Trophy Boyfriend

Note: Sorry, I had to edit my disclaimer.

Pairing: Sasuke x Haku, Naruto x Haku
Tags: Shonen-Ai

Disclaimer: I do not own, nor am I making a profit, from the writing of this material. The characters depicted in this short work of fiction are from 'Naruto', created by Masashi Kishimoto and the song that inspired its writing is 'Gallery' by Mario Vasquez.

Warnings: Sasuke is characterized as a player. Haku is emasculated. Sappy moments. A grown man crying.


Trophy Boyfriend

God broke the mould when he made Haku. That much Naruto knew.

Never in all his years had he seen a man, or a woman, as breathtaking as this one. And Naruto had seen his fair share. His godfather, Jiraiya a prominent author, spent an unhealthy amount of time surrounded by models, actors and porn stars. But the questionable company he kept was all for his research, or so he claimed. Touted as one of the biggest perverts in the celebrity industry, a title which he wore with too much shameless pride, many invitations were extended to him to be judge in all kinds of beauty pageants. He'd always bring Naruto along as some sort of 'good-luck charm', was what he told reporters, but in actuality, he just wanted a bellboy to carry his bags and gopher his chai lattes.

Naruto never complained, he was grateful for every opportunity to travel and meet... interesting people, but the contest he remembered most fondly, out of all the others, was the Miss Gay Thailand, 2006. He had always been attracted to the androgynous; the mystery and taboo surrounding them was what he found to be alluring. But with Haku, it was so much more than just his appearance.

He was innocent and pure, traits that had become a rarity in a rapidly evolving society; long thought to be virtuous, now scorned, until it was the exception, no longer the rule, and Naruto knew he wouldn't stay that way for long. Not if he continued to be Sasuke Uchiha's plaything.

It just wasn't fair.

He had a dazzling smile, or at least, he used to. Haku never smiled much nowadays. He'd lost that spring in his step that made him seem like was floating on air and his mind was off somewhere in 'La La Land'. The light in his eyes, and glow on his face, that rivalled the sun had long since died out, and the source of his joy and happiness had now become a contaminant for self loathing and despair .

And yet, he still managed to have the same effect over Naruto everytime he saw him, and if, one day, his lungs closed completely because of him, then Naruto would gladly never take another breath of air again in his life.

If Sasuke felt even half as much emotion for Haku as Naruto did then he was sure he'd treat him with at least a tiny ounce of dignity. But Sasuke had money, he was loaded with it and could afford not to pay him any attention whatsoever. That did, however, mean he could cast his interests any and everywhere he pleased and whenever he wasn't with Haku, he was entertaining the presence of other partners blinded by the expensive jewellery, fancy cars and lavish lifestyle. Sasuke believed that the size of his wallet entitled him to alot of things in life, and it did, but treating human beings like disposable sex toys and disregarding their feelings and emotions shouldn't have been one of them.

To say he was unfaithful was a vast understatement. Sasuke was as an alpha wolf, prowling for any conquest that caught his fancy and aggressively tearing at the jugular of happy relationships, dragging his quarry away from their lovers, husbands or wives. He'd take as many mates as he possibly could, more than one at a time if he wished, then abandon all responsibility when he caught whiff of his next prey, leaving behind shattered hearts and broken promises.

It was clear from Haku's grieved demeanour that he knew his partner was cheating and, even though he bore witness to the openly flirtatious behaviour and saw the lipstick on the shirt, he chose to stay.

It always boggled Naruto how money could cloud a person's better judgment quite like that and, no matter how many time he'd stick his neck on the block to save them the heartache, they'd always snub his advice and end up finding out the hard way. But he'd never stop trying, believing that, one day, someone would look past the glitter and see the fool's gold and, as much as he hated betraying his friend, he hated to see what he reduced his exes to even more.

With Haku, it was different. Naruto never had the opportunity to give him 'the talk' before Sasuke staked his claim. He had entered the relationship unprepared and completely disillusioned. It also didn't help that the charming prince Uchiha was his very first, and he was at an unripe age of seventeen when love was still perfect and infallible to him. Sasuke showered him with many gifts, and for the first time in his life he never needed or wanted for anything. He'd come from a poor family of immigrants, originally from the far east, and Naruto was pretty sure that they were also the reason he decided to stay the course, because no one would willingly keep themselves in such a self-destructive relationship.

Sai, one of the few men in Sasuke's repertoire that he vaguely remembered, walked out on him the same night he caught him in bed with another woman. That was nine weeks after they'd first met. Ino Yamanaka, the girl that replaced Sai, lasted about a month and a half until he eventually moved on. Hell, even Sakura Haruno, his childhood crush and key member in the Sasuke, Naruto, Sakura love triangle, was barely able put up with his trifling ways for five months before calling it quits.

Haku had been with him going on two years now.

Sasuke deserved the best, he was his friend, he wouldn't wish anything less for him, but not when it came at such a high price. Haku was one of a kind and, should be treated as such. Naruto was positive that if it had been some other philanthropic and eligible bachelor that had picked him out of that greasy, fast food diner, wiped him off and lifted him onto a pillar, he would have been preserved as the precious work of art that he was, not manhandled like some mannequin in a display window.

Naruto made a sound of disgust and shook his head in disappointment as he watched his friend of fourteen years, abandon his place next to Haku on the leather sofa to approach an intoxicated redhead by the punch bowl. It was obvious now that, even though they had come to the party together, Haku was not the one he would be leaving with tonight.

He tried to mask the pain by taking casual sips from his cocktail and acted as if it was not a big deal, that he was used to his by now. Haku wanted to let everyone know that he was a big boy now, but it was universally impossible for anyone to develop a level of maturity that was durable enough to put up with Sasuke's childishness, and it wasn't long before he started to blink vigorously and his effeminate features contorted with the effort it took to stop himself from crying.

Naruto couldn't stand to see him like that; alone and neglected by the one he loved, in a room full of strangers and no one he knew to distract him from the emptiness he was feeling. As much as Naruto couldn't take seeing the two of them together, he hated it more whenever they were apart.

Chivalry ate at him on the inside and he wanted to go to him and offer the comfort and attention he yearned for, but his loyalty to the man he called friend kept him from intervening and he could only watch as Haku put aside his drink and hurried out of the living room to seek privacy before anyone saw the first tear fall.

This was ridiculous! Why was he the one that was suddenly feeling guilty? Naruto sought out the philandering Uchiha among the party guests and, of course, Sasuke was completely oblivious that Haku had left the room, too preoccupied whispering false assurances in the young man's ear in an effort to coax him into the back seat of his car, probably.

Naruto knocked back the remainder of his sherry then went after Haku. He told himself he wasn't going to get himself involved. He only wanted to see if he was alright and ask if he needed a taxi and offer to pay for the ride home. But the state in which he found the boy rent at his heart and Naruto knew he couldn't leave him like this.

He was huddled over the bathroom sink, his wretched sobs echoing loudly within the tiled room. Fat tears poured down the sides of his round face, leaving black streaks of mascara upon his cheeks. Occasionally he would hold his breath and attempt to stifle his outbursts but he'd only wind up depriving himself of air and start crying all over again.

Naruto was at a loss of what to do. Had it been anyone else he would have said 'I told you so'. He'd become enflamed with righteous indignation, storm out and have nothing more to do with either him or Sasuke. Had it been anyone else, Naruto's conscience would have been cleared this night and he would rest easier knowing that he would be able to move on and put the Uchiha behind him. But Haku was too fragile and too inexperienced to know that he could pick the pieces off the floor, put them back together and be good as new. Right now, the only thing he saw in his future was a hollow, black void.

He was so confused. The Sasuke that he knew now differed greatly from the one that swept him off his feet so many years ago and Naruto could tell he blamed himself. What was it that he had done wrong? What went missing in their relationship? What was it that he couldn't give Sasuke that he got from someone else? All these questions he sought the answer to and Naruto knew because he'd heard them all a thousand times.

He could tell the boy was torn. He wanted to put an end to his misery and the temptation to walk out on him was almost palpable, but he still clung to the vain hope that things would go back to the way they were in the beginning. He deserved better, and so much more. He needed someone who would love him, cherish him and adore him, and Naruto knew he could give him everything that Sasuke never could. But he had promised himself he would stay out of it. He'd made a vow that he would never become personally involved in any of Sasuke's relationships and that rule applied doubly so in this case, considering the strong feeling he had for Haku. But his resolve crumbled when confronted with the overwrought young man, and Naruto prayed the Uchiha would find it in his heart to forgive him for doing the right thing.

It was only a matter of time before Sasuke lost interest in him, and only a matter of time before he seduced Neji into taking Haku's place. It was going to happen. Haku could try to fool himself into denying it, but it was all just a matter of when.

The Hyuuga was a bigger catch, he had his own fame and wealth and didn't need to rely on Sasuke's. He posed a formidable challenge for the Uchiha, who was already only in it for the hunt, and once Sasuke caught his game, Haku would be taken down from his pedestal and cast out through the door like all the others, so he could make room for his new centerpiece. Unfortunately, by that time Haku's shine would have grown dull and the colour worn and faded.

"It's just not fair."

His voice was low, but in the small confines of the lavatory, it was enough to get Haku's attention over the jarring sound of his crying. He straightened, noticing, for the first time, the other man that had been standing in the doorway, and he dabbed at his irritated, red eyes with a fresh sheet of tissue as if that would somehow hide his distress.

Naruto stepped into the tiled cloister, silently closing the door behind him. As expected, the young boy became nervous as the much taller frame occupied the tiny space they shared, and he cowered against the wall when the larger man approached.

"You're a masterpiece, and I know that he will never appreciate your beauty."

His words only made sense to him, but he planned to show him their profound meaning. Naruto reached out to take Haku by the wrists, but the small boy did not fight back. He couldn't, not against an opponent of this size. He was intimidated, and a little afraid and Naruto saw the shivering of his tiny form.

He didn't want this. It hadn't been his intention to confront him or terrify him. He'd only wanted to offer a shoulder to cry on and tell him everything was going to be alright. He'd wanted to offer solace, a means of escape, but as he held the object of his affection in his hands, he could feel nothing but the desire to take him as his own. The desire he'd been forced to suppress for almost two years.

"Don't let him cheapen you," Naruto pinched his chin and tilted his head to look within afflicted brown eyes with the bold tenacity of his empowering blue. "He won't see you like I do," and his confession caused a fresh stream of tears to roll down soft, smooth cheeks. Naruto brushed them away with the backs of his knuckles then cupped his round, pale face with large, tanned hands.

"You're beautiful, not just for show, and it's time that someone let you know."

With that said, Naruto dipped his head and took his quivering lips into a possessive, but passionate kiss. Haku resisted at first, and his body tensed as if trying to pull away, but he was so starved for adulation of any kind that he melted into the strong embrace and returned the kiss with just as much reckless abandon.

Was it wrong to take advantage of him in this moment of weakness? And was it wrong to forsake his loyalties to his best friend? Naruto thought so, but he cared too deeply for Haku to let him suffer any longer.

He could taste the salty wetness on his lips and Haku's sobs were muffled against his mouth. Naruto broke the kiss but he didn't let him go, guiding his head into the crook of his shoulder to cradle him there. Naruto ran a soothing hand over his back and threaded long fingers through his waist-length hair while Haku's body rocked with convulsive sobs and his tears stained his bright-orange, cotton shirt.

Haku had come from a long line of valued pieces in Sasuke's gallery and, in Naruto's opinion, was by far the most exquisite. It was not too late yet, he was still worth saving before Sasuke deemed him worthless, but, no matter how depreciated his self-worth became, he would always be priceless in Naruto's eyes.

-End-