasuke refused to comply, pulling back.

Head falling forward, Naruto growled in frustration, his wounds completely forgotten in light of the heat that had settled as a tight knot low in his belly. Unbeknownst to him, his eyes gradually shifted from bright blue to deep crimson, the normally round pupil narrowing to a mere slit. The combination of his drained chakra and injuries, as well as the arousal Sasuke was drawing out served the perfect catalyst in bringing the fox to the surface.

Seeing the change, Sasuke smirked, but was not alarmed. Instead he pressed close once again, catching Naruto’s bottom lip with his teeth. He bit down quickly, then flicked the small wound with his tongue. Again, Naruto tried to close the distance between their mouths; and again Sasuke pulled back just out of reach, his hot breath teasing the blonde’s sensitized lips.

Choking on the whimper that he refused to voice out loud, Naruto swore. “God dammit Sasuke! Stop being a bastard and kiss me!”

Smirking, Sasuke slid a hand up the length of Naruto’s thigh, dragging his fingertips along the sensitive flesh of his inner thigh. “Is that what you want?”

“Yes,” Naruto half gasped, half groaned. His legs slid further apart as Sasuke’s hand traveled higher, pressed clenched fists against the wall hard enough to bruise. The brunette halted his fingers a scant distance from Naruto’s balls, using his finger to trace a delicate, infinitely intricate pattern on the soft skin, making sure to stop just before touching anything truly sensitive.

Naruto snarled at the blatant torture, teeth biting into his lip hard enough to draw blood. Every muscle in his body was strung as taut as a bow string, the pressure steadily mounting with no imminent release. Sweat beaded his brow and upper lip, both water and sweat sliding down the long muscular lines of his body.

Inwardly seething as desire pulsed through his veins with brutal sweetness, Naruto watched Sasuke through hooded eyes, crimson pupils glowing with bestial intelligence. Red light flickered around him as the Kyuubi drew closer to the surface, the fox’s chakra sliding across his skin in a new kind of caress. He hardly noticed when the chakra concentrated on the hole in his shoulder or the deep gash in his side, focused only on the sight of Sasuke’s pale face framed by slick hair as black as night. Equally dark eyes held him in a trance, until his existence consisted only of black heat and teasing caresses that slowly dragged him further into the flames of blazing want.

Need couldn’t even begin to cover what Naruto felt. Need was a pale comparison to the driving hunger that festered low in his belly and awakened nerve endings he didn’t even know he had. The water was a constant barrage of sensation on his right side, but nothing could drown out the soft skim of fingertips on his inner thigh.

He was considering simply grabbing Sasuke and throwing him up against the nearest wall when his side and shoulder began to burn and tingle, intruding on the mind numbing desire that tumbled through him like an avalanche of sensation. He shifted as the skin pulled tight, then eased, the strange feelings fading away. Frowning, Naruto looked at his shoulder, scowling when he saw the smooth, unbroken flesh. Turning his attention to his hip he saw the same thing had occurred, the deep gash healed completely.

Understanding dawned as he turned to Sasuke, crimson eyes narrowing when he saw the satisfaction in his lover’s dark eyes. “Are you happy now?”

Sasuke trailed a pale finger down Naruto’s side, caressing the newly healed skin. “Injuries leave you vulnerable.” He didn’t say anything more, and he didn’t need to. Naruto may not like it, but he understood the sentiment. Weakness of any kind was anathema to Sasuke, something to be covered up and hidden away in the dark where no one could find it.

Naruto didn’t know what kind of trauma Sasuke had been forced to endure while with Orochimaru, but it was enough that it had made him virtually paranoid about him or Naruto being injured.

Naruto understood why Sasuke had deliberately provoked him to bring out the Kyuubi, but everything has a price.

Faster than the eye could follow, Naruto reached out and gripped Sasuke’s tight black shirt, the wet fabric stretching as he yanked him forward. Sasuke collided with Naruto’s naked chest, the blonde curling a hand around the nape of his neck while his arm wrapped around the brunet’s waist like a steel band.

“No more teasing,” Naruto snarled, and gripping the hair at the nape of his neck, pulled Sasuke’s head back. Driven by lust, Naruto slammed their mouths together with brutal ferocity, devouring the Uchiha’s mouth as if trying to crawl inside it. He slipped his tongue between Sasuke’s parted lips and dove inside the warm cavern of his mouth; tasting salty heat and something undefinably Sasuke.

He was unable to keep his hands still for long, sliding beneath Sasuke’s wet shirt to the silken heat beneath. His hands flowed over smooth skin with obvious relish, dragging his fingernails across hard muscle with enough force to leave red marks imprinted in the pale skin. Sasuke shuddered in his arms, wrapping his arms around Naruto’s neck when the hard heat of his arousal pressed against Naruto’s abdomen. Rumbling his approval, Naruto turned and pressed him against the shower wall.

Naruto broke the kiss just enough to breathe, hooking his fingers beneath the hem of Sasuke’s shirt and yanking it up over his head. Once his torso was bare, Naruto was unable to resist mapping the pale flesh with his tongue, teeth testing firm muscle and flesh. Hands pinning Sasuke’s wrists to the wall, Naruto fastened his mouth on Sasuke’s nipple, using his teeth just to the point of pain, leaving teeth marks that would be purple by morning.

“Now look who’s leaving marks,” Sasuke said quietly, managing by supreme will power alone to keep the desire out of his voice.

Rumbling low in his throat Naruto worked his way down Sasuke’s stomach, nuzzling the erection that strained against the tight pants that clung to the Uchiha’s lean legs. Feeling the heat of Sasuke’s arousal straight through his pants, Naruto growled, lust singing through him. His finger tips tingled as nails lengthening to claws and Naruto snarled, tearing Sasuke’s pants from his body. For a long moment Naruto stared at Sasuke’s leaking cock, temptation making his mouth water.

But instead he grabbed the Uchiha’s hips and spun him around. “Brace your hands on the wall,” Naruto growled, hands tight on Sasuke’s hips. The brunette glanced over his shoulder at him, black meeting crimson.

“I don’t think so Dobe.” Before Naruto’s eyes the Uchiha’s dark eyes swirled, the iris lightening until it was a brilliant crimson to match Naruto’s. He blinked slowly, and the sharingan came into existence, whirling slowly, threatening and promising. Keeping his eyes locked with Naruto’s, he pushed up against his body, thrilling at the way Naruto’s claws dug into his hips. “Tonight is my night.” He nibbled on the line of Naruto’s jaw, fingers sliding along strong forearms.

Naruto growled at the caress, pressing his claws tighter in warning. “And who says that?” His voice was distorted, half slur, half growl. Hunger pressed on him. He wanted to devour, to take. Sasuke was calling to him like a forbidden siren’s song, urging him to throw himself into oblivion in spite of the consequences. And how Naruto wanted to. He could hear the Kyuubi in the back of his mind, whispering for him to stake his claim.

“I do.” Lifting his eyes, Sasuke snared Naruto’s wild gaze, a smirk shaping his lips. Crimson met crimson in an audible clash, two wills struggling for dominance, both knowing that no matter who won, there would be only one out come. “You don’t stand a chance, Naruto.” The name rolled off Sasuke’s tongue, darker than sin, sweeter than honey. His fingers slid past the blonde’s wrists to his fingers, keeping his touch light, gentle. He teased the fingers, coaxing them out of their grip on his hips, all the while flicking his tongue over one of Naruto’s nipples.

“Fuck you.” Naruto snarled, but did not resist. Instead he was falling into the Sharingan, twisting in a world of black and crimson. Desire hummed through him, a twisting cycle of rage and hunger festering beneath the skin. But he was pinned by that knowing gaze, the darkness crowding behind the Uchiha’s eyes reflected in his own.

“I’d rather fuck you actually.” Taking Naruto’s nipple between his teeth, Sasuke bit down, earning a surprised grunt. Then, when the blonde was off balance, gave him a shove, slamming him up against the wall of the shower.

Naruto would have lashed out at the sharp move, if warm fingers hadn’t slid beneath his chin, caressing the soft skin. He rumbled as Sasuke pressed against him once more, grinding their erections together as he rolled his hips in a sensuous movement that made Naruto’s eyes roll up into his head. “Sasuke,” he hummed, arching his hips in response, his head still tilted back, held in place by pale fingers.

“I’m through being wet,” Sasuke said against the firm muscle of his chest. Reaching back, he twisted the knobs, shutting off the shower. Neither of them noticed the chill that settled around them, filtering through the damp heat that had enveloped them like a cocoon.

Instead Naruto watched Sasuke avidly, waiting for his moment to pounce.

Seeing the hunger reflected in the blonde’s eyes, Sasuke made sure to keep eye contact at all times. Reaching out, his fingers found the cool metal of the handle for the shower door. Sliding it open, and keeping his fingers touching the vulnerable flesh beneath Naruto’s chin, he stepped out of the shower. Still caught by the Uchiha’s intent gaze, Naruto followed like a puppet on strings, growling low under his breath.

Sasuke didn’t smirk but his eyes gleamed with satisfaction, earning a low snarl from Naruto, who abruptly lunged bringing them body to body once more. He dipped his head, rubbing his cheek against Sasuke’s cheek and hair. Burying his face in the crook of Sasuke’s neck, Naruto purred. “You smell of life, and death.”

Capturing clawed hands before they could touch him, Sasuke returned the nuzzle. “More of death I’m sure.” Still holding Naruto’s wrists, he led him from the bathroom, uncaring of his nudity.

Naruto was very aware of it however. He followed willingly, entranced by an intoxicating combination of black hair and pale skin, crimson eyes and warm hands.

When they reached the bedroom, Sasuke released his hold on Naruto’s wrists, one hand snaking up to bury in the damp golden hair at the base of his neck. He pulled Naruto’s head down the few inches that separated them. “Do you want me, Naruto?” His lips were whisper soft against the blonde’s, caressing the sensitive crease with the tip of hit tongue.

“You know I do.”

Sasuke smiled gently, and then shoved Naruto onto the bed, following close behind. Naruto landed on his back, baring his fangs as he bounced. His ire faded when Sasuke’s warm weight pinned him to the bed, the Uchiha crawling between his thighs. Growling, Naruto parted his thighs to give the other man room, more interested in sating his hunger than fighting him. For now.

Naruto arched his hips up, rubbing his throbbing erection against Sasuke’s, hissing when the heated skin scraped against damp skin. “Your certainly pushy tonight,” the blonde grunted, dragging his claws up the side of Sasuke’s thighs. As he did that, he set his teeth on Sasuke’s nipple, adding bruises that matched the ones already forming on its twin, the small nub of flesh hard from arousal and the cold.

Sasuke threw his head back as his already sensitive nipple was gripped by the blonde’s strong white teeth, nails digging into Naruto’s shoulders as he swallowed his low moan. His eyes narrowed to slits as Naruto continued to lavish the small nub with attention, his mouth nipping and sucking with wicked skill. Head falling forward, he met Naruto’s eyes, the crimson depths gleaming with fierce satisfaction, and the waiting patience of a predator toying with its chosen prey.

Matching that dark stare, Sasuke bared his teeth in return, strong hands gripping wet blonde hair to jerk the other man’s head back. Lowering himself down Naruto’s chest, he sealed his mouth over his throat, teeth and tongue scraping over the adam’s apple.

Sensing the claiming intent of the bite, Naruto growled and bucked his hips, strong hands coming up to grip Sasuke’s hips. Sasuke pressed Naruto further into the bed in turn, biting down harder until he knew his teeth would leave a dark bruise. Finally, the blonde subsided in his half-hearted struggles, tilting his head back to bare his throat submissively. “I’ll get you for this.”

Chuckling darkly, Sasuke trailed light kisses up Naruto’s throat and over his chin, at last settling on lips. “Let’s play.” Their lips collided in a rush of lust and hunger; caressing and bruising, taunting and promising. Mouths meshing seamlessly, they tasted one another with greedy abandon, hands sliding along damp flesh as their bodies rocked against one another. Throbbing erections rubbed and pressed, making both of them groan and pant into one another’s mouths, punctuating the hungry sounds with growls and snarls.

When they finally broke apart, they were panting heavily. “On your knee’s Naruto.”

Naruto growled, defiance flashing in his crimson eyes. When Sasuke merely stared back, the blonde bared his teeth then shifted over onto his stomach, Sasuke pulling back to give him room. “So going to get you for this.”

Sasuke nipped one pale buttock in retaliation, earning a startled yelp that sounded distinctly like his dobe rather than the fierce beast that he was for the time being. The smallest of smiles touched his lips. That was okay. He knew how to deal with this side of Naruto. No longer clothed, thanks to Naruto’s claws, when Sasuke pressed up against Naruto it was flesh to flesh, earning a low moan from the man beneath him.

His chest pressed against his lover’s broad back, Sasuke could feel the tension that sang through lean muscles. Taking Naruto’s wrists, he placed his hands on the head board, dragging his hands up the quivering arms and over his shoulders, dragging his nails down the broad back. He delighted in the sound of Naruto’s hiss of pleasure, nipping at the red marks that now marred the smooth flesh. “You might want to hold on.”

Naruto grunted in response, but he clench the edge of the head board. Satisfied with his lover’s placement, Sasuke began exploring, his mouth nipping and licking at the heated skin. He mouthed the small bumps of his spine, making his way down the flushed back until he reached the pale globes of Naruto’s ass. The driving heat settling in Sasuke’s groin demanded that he take the blonde now. He wanted nothing more than to shove into his dobe’s body until he was crying out in both pain and pleasure. But he held back, determined to turn Naruto into a helpless pile of limp muscle and warm skin.

Filled with a single-minded focus that his enemies found frightening, Sasuke forced Naruto’s legs further apart, opening him up. He nipped some more at the blonde’s back side, unable to keep himself from marking the smooth skin even if he wanted to. By now Naruto was making no effort to control the noises he made, groaning and whining as he writhed in Sasuke’s hold. When he tried to reach for his aching erection, Sasuke’s hand clamped hard around his wrist, tightening just beyond the point of pain. “Keep your hands on the head board, Dobe. This is my play time.”

“I hate you!” Naruto growled angrily, digging his claws into the edge of the head board so hard that the wood cracked, shoving splinters beneath his nails.

“Don’t think that I’m not going to make you fix that.” Sasuke’s hands trailed lightly over his lower belly and over his thighs, circling the sensitive areas but never once touching what ached most.

“I’ll worry about that later.” Naruto’s voice came out strangled, his tongue sounding too thick for his mouth. “Just get on with-ahh!” He threw his head back with a sharp cry as Sasuke’s tongue probed his entrance, claws scratching into the head board as he scrabbled for purchase. “Sasuke,” Naruto moaned as the Uchiha continued to pump into him with his tongue. “Oh god!”

Giving a low chuckle that set Naruto to trembling, Sasuke reached between the blonde’s legs. Finally, he wrapped his fingers around the other man’s weeping cock, gently squeezing. The dobe’s hips jerked reflexively, then Sasuke held him in place with one hand on his hip. “I like taking my time,” Sasuke whispered seductively.

“Have I told you that I hate you?” Naruto rasped, voice roughened by passion and the fox’s presence.

Sasuke merely hummed, taking his time on the blonde’s entrance until the air was heavy with lust and overwhelming desire. Only then did he reach for the tube sitting on the small dresser beside the bed, coating his length with the cool lube.

Gripping Naruto’s ass cheeks, he pressed them apart, setting his erection at the blonde’s entrance. “Are you ready?” He asked, nipping at Naruto’s spine.

“If you don’t do it now, Bastard, then I’m am going to-” His words were cut off as Sasuke shoved into him, opening his mouth in a soundless scream as pain and oh so wonderful pleasure seized him in a steel vise. The vise continued to squeeze him mercilessly as Sasuke slammed in and out of him, tightening around him with every firm stroke. Letting his head fall forward as he gasped for air, Naruto spread his legs wider apart, opening himself further for Sasuke’s claim.

Sasuke clutched Naruto close, pumping his hips so that he dragged over Naruto’s prostrate with every firm thrust. They moved together and apart, two separate beings reaching for one goal, fighting one another even as they strove to become one. Steadily the pleasure spiraled deeper and higher, singing through their veins with the voice of endless fire and heat. They came together, their cries mingling until they formed one voice of exaltation.

Naruto collapsed on the bed, pressing his face into the pillow with a low groan. Sasuke didn’t collapse so much as relaxed on top of the dobe, too dignified to actually admit how much their ‘play’ had drained him. Still connected to Naruto, he gave the back of the blonde’s neck soft butterfly kisses, enjoying the taste of the other man’s salty skin.

Opening one brilliant sapphire blue eye, Naruto snorted. “You certainly took your time.”

Sasuke didn’t answer, instead choosing to nuzzle the dark bruising forming on one strong shoulder.

Naruto thought about hitting the other man, but decided against it. His limbs were still too limp to consider a real tussle. Just the thought of walking seemed beyond his reach for the moment. Letting his face fall back into the pillow. “I’m sorry, Sasuke,” he said after a moment, his voice heavily muffled.

Sasuke didn’t respond right away, instead choosing to lave at the bruises that marred Naruto’s warm skin. After a while, he spoke, his voice shadow soft. “We are ninja. It is what we do.”

Naruto smiled into the pillow. The words had been simple, but in them he had heard Sasuke’s forgiveness, and his own apology. No one else would have been able to hear it, but Naruto had spent too long near Sasuke not to pick up on how the Uchiha communicated. Shifting onto his elbows, he angled his hips to the side, silently communicating his need to turn over. When Sasuke shifted off of him, Naruto curled up on his side, wrapping his arm around the Uchiha’s waist.

Settling his chin on Sasuke’s shoulder, Naruto felt his eye lids grow heavy, becoming drowzy with heat and contentment. Sasuke’s scent surrounded him, cocooning him with memories of nights passed.

Naruto smiled to himself.

This was the life.