The Calm Before the Storm

A/N: Yet another fic which I've wanted to write for a while now but took me quite a long time to feel comfortable writing it.

This story, unlike Hurt Me, IS part of the "Loyalty" universe. However, it is not a problem if you haven't read any of my other fics - this fic is understandable on its own as well, since it is a prequel and also, I always try (and with probably varied success XD) to keep my characters, well, in character, regardless of the yaoi.

CALM BEFORE THE STORM

Nagato meticulously cleaned and sharpened the several different Kunai he was to take tomorrow. Although the meeting was supposed to be peaceful, Yahiko still thought that they should appear well-armed, just in case.

This activity calmed him – carefully removing any dust or leftover blood from the shiny blades, checking for scratches and chipping, then oiling them and sharpening them, if necessary. It was a tedious, repetitive job, but also quite lulling. With a sigh he holstered the last one and reached for the stack of exploding tags waiting to be sorted when a shadow fell over his hand. Looking up, he saw a shadowy silhouette by the open door, surrounded by the bright light coming from the corridor– a tall, slender male figure with spiky hair.

The fact that Yahiko had managed to sneak up on him didn’t surprise him – his and Konan’s presences had long become so familiar to him that he barely registered them anymore, unless he deliberately searched for them in case of emergency. Yahiko took a step into the dusk of the room and gave him a crooked smile.

“Cleaning blades in the dark again, Nagato?”

The other shrugged but answered with a small smile of his own.

“You know how sensitive these eyes are. The light here is enough.”

Yahiko nodded and came to sit next to him on the bed, watching him silently as he began to sort through the exploding tags.

“You’re expecting trouble tomorrow.” He remarked thoughtfully.

“And don’t you? Isn’t that why you sent Konan away?” Nagato answered without missing a beat.

“I wanted for once to keep her out of harm’s way.”

“She didn’t seem too happy about it.” Nagato observed amusedly.

“At the moment I am more concerned about her safety rather than for her emotional state.” Yahiko grumbled. “It’s bad enough that you have to come.”

The exploding tags, now ordered in neat little stacks, went in the specially designed pouch for them, which was then put next to the holstered Kunai. Finally Nagato turned to look at his friend.

“I can take care of myself, if you haven’t noticed by now.” He pointed out with a playful little smile which was, naturally, answered with a brilliant grin.

“I know.”

Yahiko reached and tucked a lock of hair behind Nagato’s ear, revealing expressive if unusual eyes. The hand slid down to his cheek and caressed the smooth skin. The other young man sighed softly and leaned into the caress, then scooted closer on the bed next to him.

There was comfortable familiarity in those touches, as they had done this many times before and in many different places. At least, lately, after they began to build their Organization, they began sleeping in actual beds, with clean sheets and blankets, rather than huddling under a bush or tree somewhere, trying to keep warm and most of all, dry.

But those days were long past now – they were no longer orphaned, helpless victims, they had power, followers, dreams and they were determined to hold onto all of that.

After tomorrow, Nagato hoped, things would change even for the better, after they finally negotiated peace with all the warring sides, even with Hanzou, and finally began to rebuild all that was destroyed in Ame. For now though, this little safehouse was all that they had and all that they needed, as it provided them with shelter from the incessant rain, allowed them to rest and gather their strength for the fateful meeting tomorrow.

The hand on his cheek slowly slid to wrap around his thin shoulders and pull him even closer in Yahiko’s embrace. Soft lips nuzzled the dark auburn hair on his nape and kissed the back of his neck, eliciting a soft little mewl from his mouth.

“I have been thinking about you all day.” His friend admitted breathily in his ear.

“Shouldn’t you have been thinking about tomorrow?” Nagato teased gently as the strong hands pulled him and lifted him onto his friend’s lap.

“I have been thinking about it and planning it for months. Frankly, all the things that can go wrong tomorrow are driving me crazy. I needed to think about something else to relax – and you’re an excellent distraction.”

He turned to look at him, taking in the bright shade of his hair, the determined expression of his blue eyes, the stubborn line of his mouth – all that made his best friend who, along with Konan, was his only family left. Friend, brother, comrade, lover, saviour, leader and more, all that was Yahiko. He felt another surge of worry about tomorrow, accompanied with a fierce wave of protectiveness. Perhaps it was for the best that Yahiko had sent Konan away – Nagato couldn’t bear the thought that he would have to worry for the both of them.

Without a word, Yahiko pressed him down to lie on the bed and rolled over him, both of them still dressed but heat beginning to build between them.

“There will be no more fear, after tomorrow.” He said with fierce determination, then leaned to kiss him, his lips demanding and possessive, rough even, and he eagerly accepted the kiss, as he always did, opening his mouth and reaching with tongue to tangle it with his, sliding wetly against each other. Nagato moaned into the kiss and wiggled under his lover until his thighs were on either side of his hips, pressing together and pulling him closer, their hardening lengths rubbing through their clothes.

Yahiko reached and tugged the hem of Nagato’s shirt, pulling it up to reveal his lightly muscled chest, full lips latching onto a rosy nipple. The other mewled again and strong fingers came to bury themselves in vibrant ginger hair, pressing him closer, urging him to lick and suck the pebbled bud and Yahiko happily obliged. He ran his tongue around it, nibbled and pulled it with his teeth, then licked it to soothe away the sting. Under him, Nagato’s body quaked, always so responsive, so ready for his touch. Strong hands roamed over Yahiko’s muscled back in silent encouragement to keep going, to touch and kiss and take and claim him. His friend shuddered on top of him and let go of his nipple for a moment to look up at him, spiky hair even more disheveled, cheeks flushed, lips swollen and moist, blue eyes glinting in the dusk.

“Tell me what you want?” he asked softly, his tongue snaking out to lick across his chest on his way to the other nipple. “Tonight I’d do anything you want.”

Nagato groaned with desire and his hips pressed harder against his lover, his length a heated rod in the confines of his pants. He looked down at him, breath coming in short, rapid gasps as his hips rocked hungrily against him. Heat rushed to his cheeks in embarrassment at his own inability to convey his desires and he closed his eyes, trying to calm himself enough in order to be able to think clearly.

Yahiko just smiled indulgently and gave him another wet kiss in the middle of his chest, then peppered small, nibbling little kisses down to his belly button, his hands caressing his sides and ribs before sliding down to unbutton and loosen his fly. Suddenly he sank his teeth in the soft spot just above his groin, eliciting a shocked cry from Nagato, the soothed the sting with his tongue.

“Do you want me to suck you?” he teased, looking up at him again, blue eyes twinkling. “To put your cock in my mouth?” he took the hardened organ in his hand and gave it several sensual jerks before leaning to press his tongue flat against the swollen head, his eyes closing in bliss. “I love the way you taste…” the red-head murmured softly before sliding his tongue under the ridge of the flaring cockhead, teasing the sensitive flesh there.

Nagato’s mouth opened silently in passion and his back arched off the bed, thighs tensing on either side of his lover.

“Yes…” he moaned helplessly.

“Yes what?” the other insisted, voice husky with mounting need.

“Suck me…” he said and blushed. No matter how many time the two of them did this, he couldn’t help but feel shy when he indulged Yahiko’s penchant for dirty talking. His friend had always been the adventurous one, always ready to try new things, to engage in play they hadn’t tried before – and Nagato followed, because it what he always did – on the battlefield, behind the diplomacy table and in their bed.

All thoughts of their roles in their little family disappeared when Yahiko’s warm, moist mouth went down on his engorged cock, taking in as much as the young man could, the rest caressing and stimulating with his hands. The bright mop of hair began to bob on his lap and he whimpered continuously, unable to keep quiet. A litany of pleas and whimpers left his lips as his friend pleasured him.

“Oh, oh, Yahiko, feels so good, yes, like that, oh, aaah…!”

He felt him chuckling around a mouthful and the vibration nearly sent him over the edge but somehow he managed to cling onto his self-control, unwilling to spend himself in Yahiko’s mouth – he never liked doing that, feeling that it somehow demeaned him, no matter how many times his friend insisted that he loved the way he tasted.

A slick finger circled around his entrance and he clenched for a moment instinctively before remembering to relax, allowing the questing digit easy access. It caressed him tenderly before slowly sliding in, wiggling and searching for the little bundle of nerves that always made him see stars behind his eyelids and discovering it without too much trouble. Yahiko knew his body by heart by now, knew exactly what to do to have him howling and pleading for more, how to bring him to the brink of ecstasy and keep him there as long as he liked before finally allowing him to tumble over it.

A second finger joined the first and spread him open, his body, so very used to this sort of play by now, easily relaxing around the invading digits. He sighed and lifted one leg up to his chest, holding it up with one hand tucked under his knee, giving his lover more access to his body. Yahiko growled around his length at that display and the vibration traveled through his aroused flesh again, and this time he couldn’t control himself anymore. His free hand tugged desperately on the ginger hair to pull his mouth away from his organ but Yahiki growled warningly this time and slid even further down on his cock, taking in essence and licking him clean as he gradually softened in his mouth. When he was done, he pulled away and looked at him, blue meeting rippled silver.

“I thought that tonight was about what I want.” Nagato reminded him with a deprecating little smile.

“It is. When it is reasonable. And it is unreasonable not to let me do this, when it feels so good for the both of us. For the last time, Nagato, this is not demeaning. I love doing this to you, for you, okay?”

They’d had this conversation so many times now that Nagato had forgotten the count. He slowly nodded even though he still appeared uncertain.

Although he was now sated and growing sleepier and sleepier, he couldn’t help but notice the bulge in his friend’s pants, the thin cotton material clearly outlining his erection.

“You didn’t get to come.” He murmured softly.

“An astute observation from captain Obvious, as usual.” His friend said with exaggerated aplomb with his usual bright smile then he grew serious again. His hand came to rest on Nagato’s cheek gently.

“You’re tired. I can take care of it by myself.”

Nagato shook his head, his hair falling over his eyes again, but Yahiko deftly pushed the locks away again.

“I want to make you feel good too.” He explained. “I am not that sleepy.”

He pulled up his legs again and revealed himself to him in silent, adoring offering and watched as the vibrant blue eyes dilated with need at the sight of his pliant body so ready and willing to receive him.

“Are you sure?” his friend asked, strong hands splaying on the back of his thighs and helping him keep his legs up, fingers massaging the straining muscles.

Many people had had him like that before. Starvation and privation had forced him, and, as he suspected, not only him, even though they had never discussed it, to resort to desperate measures to find food – and an enemy soldier, or one of Hanzou’s hounds didn’t have a problem with paying with a piece of moldy bread for his services.

It was only Yahiko whom he had ever truly desired, whom he trusted and who didn’t make him feel ashamed of what he had done to survive, because he never judged him.

“Of course I am sure.” He murmured and with his hands freed by Yahiko still holding his thighs up, he reached lower and grasped his cheeks, spreading them further to his lover’s hungry gaze. “Please.” He begged softly.

Blue eyes dilated with arousal and his friend groaned with delight, then reached with one hand to undo and lower his fly, pushing his pants down his hips as far as he could, freeing his eager erection.

Nagato loved the sight of him naked – being a natural red-head, Yahiko’s pale skin glowed in the dark, his thick organ darkening to a pretty pink colour, rather than the intimidating ruddiness of most of the Konoha Nins. He was perfect, and Nagato wanted him, even if his body was sated for now.

Yahiko reached for the slick again and spread it over his hardened length, then carefully guided it to Nagato’s entrance, giving him a teasing smile as he rubbed the moist head to his entrance. Nagato mewled and eagerly tried to lift his hips despite the way he was folded, his organ giving a slight twitch despite his recent orgasm.

Finally, the thick girth breached him and he bit his full lower lip to try and keep quiet at the delicious sensation of his friend spreading him so open like that. When he was finally seated fully inside, Yahiko leaned and licked the bruised lip, then captured his mouth in a sweet kiss while he waited for him to adjust to the penetration. When he was sure that his lover was nice and relaxed around him, he began to move with shallow, slow thrusts, feeling the vice-like pressure around his cock ease a little with each movement, the tension leeching out of Nagato’s limbs under him.

He still kept one of his knees pressed to his shoulder but let go of the other and the long slender leg immediately wrapped around his rocking hips, urging him on. Under him Nagato murmured tender encouragements between their kisses as he took him. He could feel that he was half-hard and trapped between their muscular bellies, his sensitive body responding to him as eagerly as it always had. The warm channel around his organ trembled and tightened rhythmically and he could see the eager, playful glint in Nagato’s peculiar yes – the tease was doing it on purpose!

With a growl he wrapped his fingers around the hardening cock and slowly brought him to full arousal again, caressing and jerking him off in time with his rapidly intensifying thrusts.

The sweet mouth began to mewl in his ear again and he took it as an encouragement to go even harder, faster, his heart hammering madly inside his chest as heat pooled in his groin and began to throb in the beginnings of his orgasm. Then there was wetness on his hand as Nagato suddenly finished with a delighted shout right in his ear, his ass rippling and clenching around him erratically, and he could no longer control himself either. He came, shuddering and clinging to his lover, barely feeling Nagato’s hands as they pet him and caressed him soothingly while he shook in his embrace.

Afterwards, they curled on the bed, Nagato’s head pillowed on his chest, his fingers tangled in long silken hair several shades darker than his own. Nagato turned and planted a gentle kiss on the middle of his chest, looking up.

“I trust that this helped you relax before tomorrow?” he asked, elegant fingers skimming down Yahiko’s sides.

“I always feel at peace when I am with you. You know that.” Yahiko answered. “Hopefully, after tomorrow, we’ll feel at peace everywhere.”


Grey, rippled eyes stared back at him in the mirror from a reflection that didn’t belong to him. The face was painfully familiar, as familiar as the one he was born with, and he had ran his fingers and lips over it innumerable times. Only now he could no longer see the cornflower blue staring back at him with fierce determination, or tender love, or mischievous glinting – it was gone, dead, just like the one to whom this face had once belonged. The blue was replaced by rippled silver, seemingly the only thing that was left of Nagato himself. The face too was marred – by metal, by what Nagato had come to see as the sign and symbol of his betrayal and failure. His pale fingers, a size larger and a shade different than his own traced the outline of the face on the mirror, remembering the beloved features that no longer belonged to Yahiko. That was all that was left of him, a sack of bones and flesh and teeth, animated by the sheer power of Nagato’s will.

His friend might be dead, his soul fleeing his mortal coil, but his dream would live on, just like his body would, at least until Nagato saw his will done.

All it took was a thought, casual, fleeting, and the mirror burst into hundreds of tiny glittering pieces falling to the floor like a rain of tears. Ironic, he thought, that he no longer had any real tears left in him to shed.