Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Chapter 1

“Suke! Can we have ice cream?”

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before counting to ten. A little trick he had learnt the other day which worked perfectly when he needed a glass of wine but couldn’t get it.

“Not now. I’ll get you some later.” He answered to the little child that was holding onto his hand for dear life as if the moment he let go, he’d lose him forever.

Tobi pouted rather loudly even if the gesture was absolutely silent, he looked up to him from his knee and pointed to the ice cream section with emphasis that Sasuke ignored easily.

“Can we get them now?” Tobi asked using his squeaky voice which only worked on their neighbor but never on Sasuke. He seemed to be immune to such mundane actions of fake kindness even if Mrs.Cozin thought he was being weird.

“Later.” He replied before pushing the chart away and pulling the kid with him because if left alone, Tobi could and would stay an inch away from that specific section until literally anyone took pity on him and decided to buy him anything he wished for.

Tobi whined rather audibly which gained the unwanted attention of many individuals who raised either an eyebrow or glared at him as if he was the one who was crying and not the six years old at his feet dragging his entire body and crying, whining, and to top it all off, still pointing to the ice cream section.

“Tobi! Stop!” He whispered a little loudly only for the child to hear before finally deciding to ignore the protests from his back and turning around to hold the kid in his arms who immediately wrapped his tiny arms around his neck but didn’t stop sobbing which, once again, caused many glares and weird looking glances as if he was abusing the child rather than trying to give him a decent sleep schedule.

Pushing the chart to the isle, he waited behind the queue like a normal human being and fuss over how long it was or how it would take several minutes to reach the cashier and pay for the stuff they’ve gotten which weren’t much, a pack of cheese, a loaf of bread, some rice, and frozen chicken breasts because Tobi only ate that.

After approximately of seventeen minutes, he was finally at the desk where he immediately started to place the items with his unoccupied hand due to the weight of the sleeping child the other was holding before paying for everything and leaving the building for his old school car that gained a lot of peoples attention because Sasuke seriously did not have the time to pay for a bigger insurance and that 18th century car had to do wether it liked it or not.

Putting the items in the back seat, he placed Tobi, who still remained blessedly sleep, onto the front seat and took the wheel to get out of the parking lot. It was this small market that sold so many useful requirements that the bigger companies had but were too exorbitant to get so Sasuke, like the smart idiot that he was, took the chance of saving some well needed money and ran errands in that cheaper market.

He had finally managed to get some better payment from the new job he had taken and got some well needed utensils and groceries and he also had enough to pay rent and the annoying bills that were adding up. No savings, but it was okay. The requirements were checked at the very least.

Turning the wheel to the right, he finally got to the road and drove ahead to get to the inner parts of the city. He didn’t really have anywhere else to go and Tobi was still sleep to go anywhere that exciting anyways, not that he could pay for anything but it would’ve been nice to go somewhere fun for a change rather than home and work and grocery markets or fucking drugstore because Tobi got sick all the time and Sasuke himself wasn’t the healthiest person on the planet.

He had recently started working in that thrift shop and it payed well enough even if it was a dead end job but Sasuke couldn’t possibly care any less about his future, he had dedicated his whole life to Tobi and paying after both of them plus trying( desperately) to disburse enough money to the addiction center where his older brother was(wasn’t) healing from. The doctors had lost hope, actually and according to the recent psychologist, Itachi was hateful and a little arrogant also, he did not want to get better.

Sasuke had tried a little harder not to cry that day.

His older brother also despised him. Literally did not wish to see him and he also mentioned it quite often when Sasuke had enough confidence and actually visited. Itachi was, apparently, way too deep into that shit to care about anything else although, Sasuke cared for him, he couldn’t just forget his older brother who had always been there for him. He couldn’t just leave him alone specially since he needed help more than ever.

Even if his brother wanted nothing to do with him. The experts said that it was the drug talking as if it was one of his brother’s many demons that wore his face and spoke in his tongue but Itachi spoke about how Sasuke had always been a burden or if only he hadn’t been born then mom would still be alive, dad wouldn’t have committed Suicide, hell even Itachi wouldn’t have been in an addiction fucking center so Sasuke knew that Itachi had to had thought about that at some point. And perhaps he really did feel that way and it wasn’t the drug speaking, maybe it was actually his brother.

Maybe Sasuke was way too paranoid to begin with. Or maybe he was just too logical.

Maybe he was both, he did think the monster under his bed were still quite real after all. He still had nightmares about the evil clown and he couldn’t stare at the darkness of his closet for too long, it wasn’t like he had someone he could talk to, not that he even would. The only person was Tobi and he was six, Itachi would laugh at his face and Sasuke wasn’t the most chatty person out there.

Was he too childish?

He was nineteen years old so perhaps he wasn’t that much of a kid anymore. His neighbors thought that he was, he disagreed strongly. He’d just close his eyes and pretend that Itachi still gave a fuck.

Stopping the car in front of the building, he unbuckled his and Tobi’s belt before getting out of the car to grab the bags and wake the kid. A few shakes on his shoulder did the trick as the toddler cracked dark eyes open only yawn adorably, at least to some, Sasuke was just concerned about the length he could open his mouth.

Was that normal? He hadn’t often seen children when he had been a kid himself, he had been homeschooled because his dad couldn’t be bothered and Itachi was sharing the same fate as him.

“Are we there yet?” Asked the tiny little being that Sasuke had no idea he existed until a year ago when one of his older cousins had died( somehow) and the child had no one who could take care of him. Naturally the government had tried to contact the kins and after receiving nothing from literally anyone else they had tried his older brother and due to the obvious circumstances, Itachi was preoccupied and it only left Sasuke.

He had outright refused at first because there was no way he could take care of someone else much less another human being who needed extra care-

Curse him for being a softie because after hearing his squeaky voice he had caved.

“Yeah..c’mon, we’ve gotta go.”

Closing the door after Tobi had reluctantly walked out, he locked the car and guided the sleepy child into the building, right into the elevator and pressed the door close to take them up to their floor. As soon as they had entered, Tobi leaned against his leg and took his pant in his fist. Sasuke placed his empty hand on the smaller raven’s head to reassure the child who was still kind of dazed and probably would fall asleep the moment they were back home.

Sasuke used to live in Brooklyn for a couple of years when he was still in foster care and his brother didn’t have shit to do with him, then he received Tobi when he was eighteen and college hadn’t been good bad and he couldn’t stay in that tiny apartment complex so he moved to Queens, got an apartment that was slightly bigger than the last one but he totally forgot about College and his education simply because there was no way he could take care of Tobi and study and work as well.

Before Tobi came to his life, he had decided to study to become something like a psychologist so that he could have a chance of helping his brother but that…didn’t work.

Not that he was ungrateful, Tobi was the best thing that ever happened to him. Sure, he had been a bit snarky and problematic at first, didn’t know what to do with the child, had no idea what to feed him, how to care for him when the kid kept asking for his dead father who also happened to be the cousin that Sasuke had no idea was even related to him.

Having Itachi with him in that time would’ve been a bless but after telling him that Shisui had a secret child, his older brother had rolled his dark eyes which contained darker circle underneath them before telling him that such thing did not matter to him and that Sasuke could do him a favor by getting lost.

After the door was opened, he pushed the kid lightly to get him going before going into the hallway and standing before the door. He had been fishing for his keys when the door to the other house which was closest to his own opened and a blond man came out looking dazed, with lipstick marks over his lips and a girl who came out after him with half of her shirt opened and and bite marks marinating her entire chest or what could be seen from it.

He immediately placed his hand over Tobi’s eyes and pushed the child behind him as he regarded the couple with narrowed eyes. They didn’t seem to notice him as they both flirted with each other, it made him disgusted and Sasuke had no idea how to handle the situation. Normally, he’d only roll his eyes and go inside but there was a child at his hip and he doubted a kid that young should be at the hearing range of such filthy sentences.

“Excuse me.” He said sharply making both of the other individuals flinch and turn to look at him with their colorful eyes. He hated both the color green and blue and both of these idiots possessed them.

How wonderful.

“Oh..sorry, didn’t see you there. Are you from around here?” The blond man asked. He had a visible stubble at his chin and he could only tell because the damn light reflected on his sun kissed skin and made him glow with that stupid stubble that he probably hadn’t bothered to shave.

Thank god that Sasuke had DNA problems and couldn’t grow body hair except for his eyelashes, brows and head. His brother and dad had also been like that, absolutely porcelain skin and no hair. Tobi did not receive the blessing gift from his father though.

The kid was quite hairy.

“I live here. Could you two get a room and not tangle into each other in the hallway?,” he pointed to the child who still had his eyes covered by his much larger hand.” Children pass everywhere.” He added.

The blond followed his line of vision and quickly pushed half of his body inside upon noticing the youngest member of the place before stretching his hand and pulling the glaring girl inside as well.

“I’m so sorry! I recently moved here, didn’t know someone else lived here.” The blond explained with big blue eyes that Sasuke was starting to get annoyed at before beaming from ear to ear.

It could’ve been just Sasuke’s mood that particular day but it only made him angrier.

He took his hand off Tobi’s face, finally found his key from his pocket and opened the door before pushing the child inside ignoring the bewildered expression on his tiny face before closing the door sharply.

“Isn’t this an apartment complex?! Why would you be the only one living here?” He asked using the same tone that his brother had when he was about to scream at him to leave, the one that his father had used when he was about to land a sharp slap to his already bruised cheek and the one that Sasuke had heard enough to learn.

The blond narrowed his eyes, glared before coming out of his house with the pink haired girl on his heel who regarded him with green eyes as if he was some unworthy bug that was bothering her.

“I didn’t think about it, what’re you mad at?” He asked warningly, a clear hint of anger in his voice that Sasuke couldn’t care any less for.

“I think he’s just jealous that after having a kid he hadn’t had any.” The girl added without missing a beat which finally managed to break whatever had kept him together for the better part of that morning.

“What made you think that I’d be jealous of a wannabe whore and a blond whose dick had just been dried?”

“Hey!” The both yelled at the same time before the blond shoved the girl to his back and walked up to his face, annoyingly, and for some unfortunate reasons, he was an inch taller than him which made Sasuke’s blood boil to no end.

“What the fuck did you just say, bastard?!” He yelled at his face, being just a step away from his entire vision before Sasuke crossed his arms that still held onto the grocery bags and raised his eyebrows.

“I’d brush my teeth after sex, you still smell like her unmentionables.”

He should’ve seen that fist coming.

It connected with his right cheek because Sasuke moved away soon enough for it to avoid his nose and thankfully, it would only bruise rather than break bone. Didn’t mean, it hurt any less though.

The blond was on him as soon as he had stepped away, he grabbed the collar of his hoody and shook him a couple of times which made Sasuke let his bags fall to the ground and push against the blond’s chest hard enough to surprise and thrusting his leg between the taller one’s and before the bitch could balance, he was on the ground.

They locked eyes for a few seconds, both glaring all the shape objects at each other before the blond got up swiftly, making Sasuke tense up and prepare for another round just as the door opened and Tobi stuck his head out with tearful eyes to look up to them.

“ Is everything okay?” He asked with big eyes as he sniffled a couple of times.

Sasuke pressed his lips together before looking away from his wet eyes and pushing his head in, closing the door and glaring back at the blond and the girl who had come up next to him.

“Forget it, Naruto. You’ll beat him up later. I’m actually feeling sorry for his kid.” She said as she moved back to the house next to his own.

The blond( Naruto, what a weird name) glared some more before looking from up and down as if trying to tell if he had enough worth, before rolling his eyes and following after her.

“This isn’t over, you piece of shit. I’ll get your ass later.” He said warningly before closing the door sharply leaving him alone in the hallway with his aching cheek, his back to his door and the groceries all over the floor.

Maybe he should’ve just kept his mouth shut. Was it so hard?

He crouched down and begin putting the items back into the bags when his doo opened again and Tobi’s tiny footsteps brought the child to his line of vision.

“You okay?” He asked with a tearful gaze, some tears falling down his round cheeks and some of them stubbornly clinging to tear ducts.

Sasuke sighed before bringing his hands forward and brushing the wet marks away with his thumbs. He held the kid’s face in his hands for a couple of seconds, wondering how a face so tiny could fit right into grasp before showing him a smile that probably looked crooked, he couldn’t tell when was the last time he had smiled, or if the hurt of his face was because of the unfamiliar gesture or because his cheek was beginning to bruise.

“I’m okay.”

“Why was he mean to you?”

“I don’t know?”

“Is it because you’re Sasuke?”

“Yeah…cause I’m Sasuke.”

Chapter Text

Chapter 2

Tobi was staring at the rainy sky, when he came out of the bedroom; freshly showered and ready for bed. He was standing on his tiptoes, gripping the handle of the window for dear life and gazing at the brown sky as if it was the most interesting thing on the planet specially, more than the bowl of rice and tuna which he had promised him to eat.

“Breaking promises now,are we?” He asked before sitting down next to the child who immediately jumped, startled before pouting and looking back out of the window. It was still raining. The sound of the soft droplets as they hit the glass was starting to become louder, drowning the usual annoying buzz of the city and for some reason, it calmed him.

It had always calmed him.

“I miss daddy.” Tobi mumbled after a while, ignoring his question and still gazing at the turbulence the sky was demonstrating that night.

Sasuke sighed, so that was the problem. He carefully as to not hurt the kid, grabbed him from his armpits and pulled him into his lap so the kid would have easier access to the window due to the height difference before wrapping his arms around his tiny midsection. He placed his chin on top of his head before leaning forward to clean the mist that had covered the glass so that they’d be able to see the rain clearly.

Tobi was completely relaxed against him. Sasuke didn’t really hold him that often as he hated physical contact that did not come from his brother. It usually meant pain for him but after getting Tobi, he tried his best to be more of a touchy feely person for the kid’s sake. No need to raise another mentally I’ll person for the society.

“Do you wanna see him?” He asked after the rain had soothed to a soft padding rather than the storm that had knocked their doors down.

Tobi looked up at him from where he had placed his head on his chest, big, black eyes a little wet, his bottom lip quivering. Obviously upset.

He nodded quietly.

“Okay…tomorrow.”

Tobi only settled more against him.

“Okay…”the kid replied, clearly sleepy and more upset than he was before.

Did he do something wrong?

He still didn’t know if he should always keep the kid happy or if it was okay for a child this young to get sad sometimes. Was he being too dramatic? Too sensitive?

“Are you hungry?” He tried to get the kid eating but it didn’t work as Tobi shook his head, not even glancing at the bowl that he had left untouched on the coffee table.

Sasuke had no idea if he should force the child to eat something or if he should leave him alone, put him to bed and hope for the best.

Raising a kid was way harder than it looked.

“Okay…bed?” He asked again and this time, kid murmured something else but Sasuke couldn’t really hear it. He nudged him again to talk louder and Tobi sniffled this time.

“Can I sleep with you, tonight?” He asked with that squeaky voice that usually never worked on him but with the added waver in his voice and the fat tears rolling down his cheeks, Sasuke didn’t stand a chance of refusing.

He sighed, took a firm( yet gentle) hold of the child before getting up and moving towards the one bedroom they had. The bed was for Tobi and Sasuke usually slept on the couch. There was one closet and Sasuke kept both his and Tobi’s clothes in that old piece of furniture. It had one desk that was filled with either Tobi’s small amount of toys or Sasuke’s poor attempts at trying to read a book( or try to divide the bills so that he’d be able to pay them).

The room wasn’t a big one, it was actually small and the single bed was covering the majority of the bedroom and the closest was also a dominant impression. The walls were a dark blue cover and there was a window at the far end of the room which had the brown curtain that Sasuke had been using since orphanage.

The fucked up part was that he was an Uchiha and he was supposed to have a large family but much like Tobi himself, nobody accepted a leftover after the parents are dead, and Itachi had never been in the orphanage . He had been fifteen when dad died, Itachi was five years older than him and did not need the help or the useless care of those individuals.

He hadn’t see his brother until he became seventeen and Itachi was already gone to the extremes. Eighteen when he was out of the orphanage with an unknown child who was shy of him, a brother that he had recently found out was addicted and that he was supposed to pay for the care. Nineteen when he started to skip meals to work harder in order to disburse for not only himself but two other people as well.

He wasn’t complaining, he just didn’t know how long he could keep going.

Putting the kid under the covers, he got on the bed himself and tried not to cringe when the kid snuggled close to him. He loved Tobi, he was the most innocent human he had ever met but Sasuke absolutely loathed physical contact and it was getting too much for one night. Even so, he bit his lips and kept silence for the kid to fall sleep.

-/

Surprisingly, Tobi fell asleep way too quicker than he had expected. Half an hour later, Sasuke looked down to his chest from where he had been stroking soft raven hair and staring at the wall, counting the cracks or the discoloration to the kid’s face that had disappeared in his shirt and he could feel soft breaths tickle the side of his throat.

He slowly took the hem of the red blanket and pulled it away from his own body to get out of the bed and even if the chance of him falling face down to the hard floor would be a bad idea for his already hurting back. Thankfully, he got up the bed without any accidents or injuries before standing before the item to see if the kid was awake and blessedly, Tobi remained sleep against the covers.

He cracked his back before moving to the desk where the papers had been calling him to grasp a few pieces and move out of the room.

His cheek where the blond loser that punched him still hurt like a bitch and Sasuke had ignored the mirror from the bathroom so he didn’t really know if his cheek was bruised or just starting to become black and purple.

Looking at the clock, he grimaced internally at seeing the icon of four in the morning before deciding that he wasn’t going to get any sleep that night and collapsing on the couch.

The rain hadn’t stopped, in fact it had gotten worse and Sasuke was usually bothered of the harsh noise. He hated any type of loudness to an extent but he mostly avoided it. Although, come to think of it, it was a lost hope to wish for peace and quiet when he was living in New York.

He rubbed his eyes until he saw orange hues in his squeezed eyeballs before opening them again and laying down on the couch.

He read the notes and the bills that had added up from the paper and tried to find a way that he could pay for them. The car insurance needed to be paid, the taxes were also becoming a pile, Tobi was going to start school next year, the apartment rent-

He placed the paper back on the coffee table and rubbed his face again. It wasn’t to work. Not like this.

The thrift shop paid half of the amount that he needed every month and Sasuke needed to come up with something and soon.

Maybe, he could sell the car. It wouldn’t be much but it’d pay for some of the issues until Sasuke got another job.

His education was until high school and he doubted any well paid job would accept someone with that level of degree. The best course of action would be selling the car, getting another job and hoping for the best.

Would it work forever? No. But would it help for a while? Yes.

If he ditched the car, the insurance would go away as well and what a relief would that be. Perhaps, if he got a job in the health care community, then he could get a better payment and just fucking pay for shit.

It’d work…right?

It did only require a high school degree and only 100 hours of training. He could pull it off. Right?

“Alright, don’t think, don’t think, don’t think.” He kept mumbling to himself to grasp a single section of a straight thought to calm himself down. He was absolutely not keen on being an over thinker but things weren’t working out recently.

He needed to visit Itachi tomorrow( always on Saturdays) probably get yelled at and lectured by the doctors that it was the drug talking and he shouldn’t care about it, go to work, try to sell the car, get Tobi to the graveyard to visit the cousin that he still didn’t remember and clean the graves of his parents.

So much things to do and he couldn’t even fall asleep.

-/
Seeing Itachi each week had its pros and cons. Out of all the number of outcomes it usually had, the one that Sasuke was truly grateful for was that it woke him up. He’d go inside of that building being sleepy and tired to his very core and get out freshly slapped, completely awake and ready for the rest of the day.

Their meetings were scheduled at nine in the morning each Saturday but Sasuke always showed up thirty minutes early to prepare himself for the disgusted face that his brother wore because, according to Itachi himself, Sasuke appeared extra annoying and ugly in the mornings and he wished to see literally anyone else but Sasuke.

It hurt to hear it all the time specially since Itachi had always been kind to him but Sasuke got used to it. Itachi also made sure to comment about the errors and the most problematic features of him very much to the point where Sasuke only sighed and decided to only listen and not say anything in return due to the magnificent fact that Itachi would be gaslighted and end up screaming at him even louder than usual.

Such thing happened that day again. He just wanted to defend a fraction of himself that day and decided to voice his opinion of the matter that Itachi kept ramming into his face which ended up being the worst idea ever because his brother raised one dark eyebrow as if saying ‘ challenge accepted.’ before screaming at him at the top of his lungs.

Itachi had such mighty set of lungs on his person and Sasuke was a little proud.

Itachi had changed a shit ton. One of the changes discussed the fact that his brother spoke loud when angered when a few years ago, before he ended up at the addiction center, he was softly spoken and never yelled even if he was beyond angry. He used to abhor sounding like their father.

He was slowly turning into him.

Sasuke despised that fact more than the shitty way Itachi had become.

He ended up leaving earlier that day which was a good thing because Tobi had been alone in the car and Sasuke would never take the child inside of that wretched building. It was traumatizing enough for him in every visit, he doubted it’d be any less troubling for a six years old.

That had been the better part of his morning until he drove to the graveyard and stood before the grave of his cousin who was still unfamiliar for him even after seeing his smiling face on the rock.

Shisui Uchiha.

Who the heck was that?

Tobi kept talking to his dad. By the looks of it, Shisui had been a good parent. Not abusive in the slightest, kind, and protective. Just like how a father should be.

Must’ve been nice.

The first ever time that Sasuke had brought Tobi to the grave to visit his dad, the kid had had that hilariously bewildered look on his face before asking if his dad was genuinely under that rock to which Sasuke answered with a cruel yes. He also mentioned that Shisui would not be able to answer back but he’d listen and surprisingly, it didn’t bother the kid much as the child only turned back to the smiling( creepy as shit) icon and kept on telling his dad about his day and how Sasuke was an amazing person.

Was he?

Definitely not according to Itachi.

After Tobi was done with pouring his heart out for the ground because Sasuke doubted a dead person would be able to hear shit, he took the kid his own parents’ graves to clean the dust and the mud away.

The kid always wanted to help but Sasuke’s back hurt way too much to clean a squirming six years old later that day so he only told him to play in his line of vision for a few minutes until he was done there.

Tobi made sure to be the only smiling person in the graveyard.

First, he cleaned his mom’s grave, scrubbing the mud out of her name because Itachi always said that she had been obsessed with cleaning. He had never seen her after all and the only indication that he looked exactly like her was the massive painting of her face that was also smiling.

Basically speaking, Sasuke never smiled but staring at her dead eyes and the spread lips, he knew exactly how he’d look.

Being done with her, he moved to the grave next to her and cleaned his dad’s. The man who had made sure to leave not a single part of him without a bruise but he still paid after his sorry ass. He had also lost his wife because of him so it was all cool.

Sasuke held no grudge against the man. Just like how he was holding no grudge against his brother.

After graveyard, he left the kid at home with one of their neighbors who was an old lady that had lost her children but loved Tobi to the bottom of her heart.

He went to work, dealt with the problems until it was over before signing up for health care community and looking for a way to sell the car.

He got back home at almost two in the morning and by that time he couldn’t feel his legs anymore. He still had the car but apparently, people would be interested and his car would be sold in a couple of days.

Joy. Yay. He’d have to walk everywhere now.

He had asked for it though.

Hopefully, he wouldn’t end up regretting his choices.

-/

He took a deep breath not to end up saying something nasty to the piece of shit that was standing next to him.

What the fuck was he thinking?!

He sold the car a couple of days ago and ended up using the bus as a way of transportation. Taxis were fine as well but bus got the job done way easier-

Used to.

Until he make running to the station because of the torrential rain that just seemed to had taken a liking to NewYork and had decided to stay before standing beneath the stop only to see the last person he would’ve wished to see first thing in the morning on his damn way to the health care that he had managed to get a job from.

The blond from the other day who had successfully given his right cheek a lovely shade of purple. It still hurt to touch. He was standing by the far corner, hands crossed, a bag that was half unzipped hanging on his shoulders and a scowl on his face that merely made him look stupid rather than anything else he thought he was looking…

Intimidating? That would be ridiculous.

As if the whole look from his face wasn’t hilarious enough, he was also wearing an orange hoodie with dark blue jeans and converses that looked to be at least four years old.

To make the situation so much worse, they were the only ones at the station except two old men.

What was this idiot’s name?

Nard? Noratu?

Naruto. Fishcake. His parents must’ve hated him.

He crossed his arms as well and leant against the glass wall of the stop, ignoring the blond just as he was doing the same.

They both were returning the favor.

It was cold and humid and as a cherry on top, Sasuke’s legs were hurting and his back was on fire, he also hadn’t managed to get a drop of sleep last night so he was extra tired today.

And he was supposed to wait fifteen minutes for the bus to arrive. Great. Wonderful. Accelerating.

Two minutes of glaring into the rain which was covering the entire area of the street, he heard the blond move a bit as if adjusting the weight of the bag on his shoulder. Sasuke wasn’t going to give him the pleasure of attention, therefore he kept his gaze on the boring sight in front of him. It was stupid enough that he was stuck in the rain under one single shelter that was the fucking station with his damn neighbor who was truly a piece of shit

Lovely.

“Children, would one of you read this for me, It seems that I’m unable to see it.” One of the elders said and Sasuke only turned his head to look at sitting grey looking man before sighing and deciding to take it easy on the poor guy. He turned away from where he was leaning on the wall before crouching down and being bumped into a head full of yellow hair.

It hurt, his forehead was on fire as he yelped in pain and moved away from the position just as the blond idiot did the same, both standing straight and glaring daggers at each other whilst trying to ignore the slight snickers that the old man was having.

“Will you stop giving me injuries?” He hissed warningly to the arrogant bitch who was glaring at him with his ugly eyes.

Naruto gasped as if he was hit underneath his rips before pointing his index finger at him, irritated and looking for a fight.

“You started that fight, bastard!”

“Well, if you hadn’t been blind and had seen a child with me, maybe we wouldn’t have had a fight!”

“So now, it’s my fault!”

“Who else am I gonna blame?!”

The blond took a deep breath and glared harshly. “You’re such a bitch!”

“Look who’s talking, a loser.” He replied rudely before crossing his arms across his chest and ignoring the old man who was looking up at both of them with worry written all over his face.

“Children, could you be a dear and read this to me?” He asked in his wavering voice before the blond sighed and glared at Sasuke for couple of more seconds.

“Yes, sir. I’ll do it. I doubt he’s capable of being helpful anyways.” He said before crouching down and reading the text for the old man.

Sasuke rolled his eyes but chose to overlooking the issue at hand. He turned back to the rainy street and waited for the bus to arrive. He leant against the wall again, glaring at everything and anything because the universe hated him enough to stick him with a loser as bad as the blond.

Or…fishcake.

He smirked without knowing, it was a funny thought to make fun of the idiot inside his head, a great distraction for his poor nerves that had been arguing with him over the past couple of hours because Sasuke had sold his damn car and he was about to be late for work.

“You’re crazy enough to smile for no reason?”

Oh the nerve-

“Mind your damn business, fishcake.” He answered back without missing a single beat which was a good thing, he was debating with himself to call this idiot that ever since he got there.

That, apparently, wasn’t a good idea though.

“What?! Hey! Do you want me to give you anther eggplant on your other cheek too, bitch?!”

Well, that set him off.

“Oh, you’re so stupid, your shitty brain can’t recall. I kicked your ass to the ground!” He yelled back which made the poor old man flinch but Sasuke didn’t give a fuck.

Based on the reaction of the blond, Naruto also didn’t give a fuck.

“You bitch!” He screamed before lunging at him with his fist raised although Sasuke dodged easily and his hand contacted the glass wall, making it crack and his own knuckles bleed.

“How clumsy.” He commented and was a little abhorred with himself for sounding like his older brother but he couldn’t careless.

Naruto turned back to him, glare on both eyebrows and the old man was standing up, telling them to calm down and that fighting was so unnecessary and violent and that they should love themselves.

What the fuck.

Luckily, the bus arrived and stopped in front of the station. They locked eyes for a solid second before Naruto rolled his eyes.

“I’ll get your ass later.” He hissed before bumping his shoulder with him as he climbed up the bus.

Sasuke had half the mind to call it bullshit and not climb the bus, he’d wait and all but he’d also be late for work.

Fuck his life, honestly.

Chapter Text

Chapter 3

“I think he’s sick.”

Sasuke felt his heart drop to the bottom of his stomach before swallowing with extra struggle and look back to the couch where Tobi was peacefully sleeping.

“Why would you say that? He looks fine.” He said with his voice wavering. Normally, Sasuke would never show anything like such weaknesses in front of anyone but Mrs.Cozin had been taking care of Tobi when he went to work for a couple of months now and meanwhile, Sasuke was growing accustomed to her not by choice but more by nature of her cozy apartment decoration and her motherly smiles.

He stared closely at Tobi’s sleeping form on the couch; the blanket was wrapped tightly around his small body, his soft, black hair was sprawled all over the white pillow, his nose along with his cheeks looked a bit pink and puffy but that could be from sleep, and he wasn’t shivering and Sasuke had made sure to feed him breakfast and he knew that Mrs.Cozin would have fed him-

A stomach bug?

Was it the flue?

What was wrong?

The woman sighed as if pained before strolling to the couch and pulling the blanket tighter around Tobi before stroking his hair. She nuzzled his exposed, puffy cheek before looking up at him with knowing eyes.

“Silly boy, you see him everyday. He’s become too thin. It’s not healthy for a child his age.”

Sasuke pressed his lips together and stared at Tobi himself.

Sure, he did look a little underweight but he fed him everything he could possibly get and Tobi always ate everything on his plate. Wasn’t it enough?

“I mean..I feed him all three meals.” He mentioned, a little defensive because he really had no idea what else he should be doing.

Wasn’t it enough?

The old woman shook her head before looking back down at the kid. “ how big are the portions?” She asked.

Oh..okay.

“I’m not sure…how big should they be?”

“At least half of the plate. He should also have snacks throughout the day.” She explained, her eyes knowing way too much than necessary and Sasuke didn’t know how he was going to feed the kid not only that amount of food but also snacks as well.

“Honey, you can bring him here as often as you want. I have a lot food that goes to waste. I can feed him, you know how much I love Tobi.” She promised with putting both of her hands over her heart.

“I know and thank you so much but that would be getting out of line-

“Sasuke, you’re way too young to be taking care of a child. I can lend you a hand,sweetie.”

He frowned, on one hand it’d be a great weightlifter but on the other hand it would be going out of line and taking advantage of her kindness. It was completely true that he was struggling to keep both of them from starving and that everything was deep in shit but asking her for help was beyond embarrassing.

“Thank you so much but I can’t accept it. If you’d be willing to just take care of him while I’m at work would be amazing.” He said to reassure her but he only managed to convince himself.

The woman pressed her lips together before nodding and kneeling to hold the kid in her arms and bringing his sleeping form over to him. She placed him to his open hands carefully and Sasuke had to grind his teeth to bare the weight.

He was only six and he was this heavy…at least, that was healthy,right?

“You can always bring him to me. Just,make sure he eats enough.” She reminded and all he could do was nodding quietly.

He’d feed him this way or another. He’d skip meals and give the kid his own portions..

That would work…right?

———————————-

He eyed both of the plates that were placed on the cabinet right in front of him before sighing and adding some of the portion of his own to Tobi’s.

It was the next day and still raining when Sasuke had woken up on the couch where he had crashed last night with a book that had fallen on top of his face.

How he had managed to sleep was beyond him.

He had stared at himself in the mirror for a couple of minutes, inspecting the bruise that was slowly healing on his cheek and tried to compose himself for the day. He’d get though it, eat less, drink more not to get hungry and try to work harder-

Find one more job to add to the list and see if he could get more money by the end of the month.

He,then, woke Tobi who was reluctant as always before helping him brush his teeth, dress up for the day before sitting him down on the chair in the kitchen even if his black eyes were glued to the screen of the TV where a kid program was showing.

Sasuke had only managed to fry scrambled eggs, two to be exact, toasted some bread and made coffee for himself and brewed tea for Tobi…

That was enough food for breakfast, right?

Was he being neglectful?

He added another spoonful of his own portion onto the kid’s before rubbing his forehead and leaning on the cabinet using his free hand. Tobi was right behind him, dangling his short legs and watching that way too colorful TV show. The kid needed to grow..

He glanced at the plates and cringed. Maybe, he should have the kid eat more bread?

There wasn’t much but he wouldn’t eat bread for a while until he got paid. That would do-

“Suke! I’m hungry. “ the kid yelled, making his head pulse even harder and successfully frustrating him more than how he already was. He had woken up with a migraine that day and he didn’t have any pain killers at hand to take so he settled on just barring with the pain..

Sasuke surpassed another sigh( the day had just started.) before taking the plates in his hands and turning around to place them on the table, bringing the toasts and the mugs over, he finally sat down.

His back protested against his decision immediately and he barely held back a hiss of pain before taking his coffee and giving it bunch of sips to calm his nerves. Tobi was already clearing his plate and finishing his tea by the time Sasuke had managed to take two bites.

“I’m done!” The kid yelled again and Sasuke couldn’t help but rub his forehead where the pain was the strongest.

He eyed Tobi, his cheeks and lips that were smeared with oil, his bright eyes that held so much Innocence before smiling to assure the kid.

“Okay…are you still hungry?”

“Nope!”

“Are you sure? I can make you something else.” He couldn’t, not really. But there was still some of his toast left and Sasuke, as the adult, could actually deal with hungry way better than a six years old.

“I’m sure.” The kid replied with a smile and Sasuke managed to keep his toast for himself.

“If you ever got hungry throughout the day, tell me, okay?” He warned, still eyeing Tobi’s reactions to see if he was lying as he chewed on the toast before taking a sip of his coffee.

“But I don’t get hungry.” Tobi answered, a frown on his brows that looked ridiculous before Sasuke took a deep breath and nodded.

He saw Tobi everyday though. Mrs.Cozin was right. He couldn’t tell a difference about the kid and there was no one else…

He got up from his seat as soon as the idea had come to his head before rushing for his phone, taking it out of the charger and telling Tobi to go near the window and stand straight.

“But why?” He kid asked, annoyed and impatient which Sasuke could understand as he knelt down on his knees and looked over to the kid.

“I’m taking a picture of you.”

“Why though?”

“You’ve lost weight.”

Tobi frowned before looking down at himself and laughing.

“I have?!”

Sasuke could only nod before leaning forward to straighten the child himself.

“Will taking a picture make me fat?”

Sasuke chuckled despite the situation before shaking his head. “I can’t tell when you lose weight, so I’m taking a picture to check it everyday.”

It was a good idea.. perhaps Tobi would gain the weight back after a while with eating more. Sasuke filled Tobi’s entire plate for today. If he did the same everyday from then on, it would be alright. Tobi would stay healthy and normal.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

It was a long and an extremely boring class that Naruto wished for it to end soon but every time he glanced at the tall wall where they had hung a clock, it’s arrows seemed to be stuck on one single second and had decided never to move again.

He sighed for the thousandths times that day before leaning back on his seat and staring at the teacher who was explaining some sort of math formula that his brain was too fried to understand. It was this weird looking thing with Xs and Ys and bunch of other alphabetically shits that Naruto wanted nothing to do with.

It was currently six in the afternoon and the class would ,hopefully, end in half an hour if the god blessed him with enough patience that Naruto doubted he possessed.

Maybe, he should just get up and leave. It wasn’t as if the professor would question, students left the class often but the thing that stopped Naruto from getting up and becoming a bitch was because he was about to fail this fucking class and he needed to pay extra attention.

Thirty minutes weren’t a long time and the professor was starting to say something about how hard the exam was going to be( nobody cared.) so Naruto decided to let his poor mind wander across the titles of the ceiling.

He used to stay at the dorm rooms but after a couple of fights, he was kicked out. His adoptive father got pretty mad but managed to get him an apartment a few blocks away from his university but Naruto, because he was a troublemaker, got kicked out again so Kakashi yelled at him but because Naruto was his one and only child and Kakashi himself used to be a troublemaker, got him his newest apartment which Naruto had had a fight with his next door neighbor twice for now.

The next door neighbor was absolutely a piece of shit and if something was wrong with this new apartment then the bastard could get kicked out instead of him, with kid or without kid.

So what if he and Sakura had some fun and it got out to the hallway, was it so bad?

Yes…it was. In fact, it was terrible but Naruto had genuinely not seen the kid and maybe, he had been a little drunk..

Sakura had been high and drunk.

So maybe the bastard had some rights to get irritated, he was a father after all-

Was he a dad though? He looked way too young to have a kid..almost the same age as him.

He shook his head before sighing. He shouldn’t even think of that bastard but Kakashi was going to visit today…

He’d probably ask around and if that piece of shit decides to say anything about that fight, then Kakashi would definitely get beyond mad and might go as far as not even paying his rent.

It was bad enough that he rented an apartment in the worst part of the town and in a terrible condition as punishment, he didn’t want to think of what the guy would do if he found out about that…

It was going to be a pain and by the looks of it, Hus neighbor would definitely tell on him.

Chapter Text

Chapter 4

Rubbing his forehead, he leant on the table and took a deep breath.

His head was absolutely killing him and he had already taken every allowed pain killer and nothing was working. One of his coworkers, who had been in health care way more than him, said that he was supposed to only sleep because Sasuke looked like he hadn’t had a single drop of sleep since the Second World War.

He made sure not to mention that he wasn’t old enough for that due the sharp pinch that Tsunade was bound to give his elbow.

One bruise was more than enough.

Mrs.Cozin had called a couple of minutes ago saying that Tobi kept asking for him and no amount of disapproval would get the kid off the phone so Sasuke ended up talking to Tobi and telling him that everything was going to be okay as he was carefully putting away bandages and stitches into a box before placing in the lower cases.

It was a busy day…

And it was only eight at night, he clocked out at eleven and he also needed to check the thrift shop because the place was twenty four seven so another extra hours for that and by the time he was on the way to the bus station to take him home, it’d be around one in the morning. His back was also killing him, ever since selling the car his legs had also taken this sudden liking of flaring up for no reason so there was that..

At least, he’d go home a little earlier today.

“Sasuke! Grab those syringes and come here!”

He cringed internally, just when he thought he could get some rest…

“Coming!” He yelled back against the protests from his head before grabbing the requested items and rushing back into the room.

-/

It was ten at night when Naruto decided to take a break from preparing that annoying presentation and look out of the window to the dirty street where his apartment was located.

It was this shitty looking road with bunch of homeless people roaming around, an empty bottle in hands of each of them, drunk out of their mind, tall, ruthless looking buildings that were probably built around the last decade were planted around, full trash bags that smelt way too foul to be normal( were they ever emptied?) and bunch of gangsters also leant against the walls of some buildings.

Kakashi knew damn well how to punish without really doing anything.

The man had adopted him when he was five, but despite being a psychologist who was way too good and dedicated in his career,Kakashi was aloof and uncaring about the majority of pretty much everything. He raised him well though and Naruto was truly grateful for it( fuck it, the man was his dad) but angering Kakashi was probably the worst thing ever.

For one thing, he didn’t yell, scream or even raise his hand no, he was a psychologist…he played with his damn mind.

The man stared at his soul with no emotion before telling him to go to his room and don’t come out until dinner.

The force of that look would be enough to keep him in his room until dinner when Kakashi would come looking for him with a smile and say that Naruto was forgiven.

The same stare had appeared on his face that day when Naruto was kicked out again.

Well…at this point, he should only be grateful that Kakashi had taken it lightly but shit was about to go down fast when he found out about the fight with his neighbor.

Naruto was still a bit pissed for actually standing behind the door of that bastard for exactly fifteen minutes just debating with his raised hand to knock and himself to tell the guy that his dad would kick him out himself this time and no amount of reasoning would work.

His pride had won. He didn’t knock.

“Ah, fuck it.”

Would it be too obvious if he took his father to a restaurant and paid for their meal instead of letting him come here?

Yeah…it would be. Kakashi would raise an eyebrow before stating the obvious.

What the fuck was he going to do?

His neighbor didn’t seem like the most open person as well( specially not after all those fights) he seemed quite antisocial in fact. An antisocial with a child.

Was he babysitting? Was he the kid’s older brother? Cousin?

Naruto almost slapped himself, why was he so invested in this guy?

Probably because he could ruin his life with a single sentence.

Lovely.

Kakashi was going to be there in approximately of an hour and Naruto had no idea what he was going to do about his neighbor and the outcome of his dad’s most likely corrupting rage.

-/

For once in his own life, it seemed that stars had smiled in his direction because the thrift shop closed early and Sasuke could go home way sooner than what he had been preparing himself for.

It was still raining by the time he arrived at the bus station. He was already soaked past the thin fabric of his shirt and his sneakers were making wet sounds as he took steps.

Disgusting, he needed a shower.

He sat down heavily on the empty seat of the station and let his aching legs hang as he slumped against the hard back. His legs were on fire from standing all day and walking everywhere, his head was still pulsing with pain and to top it all off, he was completely wet.

At least he was going home earlier than usual, that was the best thing ever.

He was off for one day for the weekend but had to go to the thrift store the entire afternoon. Still, he would get a morning full of sleep.

He straightened after a couple of weird looks from the passing people before leaning forward and rubbing his face even though it made him more disgusted with himself because those drops of rain had definitely made him soaked and he abhorred them all.

He was tired, somehow sleepy and so, so hungry that his hands were shaking. All he had had the entire day was those eggs and toasts in the morning. He didn’t have enough money to buy himself a sandwich from the cafeteria and even if he had, he wouldn’t.

Tobi was getting thin.

Sasuke could get a few days eating less…or without eating anything.

Actually…

That wasn’t such a bad idea.

He rubbed his stomach a little, grimacing at the pain as he calculated how bad it was. There was a pricing sensation that Sasuke could handle to some point and it..well, it wasn’t too bad, no, in fact it was okay.

He could handle it.

So with that in mind, he could go on a few days without food, nothing too severe just to feed Tobi as much as possible because that way, he could also give the kid some snacks whenever he was home and at work or really, if he got hungry, he’d just chug bunch of glasses of water or coffee or something not to feel it so much until his payment got better at the health community and he could actually buy some well needed items for home.

He could also stop going home by bus. It wasn’t too expensive and it was only a few cents but cents made dollars and Sasuke was way too broke to argue with that logic.

So he stared at the rain that was still pouring at the top of the station before gathering some courage to get up and go into that absolute mess of a weather.

He swallowed nervously before getting up from his seat and taking the way to the street.

Needless to say, he was absolutely assaulted by the hurried droplets and his already soaked clothes cried as he was hit by them making his own self cringe and be even more disgusted than before.

The screams of the rain were ringing in his ears by the time he finally reached another station to cool down and stop running like a madman at eleven o’clock at night.

Leaning on his knees, he panted even though it was freezing before running again, it’d take him at least forty minutes to reach his neighborhood.

His apartment was located in the worst place of NewYork that was for sure but what made it a terrible journey back was the fact that it would take him so long to get home.

If he didn’t stop to catch his breath, if he ran all the way, he’d reach his destination at sometimes around eleven forty five.

-/

“You had spare keys?!”

“You’d think that I wouldn’t take extra keys for my own kid’s house?”

Naruto glared at the man who had already let himself in and closed the door behind him.

“What if I wasn’t decent?”

“I bathed your naked body.”

Naruto grimaced for that reminder before strolling to the kitchen.

“Well, what brings you here?” He asked the obvious just to fill the air because he hated the silence more than anything besides, Kakashi wasn’t exactly a talkative person so it would stretch and just fucking no.

“I wanted to see if you’d be thrown to the streets again.” He answered with the obvious and Naruto narrowed his eyes as he poured heated coffee into two mugs that were stationed next to each other on the porcelain cabinet.

“Listen, the last two times hadn’t been my fault-

“We both know that’s false, you fucked up.”

Why was it so hard to let him have his damn moment?!

“Fine! I messed up!,” he said with a raised voice as he spanned around to glare at the man who was sitting on his leather couch and looking on the dust which had stubbornly clang to the soft surface of the table even if Naruto had spent approximately of six whole minutes trying to get it off. “ but that doesn’t mean, you get to rub it in!”

“I’m not rubbing it in, Nards. In fact, I’m stating the obvious and letting you know that if you fuck up again, you’d lose big time. So be careful.” He explained with a smooth voice that Naruto had heard enough times to know was actually a warning.

He stared at the grey eyes of his father, noticed the crease that had formed beneath them and the white eyelashes that dueled with his silver hair before crossing his arms and leaning on the cabinet.

“I’ve done nothing wrong here. You don’t have to worry.”

Kakashi chuckled before pointing to the mugs behind Naruto’s steaming self.

“What made you think I’d be worried about you? If you get kicked out again, you’ll move back in my house and study until your brain fries. A lovely outcome. Now bring those mugs here, I’m aching for a good coffee.”

Naruto rolled his eyes before taking the mugs and bringing them to the coffee table, disputing and finally sitting down.

Hopefully, Kakashi wouldn’t actually ask his neighbor about anything and Naruto would get this extremely exhausting night past him with a good sleep.

If only the man would leave his neighbor alone.

“So…you haven’t done anything. Nothing to disturb, nothing to start a fight, no flirting and you’ve been a good, decent human being.”

“Absolutely.”

“Mind if I ask one of your neighbors?”

And there it was. Just when he was finally about to sigh in relief.

Trying to hide his panic, Naruto bit his lip behind his mug and nodded his head to appear unfazed even if his heart was currently beating at the bottom of his stomach.

“Oh?” The man asked with a raised eyebrow and probably a smirk that Naruto was unable to see beneath his ridiculous mask that he insisted he needed to wear to appear mysterious.

“Hell yeah. You can ask anyone.”

Kakashi looked him up and down, his gaze calculating as ever before he leant back. “You’re a terrible liar.”

“But I’m not lying!”

“Naruto.”

“I swear!”

The man glared( just a pinch in his smiling expression) before nodding.

“Then if I ask one of your lovely neighbors, it wouldn’t be a problem.”

He swallowed, “no.”

Kakashi smiled evilly before getting up from his spot and motioning to him to follow. Naruto could feel cold sweat break on his forehead and some formed droplets were sliding down his back but nonetheless, he followed after the man to what was probably his doom.

That bastard would definitely tell on him and watch with satisfaction as he was once again, kicked out.

His dad opened the door and got out with Naruto nervously following after him. He stopped in the middle of the hallway and look at the three other doors that would belong to the other neighbors and Naruto was praying to all the holiness who was listening that he’d pick another door-

Not the one on the right, not the one on the right, please not the one on the right-

“Let’s go for this one.” Kakashi said and chose to knock on the door which was on-

The left.

Thank fucking-

Three knocks after the door opened and a old woman stood behind it. Her white hair was peaking out from the slight bun she had at the back of her hair, her thick woolen sweater looked a bit old but the green skirt resting on her hips made her looked like the coziest grandmother on the planet. Sweet warmth was also coming from the slight gape between outside and her door.

She looked lovely, motherly and so, so sweet.

“Hello, ma’am. I hope you’re doing fine.” Kakashi said with a smile before turning around and gesturing to his fidgeting form.

“You’ve met Naruto, right?”he asked.

The woman raised one white eyebrow before smiling and coming out of her house completely, she closed the door almost all the way before stuffing her left foot inside to keep it halfway open before smiling up to them warmly.

“Pardon my rudeness, there’s a child playing inside. Unfortunately no, I haven’t had the chance to meet this young man,” she explained, looking up at Kakashi before glancing over at him. “ hello, sweetie.” She said to him.

He smiled fully with relief before waving at her. She looked to be the kindest person on the planet, he doubted anything bad would come from her besides, she didn’t even know him.

“Hi! Nice to meet you.”

She nodded with a smile before looking back up at Kakashi who was staring at him with a raised eyebrow although before he could have the chance to say anything the woman gasped audibly before rushing past them to the stairs.

Naturally, both he and his much taller father turned around to see what was the problem only to see a figure who was soaked to his bones with a red shirt clinging to his skin, his pants completely wet and shoes that were also making sounds as they hit the stairs.

“Sasuke! What have you done to yourself?!” She whispered because voices would echo terribly as she placed both of her hands over her mouth in shock at the boy who had probably been showering outside.

Naruto felt his eyes widen before he swallowed nervously and glanced over to his dad who frowned before strolling forward to the people at the stairs.

“I was late for the bus, had to run back-

The bastard was saying before cutting off immediately as his father came to the view, extending a hand and offering help.

The guy who Naruto still didn’t know the name…wait.

The grandma called him ‘Sasuke.’

How was he going to make fun of a name like that?

Sasuke eyed Kakashi’s hand before looking up to his face and slapping it away to straighten to his full height and look less like a child and more like the adult that he was.

“What do you mean you were late for bus?! It’s not even your usual hour yet!” The old lady fussed before grabbing his pale wrist and yanking him all the way inside her house before giving them an apologetic smile as she quickly grabbed a towel and shoved on his head even if she had to stand on her tiptoes to do so.

The door was still open and she didn’t stop doing it until Sasuke sighed in frustration and took the towel himself as he walked past her inside her house and just like that, a squeaky voice presented itself with a high pitched scream.

“Suke! Hi!”

Naruto visibly cringed at the sound just as Kakashi frowned before a child( fuck, it was Sasuke’s kid) and jumped up and down in front of the old lady with a lollipop in his mouth.

The kid’s eyes winded upon seeing him and like a brat that he was, he stopped jumping and pointed to him before yanking the lollipop out of his mouth.

“Mr.mean!” He screamed at him with his index finger pointing at him.

The old lady quickly took the kid’s shoulder and held him close to her, Kakashi turned to him immediately and there was a knowing look on his face.

Sasuke quickly came around from the corner and took a hold of the kid’s shoulder before putting him behind himself. Droplets of rain was still dripping off his clothes and he looked completely cold even if the glare on his face was beyond heated.

“What’s going on?” He finally said as he tried to keep the squirming kid behind him just as the old lady stood a bit straighter next to him.

“Well, I think you had a bad day. I’m just here to ask if Naruto over here, hasn’t been problematic. I hope he had been a decent person?” Kakashi asked even if it embarrassed Naruto to no end.

His heart was beating too hard to care about even a fraction of embarrassment.

Sasuke frowned, the glare lessening it’s heat a bit before holding his kid more tightly as he looked straight into Naruto’s eyes. His eyes were piercingly dark and seemed bottomless, his gaze was sharp and for some reason his tear ducts were also kinda pretty which was what made Naruto more irritated..

So Naruto, even if he was deep in shit and should actually start begging him with his eyes, glared instead.

Sasuke stared at him for a second longer before turning back to Kakashi and raise his chin.

He looked elegant even if his entire clothes, hair and skin were way too wet to be called okay.

He opened his mouth and Naruto closed his eyes, waiting for the doom to come to the present.

“I’ve never met this guy in my life, and what is he? A student? You’re asking us about his grades?”

Chapter Text

Chapter 5

He…lied.

He lied. For him.

He tried to flick the bewildered look off his face but it just didn’t work. Why would he protect him?

Was this protection? Was he going to ask something in return?! What would that be?!

Was Naruto in depth with this bitch now?!

“Oh no. There’s just some histories about a specific topic regarding me and my son-

“Then, keep it between you and your son.” The raven replied, voice cold( colder than before) and a freezing look was on his dark eyes that for some stupid reason, Naruto couldn’t look away from.

The kid stiffened as his dad’s voice changed and immediately stopped squirming against him, probably recognizing a warning tone before all hell broke loose. He wondered if Sasuke was abusive or seemingly an angry person.

But he doubted an abused child would jump in joy at the sight of his abuser.

Also..why did the kid keep calling him ‘Suke’?

Maybe an older brother?

Kakashi smiled beneath his mask and nodded. He was annoyed, obviously. It wasn’t everyday that someone would present a challenge to his father who had the irritating ability of roasting someone as easily as eating a cake but Sasuke had managed to not only talk back but also kick Kakashi right out of his own sentence.

“You had an extremely bad day, I suppose.”

“I had the unfortunate displeasure of seeing your face. So yes, I had a terrible day.”

Kakashi visibly stiffened just as the old lady took a firm hold of Sasuke’s fragile arm( why was it that thin?) to remind him that the person he was currently very kindly crumbling beneath his wet shoes had the potential of becoming the next owner of the entire apartment complex, not that Kakashi was interested in such places but still..

If the guy was triggered, he’d do anything.

He took a deep breath and nodded once more.

“Okay. Thank you so much for your time.” Kakashi said but before he could start saying anything else, the raven shrugged.

“My displeasure.” He spat before ignoring the glare of the old lady and slamming the door shut to their faces.

Naruto blinked in surprise just as Kakashi sighed before the door opened again and the old lady came out looking frustrated and frantic.

“I’m so,so sorry for his behavior. He’s usually a very nice young man, I don’t even know what has gotten into him!” She quickly explained as her hands moved in all directions to get her point across.

Kakashi smiled again to reassure the woman before nodding in understanding. “ it’s okay, ma’am. Everyone has their own bad days and good days. I think he’s just too tired.”

“Oh he is! I swear to you, he’s not like this at all!” She explained some more to which Kakashi finally very gently took her shaking hands and held them close.

“We understand, and there’s nothing wrong. Just make sure to tell him that a good night’s sleep will do wonders to him. Can I be sure that Naruto has someone here?” He asked gently to which the lady quickly smiled and nodded her head.

“Of course! I’d love to! I’ll make sure that he’s taken care of!” She added with a beaming smile that had shit ton of happiness spread across the floor.

She was starting to seem too sweet now, especially since Naruto still couldn’t understand why Sasuke had lied for him and verbally abused his dad. He just couldn’t wrap his head around the action.

Maybe, he just really was a bastard and he wanted to corner him later but for some reason, Naruto didn’t think so.

He looked way too busy to think of such things.

Unfortunately, Naruto was one of those kids of people that would think about something until they understood why it had happened.

And even if he hated it, this subject was starting to get to him.

-/

“Why did you do that?” She asked with a gentle but firm tone to her voice as Sasuke finally managed to place all of Tobi’s toys into his bag and get up on his shaky legs. Tobi had gotten quiet after Sasuke had given him one of his harsh looks because for some dumb reason, seeing that blond hit his nerves wrong and he still wanted to kick himself for helping that piece of shit.

“Because I wanted to.” He answered and immediately regretted but he had already said what he said and there was no going back or no stopping the heartbroken frown on the old woman’s face.

“Honey..are you okay?” She asked despite the fact that Sasuke was being nothing below a piece of shit.

He looked up at her from where he was kneeling on the ground, still putting the toys away and ignoring the pain from his empty stomach. Should he tell her the truth?

That he hadn’t been able to pay for the food and he had to starve himself now? That he still couldn’t get a good night’s sleep because he was afraid of the dark and he didn’t have the heart to sleep on the bed and take the small space where Tobi rested on?

That he was sick and tired of gazing at his brother’s eyes and only seeing hatred? That his rips still hurt sometimes because his dad always kicked him in the chest?

Should he tell her that the bills were adding up into a pile and he had no idea how he was going to disburse them all?

That his head, legs and back were always in pain and now his stomach was also playing that game?

Of course not. She didn’t deserve his anger, hatred.

She didn’t do anything wrong.

Besides, he wasn’t his father…or brother.

He couldn’t turn his back to someone who looked so scared of their father just like how he had been.Even if that particular someone had lovingly given him a bruise on the cheek.

“I’m okay. Sorry about that, I’m just really not in the mood.” He answered back to her because while he was completely covered in shit, she didn’t have a single stain on her green skirt.

She didn’t deserve to be burdened.

“Oh sweetie. Of course you’d be tired but please be more considerate towards others and their feelings.” She asked even if Sasuke was exhausted from trying and failing in literally every aspect.

He had given up for a reason after all.

He nodded anyways, just to reassure her that he would take her advice even if the case was quite the opposite before standing up and taking Tobi’s bag.

“Thank you for taking care of him, he could be a handful sometimes.”

“Oh no! Not at all! Tobi is a great child.”she defended even though Sasuke already knew it. Shisui had raised one polite, amazing kid that understood way too much and sometimes absolutely nothing at all.

Speaking of the devil, the kid kept his head low as his bounced his short leg that didn’t even reach the floor properly before Sasuke decided that he really couldn’t stay mad at a face as adorable as that.

“Mr.Noisy, I’m not carrying your bag.” He said making the old woman smile as Tobi looked up and crossed his arms even if a smile was dancing in his lips.

“I’m not noisy!”

“You can’t call someone so much older than you,Mr.mean.” He reprimanded even if the kid pouted and shook his head furiously.

“He hit you!”

Mrs.Cozin gasped suddenly and looked over to him, seemingly just noticing the yellowish bruise on his cheek that was thankfully healing before her gaze hardened.

“What’s he saying?” She demanded to which Sasuke only sighed and placed a hand on his forehead.

All he wanted was a good night’s sleep.

“He had a little disagreement the other day-

“So you’ve met him before.” She said with her grey eyes narrowed to slits. Sasuke had seen that look enough times to know that they were because of genuine concern.

“Can we not talk about this?” He asked as he pulled Tobi’s bag over his shoulder even if he had told the kid that he should be holding the bag himself.

The old lady frowned but didn’t say anything else as they both bid their goodbyes and left her apartment to their own.

-/

He didn’t have dinner and placed all of the small portion of food to Tobi who didn’t complain and cleared the plate.

It had a soothing effect, seeing the food that he could’ve had for himself slowly disappear into nothing. He could only hope that it was doing something and the kid was getting full.

He stared at the item in his hand. It stared back with all of the innocent that the stick could reveal with its whiteness and the burnt edge.

He hadn’t done it in a long while. Probably two years. It made him full fine some reason and he remembered how he couldn’t take a single bite out of anything for the whole day.

He really shouldn’t be doing this but it relived his stress and made his stomach feel less it it’d start eating his other organs, if he didn’t place anything inside it.

He snuggled closer to the window and leant forward to open it a slight bit before settling back on the wall to light the edge of the cigarette and after it’s foul smell was presenting itself, he brought it to his lips and took a deep, poisonous breath.

Surprisingly, the heart wrenching cough that he had expected did not come and he easily took another breath before he settled into the rhythm that he had stopped glancing at for a couple of years.

Drugs were absolutely terrible but Sasuke couldn’t stop inhaling the cigarette. It broke his amazing brother in half, it’d definitely destroy Sasuke but still.

He couldn’t deal with shit at the moment. Besides, he didn’t take any other type of drugs.

“…suke?”

This time, the breath was caught in his lungs and he coughed his entire organs out as he quickly threw the stick out before closing the window and turning around only to see the child at the doorway, his red blanket still wrapped around his small body and fat tears falling down his round cheeks.

He coughed once more before frowning to the kid’s face.

“What happened?” He asked with a smile as reassuring as he could manage although the kid didn’t even say something only sobbed horribly and ran to the window before throwing his entire body over his much taller legs.

“I had a nightmare.” He said simply as he shrugged before stumbling over to sit directly on top of his legs before burying his face in his chest which probably smelt terribly of burnt tobacco which usually made Sasuke gag.

He tried to hide his cringe from the touch before putting his leg more comfortably so the kid would relax.

“Do you wanna talk about it?” He asked despite the tremors his body was currently going through.

The kid only shook his head…

Sasuke didn’t push him, he never wanted to talk about nightmares either and only Itachi had been able to get him to speak but his older brother wasn’t…

There at the moment.

Tomorrow, he had to see him. Get his ears deaf by listening to Itachi’s smooth voice completely drown him.

“Suke?…”

“Hm?”

“I love you.”

Oh, Itachi would laugh at his face.

“I love you too.”

Chapter Text

Chapter 6

It was still raining pretty heavily even though it was three days after the deadline for the storm. Huge droplets of the coldest rain of December kept splashing on top of his head and clothes, making them wet and sticky to the point where Sasuke wished for nothing more except relishing in the warmth of any of the places that he was passing by.

It was also freezing and he couldn’t feel the tip of his fingers and his nose. Whatever was uncovered by his scarf which was mostly his cheeks were also completely icy.

He was also running through the said rain with an impressive speed that could probably count as a personal record before he stopped in a station to catch his breath because he was stupid enough to forget that he had sold his car and therefore, couldn’t sleep in on that hard couch that was only cozy in the mornings when he was trying his hardest to wake up.

“God, fucking damn it.” He said to the air as he was kneeling, breathing heavily at seven in the damn morning and almost dying as he kept trying to organize the entire day so the he’d reach the addiction center as well.

He wasn’t so excited at being roasted for being alive but granted, he was required to do it even if seeing his brother always brought his emotional side to the surface. He abhorred looking stupid even if Itachi made sure that he looked like that quite often. He beard it because his brother had done the same for him. He shouldered it because Itachi had protected him by putting a much younger Sasuke behind his small back and taking the hits that his father had hatefully given them.

Itachi had been the one to stand up to their father and still get slapped but never allowed Sasuke to do the same. Always loved him and if those disgusting drugs were stealing the old Itachi away from him, he’d bear it all until his brother was returned back to him.

He’d shoulder the pain just like how Itachi had done until the red of his glaring eyes had disappeared and the black of his kind eyes returned.

It’d take time and patience but Sasuke was going to give it all.

He would never,ever abandon his brother. He’d get Itachi back, even if it was the last thing he did.

-/

“I’m getting there, give me a fucking break.”

There was a very noticeable pause at the other end.

“Fine, sorry for cursing but you’re stressing me out!”

Kakashi breathed quite a long sigh before Naruto decided that the best possible excuse on hanging up on the guy would be saying that’s he’s late for class.

Naruto could practically hear the raised eyebrow in the way the man answered back but nevertheless, Naruto finally hung up the phone and started his brand new car that after much well paid poppy dog looks and begging, Kakashi has bought for him.

It was pouring and there was this torrential rain that Naruto didn’t have any idea where it came from or which country it actually belonged to so he shook his head before turning the wheel and getting out of the neighborhood.

It was hard to see because of the harsh droplets but Naruto drove anyways and should have wondered why his eyes decided to work so well upon seeing a crazy guy who seemed to be running for dear life in the rain but he didn’t ask and instead, he stopped the car in front of the stranger who stilled as well before rolling down the window, fully ready to drop the guy off wherever he wanted only-

Oh, hell nah.

Fuck no.

What the fuck.

No, seriously. Damn it all to hell. To it’s deepest depths that no souls could ever get out of.

“What the fuck are you doing in the rain?!” He found himself asking even if it had nothing to do with him. The most rational part of him would’ve probably told him to drive away and not give a single fuck if Sasuke froze in the cold or not but-

The only reason why Kakashi had also gotten him this damn car was because of the bastard-

Fuck it.

“Get your damn ass in here!”

The raven who was completely soaked and was still getting soaked to his bones raised an eyebrow with a twisted look on his face as a challenge before he showed him a middle finger as rudely as he probably could along with an eye roll before stalking around his car and moving towards whatever destination he was currently going. He wasn’t running though, probably because of pride therefore, getting more wet but he didn’t seem to care.

Now, normally Naruto would’ve scoffed and drove away not giving a single fuck but this damn bastard had saved his life and Naruto would much rather starve in a desert than be in depth.

Fine, the hard way then.

He drove in front of the raven again before stopping the car, making the said raven stumble and almost fall before Naruto glared through the window, got out of the car and immediately regretted his choice because the droplets were hitting painfully and they were also extremely cold as they collided with his much warmer skin.

He glared at Sasuke who showed his stubborn self once more by doing the exact same but with much more intense eyes( those damn pretty ones that Naruto was starting to kick himself for every time he stared a second too long) before he called it quits as he rounded his car, got into the defensive raven’s face before taking a strong hold of his arm( way too thin arm) and ignoring the sharp nails that dug into his skin as soon as he had touched him before opening the door of his car and throwing the boy inside, locking the door the second the raven was fully in.

Would it be considered kidnapping? Kinda..

But it was for the good and Naruto was a savior.

He swallowed nervously before climbing into the seat and closing the door behind him.

He didn’t dare to look slightly to his right side in case he would be hit over the head or something which was a great possibility judging by the fuming creature that was currently staring holes( deep holes, Mariana Trench got nothing on him) at the side of his face.

Lord have mercy.

He took a deep breath and slightly turned his head-

His head was turned to the opposite direction as soon as the stinging slap was stricken to the left side of his cheek.

‘Never start a fight.’ Kakashi always said.

So Naruto took a deep breath and counted to ten like a decent human being besides, if he fought back, it’d definitely look like a kidnapping.

“Ow.” He stated which the raven audibly scoffed at before crossing his arms over his chest.

He looked back to the glaring eyes of his soon to be murderer judging by the steams that would’ve probably come off his ears had cartoonish abilities been a thing. He was still shivering quite a lot, his ears, cheeks and the tip of his pointy nose were all a deep rosy color and contrasted drastically with his pale skin..

He was also wearing a thin fabric of clothing that he liked to call a shirt in the middle of a freezing day in December.

Naruto despite being quite mad at the boy and still holding onto his intense gaze as his hit cheek throbbed in pain, turned the AC at the maximum so that the air would be warm.

The gesture made the raven glare even harsher.

“Unlock this damn car.” He demanded with the glare intensified that was starting to make Naruto uncomfortable-

How could someone look intimidating with just a glare?!

“Listen…it’s pouring outside-

“Do I look like I give two fucks about it?”

Naruto stared at the wet clothes, at raven hair that was sticking to his pale forehead and the side of his cheeks, the way he was still shivering and not even wearing something thick enough to keep him warm and decided that this idiot seriously had no idea how to take care of himself.

“You look like you should give two fucks about it.” He stated against all odds. He didn’t like the guy, hell, he hated him probably. But he couldn’t stand by and let someone ruin themselves because they were too prideful to ask for help.

“By the looks of it, you were running for dear life. You were late for somewhere. Where are you going?” He asked but Sasuke raised both of his eyebrows and struggled against the door and when it didn’t budge, he just slammed his body back onto the seat and crossed his arm like the five years old that he was.

“Unlock it.” He said but didn’t ask for shit as he stared straight ahead.

Sasuke could be quite stubborn, as Naruto reluctantly found out but Naruto, as he was told, was probably ten times worse.

He really wasn’t in the mood for class anyways.

“Fine then. Either you tell me where you’re going so I can drop you off or..we can both stay here and let the time fly. You were late for somewhere though, might I add.” He said much to Sasuke’s annoyance before he turned the music on and he ignored the way Sasuke’s eyes widened comically.

“Look, if you don’t open this shit right now, I will fuck you up! Open this damn shit!” He yelled next to his ear but Naruto only turned the volume higher before bobbing his head to the sound.

“Open it! Hey!” He screamed but Naruto didn’t care even if there was desperation mixed with his voice.

He stopped struggling after a few more fruitless attempts before he changed tactics and dived for his keys that Naruto skillfully kept away from his yearning hands.

“Give it here! If I turn up late, I will fucking kill, you piece of shit!”

“Just let me drive you there! You’re going nowhere with this shitty weather, even if you like it or not!” He fired back and overlooked the way Sasuke seemed so desperate, so needy before something like acceptance filled his eyes as he settled back down onto his seat in defeat.

“Fine…I’ll give your stupid ass directions but that’s it!”

Naruto turned the volume down and turned the wheel around as a smirk formed itself on his lips.

“Two blocks later, turn right.” Sasuke said as he looked out of the window, a glare still present on his face and half of his body turned away from him.

Naruto was only glad that those thin clothes were, at least, drying up.

After a few more turns and highways that Naruto had no idea how the idiot wanted to run up in that damn rain, they stopped at a road that looked to be belonging in a decent side of NewYork. The end wasn’t shown but it was filled with huge buildings..

Did he work here?

“How much?”

He turned around with a look of bewilderment on his face which the raven rolled his eyes for before glaring.

“You didn’t think that I’d let you drive me here without paying, right?” He asked with that biting tone that Naruto was slowly getting used to.

It was growing on him to be completely honest.

“What made you think, I’d accept it?”

“Because you and your good will can go to hell.”

Naruto blinked before he smiled and then laughed because he had seriously thought that Sasuke was this boring guy that would most likely tell his dad that he sometimes liked to smoke but underneath the surface, he was pretty decent and kinda funny-

With his dry, dark humor.

“What the hell are you laughing at?!”

“Nothing…dude, keep your money. You didn’t tell on me, I’m refilling my debt.”

Sasuke narrowed his eyes, looked him up and down before sighing like he was way too tired to be breathing before he shrugged and put the money back into his pocket.

“No thank you?” He asked as the raven opened the door which was halted as he turned his dark head and raised an eyebrow.

“What thanks? You’re paying your debt.” He mentioned before slamming the door shut and running again inside of the nearest building that Naruto had no idea what it actually was. Just this huge place with multiple stories that seemed to be completely black..

Maybe it was the rain.

He rolled his eyes anyways as he turned the wheel around and raced to his college. Thankfully, he’ll reach the class in time.

Sasuke was terrible, horrible and Naruto still kinda hated his guts but he was a bit..

Weird, emo but in a slightly good way that Naruto was trying to ignore.
-/

If there was some way for Sasuke to save money, he would. That easily even if it meant pulling shits with that dumbass blond and keeping his money.

Damn it all to hell.

At the moment though, he was way too anxious to be caring about anything other than his brother who was sitting in front of him with a blank look on his face, his long hair neatly pulled into a low ponytail that Sasuke used to play with as a kid, his skin way too pale, even white, dark circles under his darker eyes and for some reason, the v neck shirt made the three moles on his neck that he had inherited from their mother even more apparent.

He wasn’t yelling yet, not even responding to him and while it broke him in half, Sasuke was also a bit happy to just see his brother. He was just way too quiet which was a drastic change-

He didn’t dare speak. He just kept his mouth shut and eyed the thick book that Itachi had been reading that was now resting on the table with something like a card used a bookmark.

From behind the glass that separated both of them, he could read it and it was philosophy of something that Sasuke seriously couldn’t understand why Itachi would be interested in.

Maybe it was related to his brother’s PhD. Itachi had graduated from Oxford and he had also gotten one of those fancy PhDs of law school- he was a fucking lawyer..

And he had wasted his entire life on drugs.

The book looked old and thankfully, Sasuke had also been a bookworm and loved to read-

He knew how relishing it felt to read something once in a while-

Maybe he could get Itachi a brand new book that still smelt like cinnamon and coffee that Itachi used to be a massive fan of. It’d cost some money but if he could pull some night shifts, it’d be okay.

Besides, Tobi did feel okay with Mrs.Cozin.

“You look tired.”

He probably jumped six feet in the air before looking up to his older brother’s blank face-

Did he imagine it?

Itachi rolled his similar dark eyes before gesturing to his face with one, long index finger. “You loo like you haven’t slept in ages.” He remarked but Sasuke didn’t hear much except smooth swiftly texture of his voice that he hadn’t heard in a very long time.

Itachi was yelling at him the majority of the time and Sasuke had almost forgotten how soothing he actually sounded like a damn siren but he did talk now..

And he wasn’t yelling.

Was that a good sign?

“I don’t look that bad.” He stated just for the hell of it, he was mostly testing the waters to be sure that Itachi wouldn’t rain down hell on top of his head but his brother didn’t say anything else, only stared at him.

“Why’re you wet?” He asked after a while. His voice didn’t betray anything and Sasuke couldn’t tell if he was mocking, angry or even prey tell….concerned?

He strongly doubted.

“It’s raining.” He answered.

Itachi clicked his tongue, a habit that he had never really lost that used to go on their dad’s nerves before he leant back in his chair.

He didn’t say anything else for the rest of that hour and by the time Sasuke was getting a bit restless of just staring at his trembling hands( was it because of hunger or nerves, he couldn’t tell) that the time was up and he needed to leave.

“Do you want me to get you anything?…dangos?” He didn’t have the money for it, but he’d wing it and do something, he’d get it if Itachi asked for it.

His brother did not speak.

Okay…he could deal with silence.

He’d learn to deal with it..as usual.

Chapter Text

Chapter 7

Apparently, if Itachi was choosing to be silent, it would be a bad thing.

“He hasn’t been speaking since the last time you visited.” Said one of the nurses as the doctor frowned with worry before coming forward and disposing his brother’s files on the wooden table.

Sasuke felt the bottom of his feet disappear as if he was falling from six feet in the air. He fidgeted on his spot where he was currently standing near the shelf which was full of books that were toppling over each other and a lamp that Sasuke had seen since the day it was bought and by looks of the dancing dust, it had never been cleaned.

“That’s a bad sign..right?” He found himself asking even if his mind was racing through miles per second. What the fuck was he going to do now? How was he going to fix this?

Was it even going to be fixed?

“It’s a very bad sign and,” the old man frowned even deeper before rubbing his wrinkled hands all over his face. “ his doctor is no longer available.” The man finally added grimly.

It was currently ten thirty in the morning and Sasuke was, somehow, already done with the day.

The psychologist who had been attending to his brother had been a good one, a really good one, that Sasuke had to pay extra and even he had given up. He already barely paid for everything and he had no idea what he was going to do now-

“Can’t we get another doctor?” He asked anyways because he’d make it work. He’d stay extra hours at the health care and do something but would never give up on his brother.

The man licked his lips and shook his head.

“I really don’t want to tell you this..” he paused, seemingly afraid of something before continuing.” Is there any other adult that I can talk to? Instead of you?” He asked.

He could tell where this was going.

“There is none.”

All the workers knew that Sasuke and Itachi were practically orphans and had no one. Not a single relative or anyone who would care enough to drop by. Everyone in that place knew it and the only reason why the head doctor would be asking for an older relative was because he was going to say something that he thought Sasuke was way too young to hear.

“Listen, kid…I don’t think we can keep your brother anymore.” He said just as grimly as before, maybe even more so before leaning back on his chair and probably waiting for a reaction of some sort that Sasuke would’ve most likely given had not already heard this same statement many, many times.

“Isn’t there any other doctor that could help?”

Before the doctor could say something, the nurse popped in and answered.

“ there’s one. But he’s expensive…very expensive.” She stated even if the doctor gave her a harsh look.

“We can’t ask for more money from you, kid. You have your own life and it’s not fair to ask for anything else.” The doctor continued before the nurse could say anything else, his face dark and passive but the anger was clear.

He was this old man that was probably somewhere in his fifties with grey hair and a shaved face, he was also board and quite tall even his biggest organ was his heart. He wore it on his sleeves and Sasuke was more than grateful for all the things he had done for him.

According to the man himself, he had also had an addicted father who had been lost to him..

According to the man again, Sasuke was wasting his time.

According to Sasuke, he was saving his time.

“I’d pay for it. Please, just keep him-

“It’s two hundred thousand dollars! You can’t!” The man yelled as he got up and slammed both of his hands on the soft surface of the wooden table where his brother’s files were nearly crushed in a pile.

Sasuke barely surpassed a flinch even if the nurse covered her mouth. He was too busy thinking about the alternatives.

Two. Hundred. Thousand. Dollars.

Big money. Big sentence.

How on earth was he going to pay for something like that?

Health community paid approximately of 220 dollars per month if he stayed as long as he possibly could. That was a huge amount of money.

Perhaps, he could sign up for a loan? He did have a job, the banks might consider him..

Right?

“Kid..”the doctor sighed before rubbing his forehead again.

“You can’t.” He said with a finality that even Sasuke was starting to believe.

He swallowed nervously before he hid his shaking hands behind his back. He was also starting to pant a lot indicating that he was about to have a panic attack before he counted to ten and tried to calm down.

Most likely, the other two individuals in the room noticed it as well before the doctor backed down and the nurse smiled as she left the room.

The doctor whose name Sasuke could barely remember in the haze of his mind rounded the desk and came up to keep his shoulders steady which didn’t end up being a good idea because Sasuke abhorred physical touch more than anything judging by the way he flinched rather violently before taking several steps back and shaking.

“Just give me a second..” he whispered between his rushing breaths and against his embarrassment. His pride was completely crushed but before the psychologist who was responsible for his brother’s fucking well-being, Sasuke needed to grasp those broken pieces and make something out of them-

“Okay, breathe…just breathe. It’s gonna be okay.” The doctors reassure even if Sasuke was starting to feel tears at his tear ducts before he squeezed his eyes shut and took an extremely shaking breath.

He wouldn’t cry.

He wouldn’t go that low. His father might definitely turn in his grave, if he ended up doing that.

“I’m okay now..”he said after a few minutes of the doctor instructing him with a smooth voice that reminded him of Itachi, from a distance where he was trying to calm him down and bless this man, not touching him.

“Okay..do you wanna sit down?” The man asked-

Jirayia. That was his name.

Finally, he recalled.

“No, thank you.” He answered before he straightened and closed his eyes for approximately of two seconds to keep his eyes from watering, hence, crying.

“Listen…fine. I’ll call the doctor in..”

“I’ll talk to him.” He said despite his shaking hands and breath that was still harassing him.

Jirayia nodded grimly, still frowning.

“He’s a bit..different than most doctors and he’s a little weird. But, he’s one of the most professional psychologists out there.” Jirayia said with a hint of something close to hope to his voice-

“But he’s way too expensive, Sasuke.” He said with that same shitty finality.

“I’ll do something about it. Just please, bring him.”

-/

He could get out of that apartment.

The rent was pretty high and Sasuke struggled all the time. He could get out of there but there was the matter of where else to stay-

He could deal with it…in streets or somewhere and he’d pay for it all but Tobi.

What was he going to do?

He leant back against the wall and took a deep breath which was caught in his chest in a harsh cough.

Great..he had been coughing since reaching the health care.

There was that stupid pitch in his chest again and he didn’t know how he was going to get out of this one.

“What the fuck am I going to do?” He whispered to the air of the storage of the health care. He slid down the wall and pulled his legs to his chest, rested his forehead on his arms and took deep breaths to keep himself calm.

This would be his second panic attack of today.

He counted to ten just like how Itachi had taught him before he wasted everything on drugs, took shaking breaths and swallowed his sobs because he would never cry.

He wouldn’t cry.

“Don’t cry, don’t cry, don’t cry.” He kept ranting in the cold air of the storage with shaking voice and the heels of his hands planted into his eyes to keep himself from crying-

If he fell down here, he had no idea how he was going to get back up.

Should he give Tobi back to the orphanage? Give up the custody?

For a single second, he remembered the tiny being that loved ice cream, wrapped his entire body around that red blanket, jumped up and down when he saw him and Sasuke knew that he could never abandon him.

Two. Hundred. Thousand. Fucking. Dollars.

What the heck was he going to do?

He already sold the car and spent the money for the rest of the requirements so, what the fuck was he going to do?

He didn’t have any belongings and already skipped meals to feed Tobi properly.

“Sasuke! Where are you?!” Yelled one of his coworkers, making him jump out of his depressed daze and get up on shaky legs.

“Here! I’m coming!” He answered to him before coming out from around the isle with the box in his hands.

Suigestu nodded before coming forward to take the box only to pause upon seeing his face and frowning.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost. What’s wrong?” He asked even if he would be last person in that entire building who would give two fucks about him.

Sasuke licked his lips and smiled anyways. “I’m fine…just tired.”

Suigestu shrugged, looked him up and down a couple of times more before taking the box in one hand and grabbing his wrist in the other.

Sasuke, obviously, flinched upon the touch but didn’t get to say anything with how Suigetsu’s eyes widened and he glanced up at him with alarm.

“Have you lost weight?” He asked even if he still didn’t care much.

Whatever it was called, wether it was pride or whatever, Sasuke yanked his wrist out of his hood and held it behind his back even if it was shaking badly.

“None of your business.” He answered perhaps with more anger than he had wished for but Suigestu only frowned harder.

“You take care of everyone…but who takes care of you?” He asked before rolling his violet eyes and staking off, leaving him alone dumbfounded and shaking.

How did he know about-

Fuck. it was in his file. He was required to let the community know where all of his money went and Suigetsu had been the one to write it that fucking day-

He wanted to smack his damn head against something solid until he could finally breath and not feel like he was drowning under the weight of the fucking world.

He shook his head, he’d think about it all on his way home.

-/

“Aren’t you gonna talk?”

The raven kept his head buried into that thick book and didn’t react. It used to go on his nerves but after the past couple of days, he was used to it and he knew that the only way that he’d be able to get a reaction out of this block of a person would pushing one of his skillfully hidden buttons.

“Okay.” He said before leaning back in his own seat and folded his hands. He regarded the man closely, noticed his focused, dark eyes that were way too similar to his younger brother, his thin posture that would’ve screamed power, had he not been addicted, his slightly thick strands of hair that were pulled into a nut on the back of his head, the pointy nose that was a little red due to sitting close to the window, the way the dark brown robe seemed to be resting elegantly on his shoulders and thought that he seriously did not belong here.

Anybody who passed and didn’t know him might not think twice and believe that he was one of the doctors and not one of the patients.

Jirayia had been there.

“Silence isn’t the answer. I know you’re stubborn, but this. Is. Not. The. Answer.” He stated even if he knew, deep down, that Itachi himself knew it.

He was a fucking lawyer, he had the highest degree, he had to know.

Those intelligent eyes wouldn’t lie even if the lips of their owner would.

“You’ve probably heard that I had been in your exact shoes. I know what it feels like.”

There was no reaction except one slight hand rising and turning the page of the book. Nothing more.

Jirayia didn’t stop. Wouldn’t stop, not when a child counted on him, not when that little kid had no one in this huge world except the long haired man sitting in front of him.

Not when that little kid was going on extremes to help everyone.

Not when his own sister had paid the price of his own addiction.

“My little sister paid for me. Unlike you, my parents were still alive but had disowned me. They didn’t care. Tsunade didn’t. She stayed by my side, got me in this same building and paid for it.” He declared much to his own grief.

He still remembered her kind eyes begging him to return, pleading with him to speak and not leave her alone.

He’d give it all back just to hear her talk to him again. A hopeful tone to her voice, always trying to lure him back to the reality, saying that they’d both go to places together, if only he’d give up on the shits.

It had been too late, hadn’t it?

“She came by every Friday. We had our meetings at six in the afternoon, I never looked forward to it, not gonna lie. She spoke about outside of the wall, how the city was going, the prices, the food and literally everything.” He said and decided not to mention how Sasuke was doing the same because even if Itachi tried to hide it, his eyes were no longer reading through the lines, instead they were still and staring at a specific letter.

“I never talked back. She would go on and on about this and that but I’d ignore her.” Itachi’s grip on the edge of the book tightened but no more response was shown.

“And then, one day came and I asked if I could never see her again.”

There was still no reaction so Jirayia also didn’t say anything except leaning back on his chair and ignoring the raven even when, after a while, Itachi closed the book an placed it on his lap.

His eyes stared straight into his own but his expression was blank.

“Then what happened?” He asked with an unused voice and Jirayia didn’t show him mercy.

“She stopped coming. The doctors would do as you ask.” He answered.

Itachi finally showed an expression which was a frown on his eyebrows and a slight crease on his lips.

Had Jirayia not been this man’s doctor for the past year, he would’ve missed all of those scenes but he was and he knew like how he knew the back of his hand that it was working.

It’d do something.

Although Jirayia had many patients but only a few of them got to hear this side of him..

The side that Tsunade had buried in the ground with her.

He had seen the signs on Sasuke and he knew that something needed to be done.

The cure was sitting right in front of him.

“After a while I was a bit confused because it had been months and there was still nothing. I knew my sister, she’d do everything to come back..”

“You asked for her.” He continued the tale with something to understanding in his voice. As if he could relate to being worried about a sibling.

He probably could. Sasuke always said that Itachi had been a complete different person before this whole thing happened.

“I did. But…she couldn’t come.”

Itachi seemed to have know the answer but Jirayia still saw the signs of him paling.

“…why?” He asked anyways even though he most likely knew the answer to the question.

“They had found her dead body a month after I had asked to never see her again.” He had to stop due to the contraction of his throat.

It hurt to talk about her, she had been starved, mostly because she had been trying to pay for him and her heart had stopped.

The doctors had said that she had been tired, sleepless and running on pure stubbornness..

She had been dying for him.

“I’m not going to go into the dramas of those movies and say that she acted like your brother but unfortunately, I am. The cause of her death was starvation, exhaustion had ceased into her body..stress had given her a heart attack and she had been all alone.” He added and felt his heart break at the remembrance.

He knew that Tsunade had wished him healthy and pure. He was clean because of her and he’d stay clean because of her.

“Sasuke always says not to give up on you and that you’re a complete different person, if you were clean. I know that you’re probably not even taking this seriously but I’d give it a thought.”

The man still wasn’t looking away and Jirayia only hoped that he’d listen.

“Even you must have noticed his weight loss..it’s not healthy. And he’s alone.” He said with that finality that he had always been praised for.

Itachi did not speak but the way he swallowed clearly showed his dread.

He wasn’t stupid, he could see the signs.

“It’s in your hands. This kid won’t go on for more than a few more months and then…we all know what would happen.”He paused, taking a deep breath and knowing that he would probably spend the entire night at Tsunade’s grave crying his heart out and drinking the shit out himself.

But he’d be damned, if he allowed another kid to go to waste when he had something to say about it.

“Hearing your sibling scream in fear can take at least a year off of your life…you’ve been there, I’ve been there but when you’re not there to hear it…that’s somehow ten times worse and I’ve been there. I know.” He didn’t wait for a response before he got up and left.

Even as he was out of the room, he could still see the dark eyes that were burning holes at the back of his skull.

Staring and even if it wouldn’t be shown, they were worried.

Chapter Text

Chapter 8

It was sometimes around two thirty at night when he saw him come home, still soaked, shivering even from that distance and looking way too white to be normal.

Was it that hard to get a taxi?

Naruto frowned and debated with himself to just leave it alone for approximately of two seconds before he out of the his door and waited impatiently for the idiot to climb up the stairs by leaning against his door, crossing his arms over his chest and tapping his foot uncontrollably against the floor.

He heard the sloppy steps get closer and straightened but before he even got the chance to open his mouth, the other door opened and Sasuke’s kid ran to the stairs with Mrs.Cozin right at his heels before the kid ran down the stairs, squealed quite loudly before wrapping his arms around the taller boy’s waist as his short legs hang on for dear life from where he had latched onto Sasuke.

Mrs.Cozin stopped at the start of the stairs and her wrinkled cheeks curled when a smile stretched her lips. She turned her head a bit before her grey eyes shone upon seeing him as well.

“Hello, honey. How are you doing?” She asked despite the noise made by the laughing child that was wrecking the walls and Sasuke who was trying to calm him down without making louder noises.

He smiled at her( it was impossible not to, she was way too sweet).

“Hi, doing great..Uh, kind of a change of subject but does he always come this late?” He couldn’t help but ask even if it really didn’t have anything to do with him. It seriously didn’t but for some unknown reason, Naruto had gotten out of his damn house to the hallway to..

To what?

Scold the grown ass guy for not taking a taxi or wearing something warm or shit?

What did that have anything to do with him, anyways?

It wasn’t like he cared. He didn’t care, why would he?

“Oh yes, I’m afraid. Tobi gets so restless when it gets really late.” She declared with a frown on her white eyebrows as her eyes returned to the two individuals at the end of the stairs with the taller finally getting a control of the child and holding him in his arms.

Tobi had wrapped his legs around Sasuke’s waist and his arms tightly around his neck, resting or more like, hiding his face on his shoulder as the older came up. His clothes were soaked once again and his hair looked much the same as the morning with black strands sticking to his wet skin and a tired frown on his face.

He looked exhausted.

“Hello, sweetie! Is everything okay?” The old lady asked as she stroked whatever could be seen from Tobi’s fluffy, black hair by stretching her hand and landing it on the dark locks.

The child genuinely seemed like a kitten with that hair but Naruto kept that observation to himself and chose not to voice it mostly because Sasuke looked ready to murder him with his eyes.

“Mrs.Cozin, may I get his bag?” Sasuke said instead of his usual responses to the woman who didn’t seem to be offended and only frown worriedly before nodding and heading to her house to grab the required item.

“Not in the mood tonight, are we?” He asked despite the fact that he knew better than to go on the nerves of someone who clearly was way too tired and still somehow on his feet, holding a ten pound child who seemed to be latched onto him.

“I lost all mood when I saw your ugly face.” He replied ruthlessly which didn’t faze Naruto much due to the fact that he was slowly but surely getting used to it.

Sasuke was always in a mood and sometimes, he wasn’t in a mood at all.

Somehow, Naruto could tell when he was in one and when he wasn’t even if he’d met this guy two weeks ago.

And half of the time, they had been fighting.

“How flattering tonight.” He stated to which Sasuke only rolled his eyes but before he got to say anything back and probably destroy Naruto, Mrs.Cozin came out with a tiny bag in hand.

“I got all of his stuff, honey. Make sure he eats dinner, he absolutely refused to have any.” She mentioned with her usual worried frown which was what made Sasuke finally break his glaring star and turn his much softer gaze towards her before nodding and thanking her for taking care of Tobi.

“Aw, this little boy is my heart. I’d love to take care of him.” She smiled before nuzzling Tobi’s exposed cheek who snuggled away and hid more effectively in Sasuke’s shoulder with a yawn in a cat like manner.

He looked like a tiny kitten.

“Good night ma’am.” Sasuke said politely before he took the bag from her and placed it on his free shoulder and successfully making Naruto uncomfortable-

He just wanted to take that kid and that bag off him before putting him to bed.

He looked like he needed to sleep for days.

“Sweet dreams, baby. You too, my little birdie.” She mentioned to him and Naruto quickly waved at her as she turned around and closed her door behind her back.

Sasuke, much to Naruto’s annoyance, didn’t even glance at him before stepping towards his own place and fishing his keys from his pocket which seemed to be a struggle judging by how the kid’s legs were wrapped tightly around his waist.

“I could hold the bag but-

“No need.”

“You’d do that.”

Naruto frowned before leaning on the wall to stare at the struggling raven who sighed in frustration before tapping Tobi’s foot and turning a blind eye to the child’s mumbling and protests before placing the kid down who immediately took whatever he could get from Sasuke’s shirt in his fist and hiding his face in the adult’s leg.

Tobi was actually pretty short. His head barely came to Sasuke’s hips. It was kinda cute.

Sasuke finally managed to grab his keys before twisting the door open and pushing Tobi inside and going there himself without even a glance at Naruto as he closed the door behind him.

“Good night to you too.” He said to the empty space where the raven and the child had stood a couple of seconds ago.

He sighed before getting off the wall and moving back in his own house. He closed the door behind him as he moved to the couch and fell on top of it.

It was already sometime around three in the morning and Naruto didn’t have any classes tomorrow so-

He could stay up, or go to sleep, or watch TV, or eat something-

Wait.

Eating something.

Fuck yeah.

His eyes widened as he celebrated his magnificent brain for coming up with that idea before getting up from the leather couch and racing to his kitchen which was only a few steps away and opening his freezer and grabbing the frozen pizza which had been at the top of the things for a few days now.

He stared at the item for a second, ignoring the annoying sound of the fridge or the burning of his hand from the coldness of the plastic before deciding that all kids liked pizza, right?

Closing the fridge, he moved to the front door again and opened it to step out before shutting it and taking a step to the other door before taking a deep breath to reassure himself that his decision wasn’t idiotic and he wouldn’t fuck up before knocking.

The door opened a few second later but instead of the taller individual that Naruto had prepared himself to see, there was a much smaller one who was staring up at him with black, sleepy eyes and a fist rubbing at one of those orbs.

Tobi’s hair was a mess and his cheeks were smeared with something like tomato paste and the glare that suddenly darkened his gaze upon seeing him was a bit uncomfortable but Naruto chose not to stare that information.

“Hi, kiddo…is Sasuke around?” He asked after figuring out that the kid wouldn’t speak and only glare daggers-

No…all sharp objects in the world.

Did he hate him? What did Naruto do to him?

“Um…we’re friends?”he said unsurely because this kid was still staring at him with something close to hatred in his dark eyes.

“You hit him.” He said after a while with the most childish voice on the planet and those glaring eyes focused on him.

Naruto frowned despite the situation and tried to recall what the kid said and make sense of it-

Who did he hit?

“You hit Suke.” He said again and Naruto remembered that nasty fight he had had with the older raven two weeks ago which the child had witnessed and was probably hating his guts because Naruto did end up hitting Sasuke and giving him a lovely bruise on the cheek.

“Oh…uh, I..i apologized.” He declared even if it was a lie, he hadn’t done that.

He wouldn’t, that had been a fair fight and he had also gotten bruised for it, it was fine. Sasuke had been a bit right but Naruto had also been right-

He wouldn’t apologize…would he?

Sasuke had been irritable that day anyways so maybe, it wasn’t just Naruto’s fault.

“…really?” He asked with all the innocence that a six years old child could possibly possess and Naruto could never deny a little kid who seemed to trusting.

“Yupe. Now, where’s he? I’m pretty sure you weren’t supposed to open the door.” He stated much to Tobi’s disappointment judging by the kid’s frown before he squirmed on his feet and crossed his arms.

“Shower…And I can open doors, if auntie Cozin is behind it.” He said with a pout so cute that Naruto had to physically hold himself back from pinching his puffy cheeks.

“Okay..can I come in?” He asked even if the kid glared a bit before shrugging and going inside without looking back at him.

Ignoring individuals seemed to run in the family.

He held back a laugh before following after the kid. He stopped midway and looked at the shoes that were at placed neatly on the floor before sighing and taking his shoes off as well.

Sasuke looked Asian, of course he’d have their routines.

Was he Korean? He didn’t have any accent.

Stepping fully inside of the house, he looked around the small area to figure out where exactly everything was. The area was small and the kitchen was an open place with the cabinet top as the counter with multiple small door that probably either had utensils or herbs or seasoning..

If Sasuke used any.

The living room was also a small place but it had a old looking couch at the far end near the heating area and a window that looked cozy but quite unsafe for child. It was near the floor and if it was open and Tobi was feeling quite reckless enough to run towards, he’d easily trip and the rest of it is probably better left unspoken.

The walls were a milky shade of white, no curtain in the living area and a green rug. There was also a clean looking coffee table which was absolutely filled with empty coffee mugs and one phone that was plugged into the wall by its long wire of charger.

He turned his gaze to the side where Tobi was currently fiddling with the remote to turn the TV on before the kid huffed in his own childish way, looked up to him and thrusted the remote towards his direction.

“Turn it on.” He said with huge black eyes that Naruto was starting to be weak for before stumbling his feet and eyeing the pizza curiously.

“As you wish, your majesty.” He said not to disappoint the little brat before grabbing the remote and turning the TV on. It was already posed on a cartoon channel but unlike what Naruto had predicted which for Tobi to turn his attention on the moving items in the program, the kid was still eyeing the box in Naruto’s hand.

“It’s frozen pizza-

“Pizza!” He yelled at the top of his lungs with widened eyes and a bigger smile on his face.

Naruto couldn’t help but beam to the absolute adorable creature before shaking the box and gesturing to the kitchen with his thumb.

“I can make it but we need to wait for Sasuke.”

Tobi frowned deeply, the expression looking odd on his young face before he crossed his arms and stumped towards a narrow hallway that Naruto hadn’t noticed before. He kicked a door open with his little feet before yelling for the raven who was probably still in the shower and had no idea that Naruto was in his house-

Maybe, he should stop the kid.

He didn’t really get the chance to do it anyways judging by the loud snap of a door and the raven head that got shown from the corner of the door before dual black eyes widened and hardened in a harsh glare-

“What the hell are you doing in my fucking house?!” Sasuke screeched from the corner of the door to probably hide his wet body even though Naruto could still see the glimpse of his white towel that he had wrapped around his entire body and the soft droplets that had stuck his hair to all parts of his face and the back of his neck.

Tobi hit Sasuke’s covered thigh a little with a cute glare on his face, saying that Sasuke was being bad by using bad words in the presence of him which made it a bit hilarious even though Naruto kept his mouth shut and didn’t laugh.

He didn’t have a death wish after all.

“I brought frozen pizza.”

“It’s pizza, Suke!” The kid replied with an excited expression on his little face contrary to the one the adult was wearing which was a glare and a deep frown before those haunting dark eyes moved to the box that Naruto was still holding in his hand.

Sasuke sighed loudly as if he was dealing with two children which was a little bit true, Tobi was a kid after all but not Naruto who was debating with himself and a little angry to have made the abrupt decision to even come here-

What was he thinking?!

Sasuke had just looked like he was way too tired to be cooking and feeding a kid so, So Naruto had thought that it’d be a good idea, if he brought his frozen pizza over-

Just what the hell was he thinking?!

“Can we please have pizza?! Please Suke! Please!” The kid was begging the adult at that point which broke Naruto’s heart a bit but thankfully, Sasuke’s resolve seemed have broken due to the exhausted sigh he breathed before glaring at Naruto for a couple of seconds, pushing Tobi’s reluctant body out of the room and slamming the door shut.

“Should I…”he started but didn’t get to finish because Tobi laughed as the door opened against with a frustrated looking Sasuke glaring dagger at him and pointing to the kitchen.

“Might as well preheat the oven…don’t just stand there, all useless.” He remarked ruthlessly because he was Sasuke and Sasuke would always have an answer or come back somewhere up his sleeves.

“ I’d reply back to your colorfully but there’s a kid here.” He said loud enough for the raven to hear before he threw a middle finger and slammed the door shut again all the while the kid was staring up at both of them with wonder and excitement.

Naruto sighed before gesturing to Tobi to come near him and start heating the oven to place the pizza that he had already taken out of the box and placed it on a tray that was oven safe before straightening and looking at the kid who had his little arms crossed over his chest and pouting at the oven.

“Is it gonna take long?” He asked impatiently with his black eyes glued to the dark glass before Naruto smiled and knelt down in front of him to get to his eye level.

“A little bit but until then…we can annoy Sasuke.” He suggested and tried to hold back a smile when the kid’s eyes lit up and he smiled mischievously.

“Can we constantly knock on the door?” He offered and Naruto could never say no to the begging eyes of a six years old or to seeing Sasuke absolutely murderous.

“C’mon, let’s go.”

A few seconds later, Tobi was standing behind him with his hands fisted tightly to his pants and Naruto counted to three and started knocking uncontrollably.

There was a second before the raven started stirring up and shouting at him to stop which Naruto didn’t even give two fucks about it, mainly because Tobi was laughing like there was no tomorrow and secretly because he was enjoying the way Sasuke was moaning and cursing the living shit out of them with a little bit less intimidation towards Tobi but wholeheartedly destroying Naruto to bits.

He was about to knock again but the door opened to reveal a angered Sasuke with his hair still wet but fully clothed in a hoodie and sweatpants and a stupid looking pair of socks.

Naruto was starting to genuinely wonder what other expressions would look like on Sasuke-

Anger was constant as long as Naruto was in his presence but what other expressions would look like?

How his eyebrows would look, if they weren’t frowning all the time or how his eyes would look, if they weren’t lit up in anger-

“You look kinda pretty.” He said because his cheeks were still a little pink from the heat of the shower plus the tip of his nose and ears so they contrasted almost beautifully with his pale skin but Naruto didn’t give two fucks about that.

Why would he? It wasn’t like he liked the guy or anything.

Sasuke rolled his eyes before pushing past him and coming to the kitchen all the while Tobi was hopping around him asking meaningless questions and saying how he was happy to have pizza for dinner and it was the best day ever-

Didn’t Sasuke allow his kid to have fast food?

Sasuke knelt by the stove to check the time before straightening and pulling out two different looking plates from the cupboard and placing them on the table.

“You want soda?” He asked as he opened the fridge to pull out one organs juice that Tobi was making grabby hands for before twisting his body to glance at Naruto’s direction who had just entered the kitchen.

“Yeah, thanks.” He answered before grabbing the offered item and leaning on the counter. He eyed the plated on the table and noticed that there was one missing.

“You left out a plate.”

“I’m not hungry.”

Naruto raised an eyebrow but didn’t voice his contrasting opinion. If Sasuke had been to work this entire time, then he had to be starving right now but then again, maybe he had something before coming home and just didn’t to say it.

Naruto kept his mouth shut and accepted his soda just as the click of the oven went off with Tobi giving an excited squeal and running towards the item only for his hand to be grabbed by one pretty strict looking Sasuke.

“Wash your hands first.” He said firmly, leaving no room for arguments before the kid sighed and ran to the bedroom.

“What’re you trying to do?” Sasuke asked after Tobi had disappeared into the bedroom. He had turned around after turning the oven off with a frown on his face and is arms crossed over his chest.

“Nothing? Dude, I was bored and that pizza is way too much for one person-

“Do I look dumb to you?” Sasuke asked harshly and Naruto looked at him in a different way.

Not the way he looked, but from what he could tell from him.

He had a nasty way of controlling anger, he was strict, overworked, probably overdosed with caffeine and not in the best shape. His hands were shaking a bit, he was way too pale to be healthy and his wet hair was slowly making Naruto concerned-

Sasuke had no idea how to take care of himself and for some unknown reason, Naruto wanted to take care of him.

“You look stupid to me. But I’m not trying anything or whatever you think…maybe, I just want a friend?” He mentioned. It wasn’t such a bad idea, sure, Sasuke was a little bit of an asshole, and he could be a pain in the ass if he wanted to be but he didn’t seem like a bad person.

Besides, learn the truth from the kids, right?

Tobi loved him to bits.

“I don’t want friends.” He answered just as harshly with a doubled glare even if it didn’t really have an effect on Naruto anymore.

“But you need one. I’m a good candidate.”

“You’re a terrible candidate. My cheek just healed, may I remind you?”

Good point..still.

“I’m sorry about that. I was drunk and you were right. You don’t fuck people in the hallways.” He said despite the fact that Sasuke had made a big deal out of it and been a bit dramatic but Naruto doubted that voicing that would get him to Sasuke’s soft side sooner than expected.

“At least you got enough brain to understand that.”

Naruto glared a bit but didn’t complain just as Tobi finally came around with a huge smile on his face.

They ate that pizza in approximately of fifteen minutes while Naruto made fun of everything he could find and told jokes to make Tobi laugh and force Sasuke to at least smirk behind his huge mug of coffee.

He helped Sasuke wash the dishes and finally left when Tobi started yawning again and Sasuke looked like he was barely keeping himself from laying on the nearest surface and fall asleep.

He didn’t know what it was, but the way Tobi couldn’t really pronounce his name and shortened it to ‘Nard’ and the way he waved him goodbye with sleepy eyes, warmed his heart.

Sasuke just said bye and didn’t mention much of anything else but for some reason, the tense air was finally gone, replaced with a calmer era that Naruto couldn’t help but adore.

It was fun having a new friend even if Sasuke still didn’t call him that.

Chapter Text

Chapter 9

He stretched before opening his eyes and yawning loudly even if he was alone in the room and Suke was probably still sleep on the couch.

Tobi kicked off the red blanket that he had wrapped around his body before huffing and rubbing his eyes.

It was morning judging by the light that came from the thin curtain that Tobi got scared of at night when it was too dark and Suke would only stay with him until he fell asleep.

Suke didn’t like to be touched.

He tried to hide it but Tobi knew it deep down in the way he never stayed on the bed, or when he avoided physical contact all the time except when Tobi himself was touching-

Suke never pushed him away.

Tobi tried not to touch him too much but sometimes, it got out of hand and Suke stayed out a lot of times so Tobi ended up missing him and then he hugged him and felt the way Suke flinched but Tobi just couldn’t stop himself.

He sat up on the bed before yawning again and finally getting out of it. His legs were still too short for the height of the bed even if Tobi was completely fine with it-

Suke wasn’t. He was always worried or frowning or staring Tobi like he’d disappear any minute.

The door suddenly opened and Tobi almost jumped a feet in the air before he relaxed as Suke came to the view, looking way too sleepy with his hoodie rolled up to his stomach and sweatpants barely hanging on his thin hips. He was also scratching his stomach and pulling the hood of the hoodie off his head to reveal ruffled hair and puffy eyes.

He looked towards the bed and Tobi waved at him with a smile to which he blinked for a couple of seconds before yawning and ignoring to move to the bathroom.

The first few days that Tobi had recently moved in with him, such behavior used to bother him because Suke cared so much the rest of the day but in the mornings he moved like a robot and did not respond until he had coffee.

Tobi soon learnt that it was only because Suke didn’t function properly in the mornings and he was extra moody to prepare for the day.

It had nothing to do with Tobi.

Tobi sat back on the bed and waited for Suke to get out of the bathroom which he did after what seemed to be three minutes looking a bit fresher but still exhausted as he rubbed his left eye and gestured him to follow him to the kitchen.

Tobi couldn’t use the bathroom before breakfast. He just couldn’t and Suke had frowned when he first figured it out before shrugging and letting Tobi be.

“Can I have pizza?” He asked upon entering the kitchen which Suke frowned at before looking away and starting the coffee, still blinking like he wanted to go to bed right then and there.

“Please?” He begged but Suke glared this time and probably would’ve told him to not try his patience but he was way too tired to say anything-

Or maybe, he wasn’t awake yet.

Suke stretched a bit, pulled his arms up and yawned before moving to the fridge and getting few things out that looked like-

Pizza!

“Yes!”

“No.”

Tobi pouted and crossed his arms.

“But why?”

Suke looked over his shoulder and glared. “Because you had six times of your usual portion last night . So no.”

Tobi sighed but knew better than to complain so he crossed his arms and leant back on the chair before dangling his feet back an forth.

“Can I come with you today?” He asked nicely because Suke never took him with him anywhere but he just thought that perhaps, today would be different from the other days and Suke would loosen the strings and let him come along.

By the way he sighed in silent frustration and didn’t answer, Tobi was going to stay at auntie Cozin’s again.

At least he could play with Nards.

Suke made breakfast a little bit later and gave Tobi all of the portions, not eating anything and only drinking coffee which had been a routine for a couple of days by then.

Tobi usually tried to eat everything on his plate but even he knew that things were tough and Suke had to be hungry at some point as well but he hadn’t eaten in almost days..

Was it okay? Was it something that adults did?

He couldn’t tell and he had no idea so it was probably nothing.

Suke knew what he was doing.

Right?

It was maybe twenty minutes later that Suke started to pack his bags and place toys that Tobi had forgotten to put away as well in order and get the bag on his shoulder before turning to him and motioning to wear his shoes.

Tobi pouted but still did as he was told before moving to the front door and putting on his shoes that Suke never tied for him but taught him how to do it himself.

“Go to bed early tonight, okay? Don’t stay up late.” Suke said before placing the bag down and kneeling to put his own shoes. They looked old and crusty but still somehow clean and neat even if the strings were barely holding the pallets together.

“But I miss you.” He replied truthfully, he genuinely missed him all day and tried to stay awake as long as possible to see Suke but he never showed up and by the end of the day Tobi couldn’t stay awake long enough even if Suke would always be there tomorrow when he woke up.

“I miss you too but you need to sleep, okay?”

He dropped his shoulders but knew better than to disagree so he nodded and got his bag in his own hands before Suke pushed the door open and got out.

Auntie Cozin was nice and really kind but she wasn’t Suke.

And he really wanted to go with him.

-/

“Ummm, we can watch cartoons?” He suggested but he kid only pouted and shook his head.

He had been crying for the last fifteen minutes since Naruto had entered Mrs.Cozin’s house to fix her stove. Apparently, the kid had thought that he had been Sasuke and he had come home early but unfortunately, the person behind the door hadn’t been his raven companion but the ugly Nards that he still couldn’t pronounce his name.

“What do you want to do then?” He asked because the kid was sniffling and fat tears still fell off his round cheeks which made Naruto guilty and he barely held himself back from brushing those red cheeks to keep the tears away.

Mrs.Cozin had tried everything to keep the kid calm but nothing had worked so far and she had gone as far as calling Sasuke but he hadn’t answered which…

The kid had cried ten times worse.

“Can we go out?” The child asked after a while of continuous sniffling and an awful lot of rubbing on both red eyes. He looked up to both he and the old lady with hopeful eyes that made Naruto feel beyond guilty before he sighed and glanced at the woman who pressed her lips together but shook her head.

“Honey, we can’t.” She answered and Naruto frowned before turning around all the way and raise an eyebrow.

“Why not?” He asked despite the kid who pouted again and looked out of the window.

“I don’t know if Sasuke allows it.”

“So, you’ve kept this poor kid stuck here for days?!” He asked with widened eyes because he just couldn’t believe that they would do this to the child. Of course, he’d be bored and tired and miss his only parental figure all the time, if he was stuck between four walls of an apartment all the damn time.

“I didn’t know-

“Oh, for the love of god! I’m getting this kid out with me to my class, whether you like it or not!” He almost yelled but was respectful enough to the old woman not to raise his voice on her before the lady shook her head vehemently.

“Oh no! I need to call him to let him know-

“Mrs.Cozin…C’mon, Sasuke’s probably not gonna answer and you seriously just gonna let him cry?” He demanded which was a matter of time before the woman pressed her lips together and sighed in frustration.

“Okay..but, please be careful, he’s very energetic and hard to handle at times.” She advised before Tobi jumped on the couch, no longer sad and extremely happy.

“Can we go now?!” He asked with a beaming smile before Naruto returned the gesture and ignored the frown on the woman’s face before holding Tobi’s armpits and hoisting the kid up in his arms.

“Ever seen a classroom before?” He asked nicely as he grabbed his bag and moved to the door before both of them bid goodbyes to Mrs.Cozin who was still trailing after them with a frown on her face.

-/

His stomach was on fire and pain was probably the only thing his mind could focus on. It hurt and every fiber in his being was tearing apart and he doubled over to vomit once more even if there was really nothing to come up past the fragile skin of his throat except the burning acid of his stomach or whatever coffee he had had.

He turned away from the foul smelling hole of the toilet where he had spent the last half an hour throwing up to breath deeply even if the gesture made him shake even more.

Maybe, he should eat something.

This was not a good sign, it couldn’t be.

He rested his forehead on his arm and closed his eyes for a second before he felt the world titling to a side and he knew no more.

Chapter Text

Chapter 10

Maybe it was the wrong sense of humor to paint the walls that navy color that was starting to get on his nerves even though the orange curtains making a big appearance but Naruto decided that the cafeteria really had a terrible quality, at least in sweet items, but it’s coffee was hands down the best thing he had ever tasted.

Hence, why he was complete blown away by how Tobi didn’t seem to care about the biting sweetness of the chocolate cake and was eating it bite after bite as if it was the best thing on the planet.

“Suke doesn’t like anything sweet.” Tobi answered when Naruto asked if Sasuke liked any food in particular.

“He doesn’t eat anything anyways.” Tobi continued without a care in the world as he split the cake and took a massive bite which smeared brown chocolate all over his round cheeks.

Naruto frowned, a crease between his yellow eyebrows that had Kakashi laugh a lot of times because apparently, Naruto looked like one of those cartoon characters who were both confused and scared for their lives. What Tobi said rang in his ears and he thought back to the riven and Sasuke did look quite skinny in a unhealthy way even if Tobi who lived in the same house as the older raven, looked absolutely healthy and definitely not as sickly as his guardian. Still though, why the drastic difference?

“He doesn’t?”

“Says he’s not hungry. Don’t adults get hungry?” He asked curiously, he titled his head to the side and chewed on the cake come more before swallowing.

What?

“Of course,they do. We all get hungry-“

He stopped mid sentence, his eyes drafted over to his professor who raised an eyebrow in his direction as if he had never seen a student with a younger version of his neighbor sitting behind a table and enjoying the passing hours before he decided that a lecture probably wasn’t the thing he wanted to do and moving out of the cafeteria.

Sweat rolled down Naruto’s back and he slid his gaze to the child who was still chewing rather enthusiastically before choosing the lesser evil and telling the kid that they needed to leave because Naruto was going to be late for class and not going to get out of the fucking building because if he attended another class with the kid, he thought that the weird looks of the teachers were going to be way too hard to handle.

They were past the doors when an idea formed in his head.

“Hey, have you been to Disneyland before?”

-/

He decided that he didn’t hate Sasuke. Sure, the guy was stubborn and definitely deserved to be called an asshole once in a while but he wasn’t a terrible excuse of a person.

Not if a kid was putting so much effort to protect him.

He had accidentally bad mouthed Sasuke in front of the six years old and even though he knew the kid hadn’t budged to open the door the first time they had had a decent conversation but the reaction he had received this time was completely other worldly.

Tobi refused to talk to him for approximately of an hour and his poor attempts at trying- failing- to get the kid to the better side of the road, it had been fruitless.

“I’m sorry though, can’t you forgive me just this once?” He asked despite the situation because he was currently holding two melting ice creams and bribing the kid who turned his head away and pouted.

“Tobi, c’mon. I’m sorry.”

Tobi adjusted his head slightly, frowned his dark brows and huffed before taking one of the ice creams.

“Suke is awesome.” The kid emphasized before licking the ice cream.

Naruto hid a smile behind his own sweet, the kid was fun to be completely honest. He did that tiny twitch in his eyebrows when he was thinking too hard about something, folded his arms across his chest and pouted when he was angry and bit both of his lips when Naruto said that they needed to keep something as a secret.

“Of course he is.” Naruto stated and half of him kind of believed it as well. Not that he wanted to agree to his own brain because Sasuke was stubborn and a little bit arrogant and that’s excluding the fact that he-somehow- managed to bring Naruto’s bad side to the surface.

He was actually quite funny and Naruto never thought that anyone would be able to pull such terrible acts specially, since Naruto was calm and a happy person but regardless of all those facts, he found himself feeling more alive when he and Sasuke were fighting or if the raven was close by-

Was he getting sick?

He didn’t think so-

The ringing of his phone was what brought him back to the world, he wasn’t much of a daydreamer and he was usually pretty into the world but lately he had been thinking way too hard about things-

Or people with dark eyes and dark hair and soft looking skin-

Okay, he needed a cold shower now.

Clearing his throat and placing his hand on Tobi’s shoulder to keep a hold of the kid, he placed the phone in his ear and answered.

“What do you want?”

“The hatred is mutual Naruto, believe me.”

Then, why did you adopt me? He wanted to ask his dad but decided against it due to the ridiculous fact that Kakashi possessed the stupid ability of roasting the literal shit out of anyone verbally and if angered enough, maybe even physically.

“Are you at school?” He asked and Naruto almost flew out of the handle.

“College, you meant?”

“What’s the difference?” He asked slyly and Naruto knew a trap when he heard one so he wisely kept his mouth shut and only licked a bit of his ice cream.

“I finished classes.” He lied because of course, he didn’t want to get yelled at for skipping even if he seriously couldn’t be failing physics more than how he already was.

“Good, then go to the nearest coffee shop, preferably Starbucks and get me one of those Matcha coffees and some chocolate ship cookies, don’t forget extra ice and another iced coffee with extra espresso and bring them to the location that I sent you approximately of two minutes ago.”

Naruto stared, raised one blond eyebrow and blinked because he couldn’t have heard right.

“…what?”

“Stretch your legs, son. C’mon, do your old man a favor.”

“Since when do you call yourself old?” He asked despite the fact that he knew Kakashi was desperately trying to bribe him and as he pulled the phone away to see the massage, he knew that there was no way for the guy to come out and get the items himself.

He was at work.

Chuckling to himself, he nodded and then remembered that Kakashi couldn’t see him.

“I’m not old but if I don’t get that coffee, I might end up getting an early grave.”

“Fine, pull your dramatic ass together. By the way, can I come with a kid? I’m taking care of Tobi for the day.”

“I don’t think there’d be a problem- wait, Tobi?”

“I’ll tell you later.”

-/

Opening his eyes felt like he was lifting three full grown elephants with his eyelids, also the light that pierced through his vision added to the mix so Sasuke widely decided to keep his poor abused eyes close and to breath deeply.

Even with his eyes clothes, he felt the entire world turn around, dizzy and somehow nauseous. The more he woke up, the more he started feeling his body which meant that he soon realized his throat was on fire, his stomach was turning, there was a scent of blood that he couldn’t exactly identify if it was coming from him or something else nearby. His head was also in the risk of splitting in half, and for some unknown reason Sasuke couldn’t feel his legs.

The uncomfortable twitching on his inner elbow suggested that he was hooked up to an IV so he was probably in a hospital or something-

He really needed to open his eyes.

“Oh, good. Look who decided to come back to the world of living.” Stated a voice sarcastically, in fact, it was laced with enough sarcasm to know that it’d belong to no other individual except Suigetsu.

How delightful.

Waking up and hearing Suigetsu’s voice was probably another indication that the world abhorred Sasuke’s guts to a distant level.

“Lovely, it’s darker than I expected.” He replied and would’ve put more emphasis to his voice, had he not felt like Grim Reaper had personally given him a sharp slap.

Suigestu didn’t answer which was concerning beyond wildest dreams so Sasuke- even though it pained him greatly- struggled to open his eyes and as he did so he swallowed to keep down whatever was desperately trying to climb up his throat in a rush.

“There’s a basket on your left, if you feel like pukin-

Sasuke jumped to his left side and emptied his already stomach in the said basket before Suigetsu managed to finish, the sound of his vomit hitting the fragile air of wherever he was and echoing off the walls in disgusting waves-

For some reason, it made him throw up even harder.

But was there even shit to be thrown up?

“Feeling better?” He asked after Sasuke had slumped back on his bed, sweat rolling down the side of his forehead and disappearing into his hair, chest heaving with each breath and he was also grimacing as if in pain.

He-was- in pain.

“…yeah.” He said after a couple of seconds which took Suigetsu to grab something out of the cabinet and bringing it towards the package of his IV.

“So…did you throw up anything or just dry heaved?”

Sasuke pressed the heels of his hands into his eyes and took a deep, stuttering breath, it was a mess. He knew that at some point, he’d be caught Ed handed but for it to happen so soon and so literally..

It was a bit overwhelming.

“How long have you gone without food?” Suigetsu asked, probably realized that Sasuke wouldn’t muster up an answer or more specifically, a lie. He didn’t know when he had taken so much after his older brother and become such an amazing liar but in the recent years, the orphanage, Tobi, Itachi, currently Naruto-

He had become an amazing liar.

He thought about it, he genuinely did but he just seriously couldn’t remember the last time he had had anything beside coffee and some tea. The problem was, he didn’t feel hungry or in pain and anything that would indicate that he was going too far and today had been the first time he had felt anything that would be considered unhealthy so he had pushed the urges aside and merely had decided to go on with his-

Diet? Was it a diet?

He hadn’t done a single research. Didn’t have time for it.

“You don’t remember, do you?”

He chewed on his inner cheek and squeezed his eyes shut before deciding that surrounding to Suigetsu, even if it hurt his body too much, was out of option and sat up on the bed- Sasuke decided to shun the struggles or the protests of his arms and simply sat up- swung his legs over the side and gripped the bed sheets when the world turned all around his head.

“I wouldn’t get up.” Suigetsu said dryly.

“Goo thing that you’re not me.” He replied, returning the favor.

He stubbornly clung to the sheets and stayed there with his eyes closed, breathing deeply and trying to keep the alarming dry heaves to himself before it got too much and he barely had time to twist all the way over to puke into the basket.

There was absolutely nothing coming up, only a yellow liquid that didn’t seem like anything-

What the fuck?

He felt a hand on his shoulder when he had calmed down enough to lean away, opened his eyes and looked up to the concerned- concerned?- look on Suigetsu’s face.

“Look, I know you’re probably not gonna listen to me but go home, eat something and take a few days off. You do know that you’re underweight, right? You don’t need to go on diets-

“I’m not bulimic.” He stated, because why the fuck would he be?-

Okay. He knew how it looked from far away but he was genuinely not anorexic, in fact he didn’t give two fucks about how he looked. The real reason why he couldn’t eat was because Tobi was getting way too skinny-

Was the kid getting better?

“Then, why don’t you eat anything? I’ve been working in here for years and I know what it looks like, okay? You’re not doing good at all.” He said, supersizing Sasuke with genuine worry in his voice which was completely unnecessary.

“I’m okay.”

“My ass.”

Rolling his eyes was the worst idea, his head throbbed and he couldn’t help the hiss of pain as he grabbed the side of his forehead and took deep breaths to hold down whatever yellow liquid was left in his stomach.

Was it the stomach acid?

“Dude, go home. Rest, I don’t know, eat something,” he said, bit his lower lips before rolling his eyes.” Fuck it, stay here.”

He ran to a bag that one of the chair which Sasuke hadn’t noticed before, grabbed something out of it and came back before shoving it in his face.

Sasuke pulled his face back and stared at…the energy bar?

He looked questionably with a raised eyebrow to which Suigetsu rolled his eyes and dumped the bar in his lap.

“Eat it. It won’t fill you but it’s something.” He said as he turned back to go to the chair and check inside of the bag.

Sasuke stared at the bar which was sitting innocently on his thighs and staring back at him before he decided that he probably wouldn’t keep anything down and sat it aside which made Suigetsu boil from anger.

“I said, eat it!”

“It won’t stay down!”

“You idiot! If you don’t eat anything, you’ll end up bleeding internally! Eat that shit!”

Sasuke blinked before huffing and ripping the bar open to take a bite.

To say that the energy bar was probably the tastiest thing he had ever had was an understatement. It was delicious, better than anything he had ever put in his mouth to the point where Sasuke had to physically hold himself back from moaning.

It was after he had swallowed that he realized how hungry he actually was.

Chapter Text

Chapter 11

By the time that he was scheduled to leave, it was already noon and he was still dizzy. His stomach turned and twisted and Suigetsu glared every time he tried to hide a grimace or folded into himself when he thought no one was looking.

It still hurt like a bitch even if it was a few hours after he had come out of the room to the main area which seemed to gain many concerned glances from his coworkers that he slid aside and got to work. It was slightly hard to ignore the eyes following his every move but Sasuke only sighed and tried not to flinch at the storm in his stomach as he stitched a girl’s eyebrow.

She was brunette with a set of brown eyes and millions of freckles to cover the top of her nose, cheeks and forehead, some seemed to have drifted towards her chin but Sasuke was in too much pain to actually give two fucks about someone’s freckles.

“You’re just going to feel a little pinch- he said before he allowed the girl to brace herself before stabbing the thin needle into her sterilized wound. She still grimaced which Sasuke could understand, there was a needle with a thread in her eyebrow so he could kind of relate.

“So much for just a pinch.” She said through gritted teeth, her hands were gripping the bedsheets like death was standing right behind her.

Thankfully, she only needed three stitches before Sasuke bandaged her and send her away towards Suigetsu who was still watching him warily and offering candy bars, a piece of bread here and there which Sasuke refused to be anywhere near of-

He still felt like he was about to throw up.

At least, he wasn’t throwing up yet.

“Sasuke…come here.”

Swallowing, he took a deep breath and composed himself, squeezed his eyes shut before turning around to face the head of the center.

“Hey…what’s wrong?” He asked as he came over to side where Orochimaru was leaning on the wall with his arms folded across his chest, a frown on his face and a determined expression mirroring the way he was barely holding back a scream.

“You tell me.” He stated, his yellow eyes were narrowed and regarding him with something that Sasuke didn’t dare to call anything like concern mainly because Orochimaru hated everyone and everything and was only focused on his work as the head doctor. He actually had a professional degree and worked in the hospital but recently had found himself stitching people instead of ripping them open to perform surgery.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He said even though it would be stupid to deceive Orochimaru, the man seemed to be able to sniff lies from miles away so Sasuke only tried it and when the man glared-

Well, he didn’t actually stand a chance anyways. Lying was Itachi’s department, had always been…would probably always remain that way.

“I I’d order you to go home-

“I’m fine.”

Orochimaru licked his lips and pushed himself off the wall before moving to a table and flipping a file before bringing it over.

“Go home. Stay for a couple of days and then, come back.” He said as he pushed the file into his hands.

“I appreciate it but-

“It’s a paid leave. Go. Home. And you better start eating something.” He said coldly, his eyes freezing and his tone likely from the North Pole so Sasuke only nodded his thanks, a pad leave was doable and perhaps, Sasuke could think of a way to pay for the new doctor that Itachi was going to get, clean the house, take care of Tobi and do something useful before deciding to burn the bridges and ask the man the question he’d been dying to question a real doctor.

“May I ask you something?” He asked just as the man was about to turn all the way out.

Orochimaru halted in his steps and looked back at him from over his shoulder before raising an eyebrow and turning around. There was a blank look on his face but the question was in his eyes so Sasuke just went for it.

He bit his lower lip and pulled his phone out before coming over to the man’s side even if moving quickly made him almost whimper in pain before showing Tobi’s picture to him.

“Do you think this kid’s healthy? Like, does he have a healthy weight?-

“How old is he?” Orochimaru asked as he gripped his phone and looked at the kid closely, zoomed in the picture to inspect the child closely before giving Sasuke a weird look as if he was asking the most ridiculous question and that Orochimaru had so many better things to do and he probably did-

He definitely did and Sasuke was taking his time, what the fuck was he thinking?!

“He’s six.”

Orochimaru frowned before sighing deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose and taking his glasses off.

“What do you think?” He asked expectingly, one eyebrow raised and an unpleasant pinch on his lips.

Sasuke swallowed nervously, licked his lips and sucked on his bottom one before shrugging and saying that he thought Tobi was underweight because his neighbor said it.

Orochimaru looked like he was seconds away from flying out of the handle.

“Sasuke…” he took a deep breath as if he was pained. “ you have graduated high school, you know these..kid, this child is absolutely healthy. See his round cheeks? He’s perfect. He has a nice set of legs, full hands and seemed to have a normal body. Any health conditions?”

“None.”

“Then, he’s perfectly fine. The only person who’s underweight and would need a feeding tube, if he goes on with this is you. Eat something and rest, do not get up and try to get some sleep. Don’t stay on your feet.” He said before giving the phone back to him and leaving.

Sasuke didn’t stop him, couldn’t stop him-

Tobi was fine. He was healthy and okay and according to the best doctor of the city, he was perfect.

Sasuke hadn’t fucked up.

He swallowed whatever lump was in his throat and squeezed his eyes shut when he felt wetness in his eyes-

He wouldn’t cry. He’d never cry. He was going home and taking a long shower, maybe he’d eat something, nothing too big just so he’d still be able to feed Tobi and not feel like his stomach was consuming each organ close to it. perhaps, sleep for a couple of hours to get some energy and then,he’d do something else.

Think of a way that he’d be able to pay for Itachi for one.

-/

Getting matcha at Starbucks was like asking a cook to bake a bread from scratch. It took long minutes, patience and hearing shit ton of whispered curses from the cook and Naruto was absolutely sick and tired of literally everything by the time the drink was made, the other orders soon filling the bag before Naruto took both the orders and Tobi’s hand who was reluctant to get out and leaving the building.

Twenty four minutes later, six different ways of protests from Tobi who was bored and wanted to go home and missing Sasuke, tearing up because he was missing the said raven and Naruto who was kind of done with all of the situations, he arrived at the location.

Fog was pretty much everywhere, the clouds filling the streets and making them look like roads from a horror movie plus the fact that the building which Naruto was supposed to enter was-

Well…

It was a dark building which was huge, bricks were a little eveywhere and had closed windows and a locked door-

A fucking psych yard or some shit?!

How the fuck was he going to enter this place with a kid?!

He stared down at Tobi who was looking at the building curiously, chewing on his inner lip and standing on the heel of his feet, going back and forth.

Sasuke would legit murder him, if he broke his kid.

Naruto would never forgive himself.

What the fuck was he going to do?!

He pulled his phone out of his pocket and dialed his dad who didn’t answer because he was an asshole. So Naruto decided to be a brat and call again until he finally answered and almost growled at him.

“What?!”

“I’m here you bastard! And I don’t think I can bring a kid into a psych yard!” He yelled and probably shouldn’t have in front of the said psych yard because loud voices seemed to always trigger the crazies so Naruto pulled the kid aside to move over as he spoke.

“Of course, you can bring a kid. It’s not a psych yard , you idiot! It’s for addicts, get the kid in.”

Naruto looked back at the terrorizing facility and glanced at the innocent child who was staring at the building as well with something akin to curiosity, a frown on his eyebrows as he chewed on his lips.

“Fine…if this kid ends up traumatized, you’re taking care of it!” He hung up the phone to Kakashi’s face, knowing that it’d drive him insane before reluctantly bringing the child inside with him.

Stepping inside was like putting a foot into the coziest, warmest room of the house. ACs were probably the best thing that had ever been invented, Naruto couldn’t be more grateful for the amazing scientists.

He pulled his scarf away from his face before doing the same with Tobi’s hat that covered his entire head and came all the way to his eyebrows. The kid had pulled a fit when Naruto insisted that he either wore it or they weren’t going anywhere, after shit ton of pouts and whines later Tobi had cooperated.

He still didn’t let go of the kid, in case something would draw his attention and Tobi would decide that giving Naruto a heart attack was absolutely worth feeding his curios self so he only pulled the kid along with him to the receptionist and asked to see the bastard who happened to be his dad.

The girl behind the desk raised an eyebrow before stating that Naruto and Kakashi had absolutely no resemblance so Naruto kindly reminded her to mind her own business before she glared, called someone that sounded like Kakashi and then, she looked back at him, nodded her head and Naruto- just for spite- stuck his tongue out and threw a middle finger before moving away.

“Suke does that too, sometimes.” Tobi said out of the blue which made Naruto jump six feet in the air- for some reason even though he was holding the kids hand, he had forgotten that he was even there.

“Does what?”

“The finger thingy.”

Fuck…

“Don’t do it, it’s a bad gesture.” He reprimanded, sounded like an old man but still gave the kid a stern look who didn’t seem to be offended and only nodded.

“Suke says the same.”

Would Sasuke kill him?

He looked back at the kid who was showing a middle finger.

He definitely would.

“Don’t do it, Tobi.”

The little raven looked up as Naruto pressed the button for the elevator. He frowned and stopped poking his finger into his eye.

“Okay.” He replied reluctantly.

Approximately of six minutes later, he arrived at the floor where the door opened and he was presented with a warm hue of the enormous room. He stepped into it along with Tobi who was looking around with wide eyes, staring at the addicted patients rudely as if it was the very first time he had seen an addict-

Maybe it was. Sasuke did seem pretty strict.

The walls were painted a forest green with orange lines as decoration, two of the many windows were open to welcome fresh air, multiple tables and sofas, couches and chairs were placed around with colors that looked cozy and warm. Bookshelves were on the walls with a plethora of decorations of top of each of them, take it from plants to scrolled, painting and the obvious books that looked thick enough to become a weight used at gyms.

Patient were situated everywhere, most looked to be in their late thirties, some older ones and a bunch of teenagers that probably needed to be on suicide watch.

He glanced at Tobi who was still staring with nothing to worry about in the world.

Naruto kind of wanted to pinch his round cheeks.

Arriving at the doctors section, he paused behind the door and decided to be polite for once and knocked and only when he heard the quiet “ enter.” Did he open the door and stepped inside only to be stopped when Tobi didn’t budge from his spot.

He glanced back at the kid even if Kakashi was calling him over, asking him if he got his orders right and didn’t forget the biscuits again but Naruto wasn’t paying attention. Tobi was locked into his spot, eyes were unmoving as the stared ahead towards one of the windows and blinking curiously before tilting his head to the side.

“Tobi, c’mon.” He said, pulled the kid a bit but surprisingly, the kid stool his ground, his eyes still locked a little far away on something, or someone that Naruto didn’t really care about-

“Naruto, would you get in? I’m on caffeine drive.” Kakashi said as he came over himself to grab the bag from his hands to looked over Naruto’s shoulder at the child who was still planted between the doorway, head titled to a side and gaze locked onto something that no one knew.

“Tobi, is everything okay?” Kakashi asked as he grabbed Naruto’s hand to let go of the child, pushed him aside a bit before kneeling down to the kid’s eye level.

“Kiddo, are you okay? What’re you staring at?” He said gently with a smile and kindness that Naruto had never heard before, his eyes warm as if he was open and Tobi had nothing to worry about.

“Is that ‘Tachi?…” Tobi asked with a small voice curiously, not afraid at all and only confused. He wasn’t looking away, still frowning and chewing on his lips.

“Who is ‘Tachi?” Kakashi asked and Naruto frowned-

‘Tachi? Who named their kids ‘Tachi?

What the fuck?..

Out of nowhere, the kid smiled brightly with all teeth to the point where his cheeks got red and he dashed away from them before either he or Kakashi could grab a hold of him. They just stared after him, planted to their spots as Tobi ran between the mess of people to a particular tall, thin and very striking man who seemed to have only just stood up from where he had been sitting on a sofa near the window and flung himself at him, wrapped both of his arms around the man’s waist all the way around- was the guy too thin or was Tobi’s arms too long?- and pressed his tiny body at his stomach.

His legs were dangling which was a little funny but Naruto was too busy catching his hanging jaw than anything else.

“I think that’s ‘Tachi.” He said but Kakashi was already moving towards the pair, looking all too professional and ready to step in if the man became violent.

Speaking of the guy, he raised one dark eyebrow and looked down at Tobi’s curly head before taking a gentle hold of the kid’s arms, pulling him off his body and holding him a safe distance away. He regarded the pouting child who was still trying to hug him with a confusion and a frown before Kakashi finally reached them and took a hold of the squirming kid.

Naruto took the cue and moved forwards until he was next to Kakashi, grabbed Tobi and put the reluctant kid behind him before staring at the kid closely-

Holy shit.

What?

How?

Was he sleep?

He had half the mind to rub his eye but only licked his lips and tried not to see Sasuke when he looked at the guy.

They literally had the same eye, same skin tone, exact same hair color but this guy’s was a lot longer in length, same hallowed cheeks and pretty much the same body type too only if Sasuke was a little taller..they’d be twins.

Sure, the dark rings under the man’s eyes looked alarming and somehow, worse than Sasuke’s but still..

We’re they family? Tobi did just run to the guy.

“Excuse me for the inconvenience, do you know this kid?” Kakashi asked expectingly, probably having seen the striking resemblance of the guy in front of them and Naruto’s nineteen years old neighbor.

The man- ‘Tachi? Was it a nickname? Tobi did call Naruto, Nards- looked over at Tobi who was still trying to get to him passionately before a freezing aura passed his dark eyes and he glanced back at Kakashi cooly, not intimidated at all which was a surprise both to him and Kakashi who licked his lips at the treatment before he replied, voice a void of darkness and clearly not used often.

He didn’t seem like the most social butterfly anyways.

“I have never met this child in my life.”

“I’m Tobi!” The kid was quick to add with a angry tone in his squeaky voice as if he was offended at not being recognized.

‘Tachi raised one thin dark eyebrow before looking back at Kakashi expectingly as if the grey haired man was simply going to ignore the child and believe him wholeheartedly.

“I don’t know him.” He said simply with a high authority which made Naruto wonder if the guy was a doctor here himself and Naruto had mistaken him for a patient.

But that would be stupid, Kakashi had rushed to interfere so clearly, Naruto was wrong even though it was so challenging to imagine someone so formal and elegant to be addicted.

He pushed Tobi a bit more behind him.

“But Suke has a picture of you…” Tobi mumbled incoherently and Naruto probably wouldn’t have heard him, if he wasn’t so close.

Technically, Kakashi was also close so he looked back at the pouting child and stilled upon noticing the watering eyes. Naruto pressed his lips together and tried to conceal the part of him that wanted to smack this mysterious, surprisingly elegant looking man across his gorgeous fucking face.

“Do you know Sasuke?” Kakashi asked out of nowhere, voice serious and a look of mischief on his face. He was most likely coming up with plans to take a deeper look at this guy here even if Naruto was considering the consequences of putting a hole through a man’s skull because he was making Tobi cry.

No one made Tobi cry, Naruto would personally send them to after life.

Jail time be damned.

‘Tachi- was it genuinely his name?- looked into Kakashi’s eyes cooly which was a new thing, most of the patients that Kakashi would take were too intimidated by him to gaze straight in his eyes.

This man didn’t seem shaken one single bit.

Interesting.

“Unfortunately.” He replied sarcastically, his smooth voice- he really did have a nice voice, maybe a voice actor?- not breaking once and pronouncing that one word so correctly that Naruto was debating if he knew how to speak English at all-

Wait.

Unfortunately?

Okay, he was going to smack him so hard, he’d whistle like a kicked god.

No one, not a single living being got to talk shit about Sasuke and live with it as long as Naruto had a say about it.

He didn’t know where the urge came from but it burnt and it was hot and so…so right, like, he needed to say something- no.

He needed to scream something to make this piece of shit understand that Sasuke might be a bastard, a pain in the ass, maybe he thought accepting help was like getting full score on a math test- impossible- but he was like that and Naruto love-

He blinked.

Naruto accepted the idiot as who he was. Even if it was a pain to make him accept a little bit of help.

Kakashi, clearly, didn’t seem to be having Naruto’s inner crisis so he just nodded but asked anyways. “How so?”

The raven with luscious hair- seriously, what the hell- frowned like he was having a conversation with a dump person. “He’s my little brother.”

Naruto barely surpassed the urge to hang his jaw.

This was Sasuke’s older brother?

Sasuke had an older brother?!

Sasuke had a fucking sibling?!

Holy shit. Okay. Big announcement.

Maybe his jaw did go loose a bit here.

“So you do know Tobi. You’d know your brother’s son, right?” Kakashi said and Naruto cringed internally.

Tobi was quick to make a laughing sound and The older raven’s eyes widened a little bit before he glanced at the hidden child who was laughing quietly. ‘Tachi blinked owlishly and licked his lips before taking a deep breath like he was dealing with mere children, looked at both of them as if they had grown a second head before a startled sound came from his throat that Naruto wanted to call it a laugh.

“You’d think that Curley head came from my brother?” He asked with a raised eyebrow, surprisingly, he also didn’t push Tobi away when the kid broke away from Naruto and went to the older raven’s side to grab the cloth of his black pants. He barely came to his hip and Naruto knew he could easily throw the kid away.

“It doesn’t?” Kakashi asked, sounding interested and curious even if he was waiting for a sudden reaction from the man.

“No, Tobi is out cousin’s son who’s dead. Sasuke simply adopted him.” He answered shortly, crudely with a distasteful frown on his face as if he was done speaking with either of them. Tobi was still clinging to the man’s pants leg, leaning onto his leg and looking up at them all with wide eyes and a pleasant, adorable smile.

“How do you know all of this?” He asked before Kakashi got the chance, he was just confused. There was no way this guy would know this whole thing-

“Sasuke has this vexatious habit of telling me everything, Naruto? I assume.” He said with a tone as if he had already won whatever game they were all playing which was stupid-

Did he just say his name?

“How did you?-

“Like I said. Sasuke tells me everything. You’re his neighbor, am I right?”

Woah…Naruto paused, of course Sasuke would talk to his brother, why the fuck would he not?

They were siblings for god’s sake!

Hell, he probably spoke with his parents as well-

“Isn’t he a bit too young?” Kakashi asked professionally and got a professional answer in return.

“You’d assume that my brother is old enough to have a six years old child but not satisfactorily enough to adopt one?”

“Maybe, a parent-

“There are none.”

Oh…

So Sasuke was an orphan.

Naruto felt a pang in his heart, he suddenly found himself back on that bed, wrapped tightly around a blue duck blanket as he moved back and forth, trying and failing to keep his tears at bay.

Sasuke had been there?…

“I’m sorry.” They both said even if Kakashi had gotten used to saying this over and over again to multiple people who were struggling to cope with loss.

“Don’t be, they both chose to die.” Was the simple, insensitive answer that the man gave. He crossed his arms across his thin chest and looked at them as if asking if he was allowed to go.

So they committed suicide?

That’s…fucked up on so many levels.

“You’re quite okay with this.” Kakashi stated even though something as traumatic as a parent’s death could never be okay..

Naruto didn’t even want to consider living without Kakashi, let alone being okay with it.

“They were alone when they chose that path, therefore, they’re going to be alone when it ends.”

A heavy sentence, full of double meanings and Naruto’s head was starting to hurt.

-/

‘Tachi was a lot taller than Suke.

And he was, somehow, even more tired and he sounded nice, his voice made him sleepy and to make it all better..

He was so soft and warm.

Cozy.

Suke always said that ‘Tachi was nice, he was kind and was always caring. There was always a mysterious glitter in his eyes when he mentioned it but Tobi never asked, he just believed every word even if ‘Tachi didn’t seem too nice.

He was warm and soft though. And he sounded really good.

So Tobi didn’t complain and when Naruto and the old man left to the room, he whined and pouted and did all the things that usually made Suke give in which worked and he was left with his uncle.

‘Tachi had pressed his lips together and looked annoyed but didn’t complain either and only moved towards one of the shelves, grabbed a large book and came around to sit on a green sofa next to the window.

Tobi followed after him but didn’t find anywhere to sit so he looked at his uncle whose eyes were busy with reading before he decided that his lap was the best, most comfortable place.

Sure, he was bony but so was Suke and it was always nice to sit on him.

He bit his lip and moved towards ‘Tachi slyly. The man was still reading and didn’t seem to notice him so Tobi pushed his luck as far as it went and crawled towards the armchair before flinging himself on top of the man who took a hold of his collar and pulled his hanging body up in front of his unimpressed face.

“Just what do you think you’re doing?” He asked with a voice that made Tobi pout and know that he was in trouble but he only crossed his arms and pointed to where the book was resting peacefully on his uncle’s lap, on top of his red sweater and dark pants.

He wanted to sit there.

Was it attention seeking? Probably but it always worked on Suke and they were brothers,right?

It should work.

“No.” His uncle said before placing him down by letting go on his collar. Tobi landed right in front of his elegantly crossed legs and huffed before deciding that sometimes, he needed to be rough to get attention because ‘Tachi was only looking at that boring book and not Tobi.

He bit his lower lip and took a dramatically deep breath before taking a hold of one of his uncle’s long legs and climbing on top of him. There were many sounds of protests and a ‘ i swear to god!’ Before Tobi was sitting directly on that stupid book and in front of ‘Tachi’ shocked face.

“Can I braid your hair?” He asked as he regarded the long locks that was resting on his uncle’s left shoulder in a low pointy tail.

“Excuse me?” ‘Tachi asked when he figured out that there was no way Tobi was getting off of him and he simply sighed, rolled his eyes and took the book from under Tobi and sat it on the coffee table next to the green sofa.

“Your hair. Can I braid it?” He asked again.

‘Tachi raised an eyebrow- Suke did the same when he was done with Tobi’s stupidity- before rolling his eyes.

“No.”

“Why?!”

“Because I don’t like people touching my hair.”

“But you allow Suke to touch your hair.”

‘Tachi pressed his lips together and looked away from him, his eyes cast towards the window before he sighed.

“I don’t anymore.” He answered.

“Why?”

His uncle narrowed his eyes before pushing him away. “Get off me, kid.”

“Nope.”

“Tobi.”

“‘Tachi.”

He sighed as if done with everything in the world before he leaned back on the couch and took a hold of Tobi’s dangling legs to keep him steady and not let him fall on his back.

“Please, let me braid your hair?”

‘Tachi frowned, blinked and sighed. “Maybe, next time.”

“Promise?”

A smile twitched on his lips and Tobi saw it even if he thought he didn’t. “Promise.”

“Okay then!”

He looked around for a few seconds long enough for his uncle to grab the book again even if he was allowing Tobi to sit on him. He opened it and started reading which meant he was ignoring Tobi-

Absolutely not.

“What’re you reading?”

“It’s not for you.”

“Duh, it doesn’t have pictures.”

‘Tachi glanced up at him with that hidden smile again before he shook his head and turned back to those weird lines.

Just why did adults like to read books like that?

Talking about adults-

“Do adults not get hungry?” He found himself asking because according to Suke, ‘Tachi was really smart.

He had to know the answer.

His grip tightened on the book, a look passed over his eyes as he looked up with a weird expression like worry and panic.

“Why’re you asking?”

“Suke says that he doesn’t get hungry…he never eats anything.”

Was it the wrong thing to say?

‘Tachi looked like he had seen a ghost and as he placed the book aside, his hands were shaking, his brows were frowned and he licked his lips before grabbing Tobi’s sides gently to stop him from dangling to legs so much and causing both of them to squirm in the seat.

“When was the last you have seen him eating?” He asked with a serious voice.

Was Tobi in trouble?

“I’m sorry.” He apologized with a frown but ‘Tachi seemed to have suddenly lost all of his edges, leaving behind a soft looking person that Suke had talked about.

“you didn’t do anything wrong, okay? I just want to know if he’s okay..is he eating at all?” He asked after reassuring him that everything was fine, he pushed Tobi close to him and settled his hands on his back-

‘Tachi was really warm and comforting and Suke had been so right.

“Sometimes, once in a while.”

A crestfallen look passed over ‘Tachi’ face before he licked his lips and rubbed his forehead with one of of his hands.

“Okay…” he said mostly to himself, thinking and a glazed look in his eyes.

He was really nice though.

“Suke’s right, you’re really nice.” He said to make him smile but ‘Tachi only frowned harder.

“He said that?…”

He nodded. “Yupe, he says you’re nice and amazing and really smart…why don’t you come live with us?” He asked but ‘Tachi never really answered to that.

Chapter Text

Chapter 12

Despite the fact that he had to walk everywhere and that it rained pretty frequently, Sasuke was both fond of strutting and was a massive fan of rainy weather. Sure, it made it hard to actually enjoy it since he had to run to places and come home completely wet, risk getting a nasty cold, and ending up being a wrapped disaster with a bow but life genuinely requires sacrifices sometimes and he needed to swallow whatever shit he was eating on daily basis.

It was either that or drowning in a pit.

It was anyone’s guess.

The rain had stopped though and it was actually nice to just not be wet once in a while even though his legs still hurt from walking everywhere, staying on his feet for countless hours had done no good for him and to make the matters even worse, his stomach was still upset, storms were lovingly crashing against his stomach acid and making him gag six times in the way and almost throw up the protein bar that Suigetsu had shoved down his throat.

He should really listen to his own advice and stop thinking about throwing up so much.

He halted in his steps and took a hold of the nearest wall before doubling over and throwing up the bar- or at least, the bits of it- disgusting. His throat burned with pain and his stomach felt like it was splitting in half, displaying his guts to the individuals who stared at him with disgust as if they had never seen another human being before and..

Okay, he did just throw up in the middle of the street and if he hadn’t been in so much pain, he’d definitely feel embarrassed. Sadly, Sasuke was too busy biting his lip to keep his keens silent and not whisper in pain as another wave of nausea past over him.

At least, he wasn’t kneeling on the ground on his hands and knees.

Cursing himself for vomiting and gaining so many concerned and disgusted looks( what the fuck was he thinking?!) he pushed himself away and decided that his pride couldn’t possibly even consider going through something like that again, receiving such looks, such glances would definitely put him in an early grave, so even if it hurt his stomach and Sasuke would’ve much rather be in a bed, he took the longer route home and went to the back streets.

The cold sweat on his forehead could be both from the pain and from the extreme weather so he ignored it and pushed it to the back of his head as far as it would go. Not far, judging by how much his hands shook.

He still got home though, even if it took so many more excruciating minutes to do so. He still reached it, turned the keys and stepped inside of the tight staircase before remembering that there was no elevator and he had to climb up the stairs all the way to the tenth floor.

He looked up at the terribleness of the stairs were located, at the endless center that seemed so far away and felt himself cringe. It was way too long and not only was his stomach protesting against the decisions that he had made in the last hour but so were his legs which screamed with his step.

“This is gonna hurt.”

It was still very hurtful and painful struggle but he- somehow- managed to do it before leaning against the wall of his house and swallow the lump in his throat. His body burned and he still felt nauseous like he was just three seconds away from vomiting again-

He did throw up again, but unsurprisingly, nothing was coming up but the gagging sound still filled the small space of the apartment which meant-

“Sasuke?! Oh lord!, oh Jesus! Are you okay?”

He would’ve cringed, if he wasn’t so busy vomiting his guts even if there was really nothing coming up, not even the yellow liquid that he was getting used to seeing.

The old woman was next to him as soon as her aged legs pulled her in, she knelt down beside him and from what he could see from her face, her white brows were creased, her eyes wide and a frown had settled on her lips.

“What happened?!” She asked as soon as he had calmed down to sag against the wall, his head rolling to the side and leaning on the cold solidness, his eyes closed as he tried to breath through his nose and not end up gagging again.

“I’m fine..” he managed to say after he was sure that his stomach had settled enough for him to talk.

“You call this fine?!” She screamed, clearly pissed before sighing as if Sasuke was the reason for every single grey hair on her head. “C’mon, let’s get you to bed.” She said before hoisting to her full height, extending her hand and pulling him up when he grabbed it.

He wobbled a little, vision going black for a second before he placed his hand on the wall to keep himself steady. He looked down at her when he felt eyes burning the side of his head before giving a forced smile which did not convince her one bit.

“You should go to a hospital.”

Can’t pay for it, he wanted to say but only shook his head and reassured her that he was fine and it was only a stomach bug, it’d pass. She didn’t look like she believe him but Sasuke was done standing on his feet and the sound of the warm bed and comfy covers brought tears to his eyes-

The world could wait for a tiny second for him to sleep, right?

The bills, Doctors, taxes, rent, work, thrift shop that he still needed to go to in the afternoon, Tobi, Itachi-

He just needed to close his eyes for just a second. He’d deal with them as soon as he was more like himself, he promised-

“Honey?…Sasuke, you’re swaying-

He felt a sudden sting at his elbow and hissed in pain before blinking up-

Up?

He looked around and realized that he was on the ground again, wasn’t he standing?

Mrs.Cozin was staring at him with eyes full of concern as she worried her bottom lip, her wrinkled hands were caressing his left cheek where the bruise had finally disappeared, her other hand on his head-

He wanted to flinch away from her touch, he hated people touching him but he was too tired, his eyes were dropping and she seemed to have placed the back of her hand against his forehead-

“….awake…stay…please.”

She was saying something but it felt like her voice was coming from far away, as if Sasuke was beneath the depth of the ocean and staring up at her worried face..

Was the floor too comfortable or was it just him?

“Keep…open…” She sounded like she was panicking and her eyes were moving rapidly.

He frowned as if asking what the fuck she meant before deciding that it wasn’t worth the trouble and that sleep was clinging to his eyelids, pulling them towards his bottom lash line and maybe Sasuke just didn’t want to deal with everything that the world had so lovingly placed on his broken shoulders.

He’d deal with them all again, promise..

He just really, really wanted to sleep for now.

“No…open….”

-/

“Can we have some more Ice cream?” Tobi asked him with wide eyes and Naruto surpassed a sigh and shook his head.

“Sorry, but we need to get home. I promise Mrs. Cozin that I’ll bring you back before noon and it’s already past that time a bit.” He explained patiently as he turned the wheel around.

Kakashi had still yelled at him for getting a child to college with him but he was mostly thinking back to Sasuke’s brother- he still couldn’t believe that he had a sibling- so his dad didn’t take it too far and only told him to get the fuck out.

Rude, but Naruto wasn’t really keen on staying in that place for too long anyways.

Tobi had probably been the happiest person in that entire building as he sat on his uncle’s lap and talked to him even if the raven had looked beyond vexatious and seconds away from throwing the kid out of the window.

Now, wouldn’t that make Sasuke kill Naruto a little more?

Technically, he’d get mad at his brother too but still.

Tobi whined quite loudly but that was as far as his complains went so Naruto was just happy about that. The kid had fallen asleep at some point in the drive and Naruto fixed the belt around the child who was seating in the back seat while they were at the traffic before it loosened up and he was back on the road again.

NewYork was just way too busy sometimes, he usually got around with it and the noise didn’t bother him but lately, specially since the apartment was in the best place for gangsters and worst parts of the street, it had become way too loud. Still, it never became too much until recently when the studies were becoming heavy and he needed sleep like a damn drug.

He parked in front of their building. It was still freezing outside and fog settled on the streets and Naruto couldn’t see the end of it from the driver seat. Trashcans were filled to the brim all around and some were already overflowing, some homeless men were also drinking booze to the side of one of those cans so Naruto sighed and carefully stepped outside of the vehicle before closing the door and waking Tobi, getting his reluctant body out of the car and locking it before he took the kid’s hand and walked to the building.

He sighed audibly upon looking at the stairs that seemed endless before glancing down at Tobi who was also eyeing the torturous things with disdain.

“Ready to climb?”

Tobi grimaced but nodded anyways before going before Naruto and climbing up. It was a struggle and Naruto cousins blame the kid for being reluctant, no one would be excited about walking a staircase all the way to the tenth floor. It was far too tedious, boring and generally just exhausting.

Couldn’t they just put a fucking elevator in this damn place?!

The climbed anyways and by the time, Naruto was heaving for lost breath, he saw Tobi stop midway, completely frozen and kind of trembling.

What now?

He almost asked but kept his mouth shut and walked up another step before he heard it.

“Oh my goodness! Help!”

That sounded dangerously like Mrs.Cozin. Did she fall or something?!

Did she burn herself?!

His heart was on his throat as he ran up the stairs before feeling it drop to the bottom of his stomach upon seeing the woman knelt on the ground on her hands and knees in front of the unmoving body of Sasuke who was absolutely not supposed to be sleeping on the ground.

“Is he sleeping?…” Tobi asked quietly, far too quietly and had Naruto not ran towards the fallen raven, he would’ve tried to comfort the kid but he didn’t have time.

He slammed to the floor and took Sasuke’s cold face between his own trembling hands as the old woman looked relived, glanced at Tobi’s frown form as tears fell down his cheeks and moved towards him.

Naruto didn’t see much else except the closed eyelids and the shadows under them, the hollowness of the pale cheeks and how blue Sasuke’s lips looked before he pressed the tips of his middle and index finger against the side of his pale- thin, too thin- neck, waited with a baited breath and almost stumbled forward into Sasuke’s shoulder in relief upon feeling the weak heartbeat.

He didn’t waste any time, brushed his sleeve against his suddenly wet eyes and moved to grab Sasuke’s slight body from under his knees and around his shoulder before hoisting him up, almost falling backwards at how light he actually was-

That wasn’t normal, was it?

Curses.

He swallowed the lump in his throat, didn’t dare to look down at the raven head slumped against his collarbone, glanced at Tobi who was cradled in Mrs.Cozin’s embrace before she nodded and pulled kid away from the staircase to give room to Naruto who didn’t waste a single second and sprinted down.

His heart was pounding against his ribcage as he took steps after steps all the while trying not to give in on how fucking light the weight in his arms actually was. He could wrap his whole arm around Sasuke’s shoulder and even touch a strand of his black hair-

That scared the literal shit out of him.

The only thing that stopped Naruto from having a heart attack was the small breaths that tickled the side of his neck from where Sasuke’s nose was pressed against him.

He didn’t close the door to the apartment- fuck that shit- ran to his car and opened the passenger side before placing the raven onto the seat, placed the seatbelt on him, cringing when his head rolled to the side before swallowing another mouthful of sobs and fixing it-

“Don’t you dare give up..” he mumbled to himself as he jumped over to the driver side, yanked the door opened and started the car.

Everything else was a blur at that point, he didn’t even remember driving, only glancing at his passenger’s pale, relaxed face and wishing that the idiot would glare at him, yell at him, frown, or just fucking do something instead looking like he was dead.

Arriving at the hospital should’ve been a relief but it only made his heart pound even harder until he was passing Sasuke’s lax body over to the doctors who immediately set to work, rushed him to ER and Naruto only came back to himself when a doctor, no older than him with purple hair and kind whitish grey eyes handed him a cup and knelt in front of him.

She had her hair in a little bun at the back of her hair and her uniform was tied at her back, keeping it all together as she placed a white hand on his trembling knee where anxiety was having the worst turmoil.

“Is he your friend?” She asked with a nice, even voice that sent shivers of calmness down his spine. It was like a warm heater in a cold winter night.

Naruto thought over it, frowning and creasing his brows-

Were they friends?

He recalled the pizza that Tobi had devoured without a second thought, the cup of coffee that Sasuke had refused to put down, the tiredness of his whole posture, how he had backed him up against Kakashi, the way Naruto’s own heart was still pounding against his ribcage from anxiety-

Did he care about Sasuke?…

….he was going to think about that..

“Yeah. He is.” He replied because yes, they were definitely friends. Maybe, Sasuke wouldn’t call them that but they were less on each other’s throat than any other day so..

He honestly didn’t even know.

“You’re a good friend.” She said with a kind smile before standing up and sitting next to him. She folded her arms in her lap before gazing at him with her eyes.

“Don’t worry.”

“How is he?” He asked, every time he closed his eyes, he’d remember the damn bloodily drops on the floor and the some that was on the corner of his mouth, the way his whole body had been lax, so fucking light-

Had he been eating?!

“…he’ll get better.”

That was a poos lie.

“He’s not okay, is he?”

She pursed her lips and looked away before taking a deep breath and exhaling just as heavily. She bit the side of her bottom lip and these were enough indications for him.

The moment Sasuke was well enough, Naruto was going to kill him himself.

“I can’t tell you about these, we need to call his parents.” She replied and Naruto felt his heart wrench-

‘They both chose to die.’ Itachi had said and Naruto seriously wanted both of their parents to be brought back to life just so Naruto could slap them and send them back there himself.

“They’re not alive.” He mumbled under his breath before looking back at her frowning face.

She sighed once more. “Okay…uncle? Sibling? Anything?”

Well, he pretty much didn’t have any other family members except two. One was crying in Sasuke’s neighbor’s house and the other relative was in an addiction center.

“None.”

“Okay…”

“Can’t you just tell me?”

She bit her bottom lip before sighing, nodding her head and turning towards him. “He’ll be fine, I promise. He’s just..uh,” she looked up to the ceiling as if asking the heavens for help. “He’s extremely underweight.”

Naruto frowned and nodded. “ I’ve noticed that.”

“Well,…due to the extreme weight loss recently and stress, excessive vomiting and having a high stomach acid, he almost had a heart attack. If you had reached her just five minutes too late, we would’ve lost him.”

To say that his blood ran cold would be an understatement. He swallowed heavily and looked away as tears gathered in his eyes-

The fuck was he crying for?!

“Oh, my gosh…” he sighed as he rubbed a hand over his eyes to conceal the wetness before he bit his lip to keep the sobs in.

When did he get so attached to this stupid bastard?

It had been only two months since he moved into that house, he despised Sasuke for a whole weeks of that one month and had spent the last one lingering at the window, staring down to the street and waiting for the piece of shit to get home at two in the damn morning, making ramen and tasting it to make it sure it was good enough before dumbing it in the trash because there was just something wrong with it.

He had been only five minutes close to losing that. Completely and utterly losing that, never getting it back. He was close to losing that fear he got when he thought there was something wrong with Tobi because while he himself never wanted anything to be at false with the child but he was also terrified of what Sasuke might do to him with his bony arms, waiting at the window every night, annoying the raven because that was the only way he’d get a reaction out of his tired face, seeing the tiny smile when Naruto had been too funny and Sasuke couldn’t just hold it in anymore-

He never took minutes for granted but Naruto swore that he would thank whoever had listened for every passing second from now on.

“But…but he’ll be okay, right?”

She licked her lips before sighing. “He’s gonna need to stay here for tonight just to make sure that his stomach has settled enough, then you can take him home. Make sure he eats some fluid and when he could handle it, start giving him solid food. Also, he’d better stay off his feet.”

Naruto was too numb to react so he only nodded.

“Can I see him?”

She looked at him with something close to sympathy before giving in. “He’s sleep but..yeah, you can and if he woke up, call someone.”

Chapter Text

Chapter 13

How hard could it be to get someone to talk when they had just been speaking with you not just a few hours ago?

Hard, extremely hard, Kakashi could easily prove it.

This was probably one of his hardest, most rock headed patients so far in his career. That stubborn mouth refused to open to utter one, single word the moment the owner found out Kakashi was his new doctor.

“Okay…”he sighed heavily before he licked his lips and leaned back in his seat. He stared at the man who seemed reluctant to even hold his gaze, noticed the way he was tapping his fingers on the side of the table with an elegance worthy of a affluent person who was raised among the fanciest families on the planet, his gaze was dark and unmoving, something mysterious was in his eyes that Kakashi was still trying to find the exact solution for-

“Why don’t you tell me about yourself a bit?” He asked smoothly, looked for a reaction but unfortunately, he received none other than those black eyes blinking once, twice and stilling again.

According to Jirayia, Itachi didn’t speak much, and recently, he had stopped talking all together, he almost never ate due to not having much of an appetite, he slept almost no hour of the day, stared out of the window every single day for countable hours before reading books for the rest of the day.

He was visited by his brother every Saturday morning at 9:00am and that was probably the only time when he actually showed some type of reaction which was a frown and then, screaming, fuming anger that suffocated him for the entire day and then he was back to normal.

No talking, eating, sleeping, and reacting.

Sasuke told them all not to reprimand his brother for those episodes because Sasuke understood it the best but refused to tell them why he never responded and let his older brother take his frustration out on him.

It seemed to bother doctors but Itachi the most which seemed to have confused many of his colleagues, but not Kakashi.

There was a deeper frustration there somewhere, a wound that still hadn’t closed, still bleeding and Itachi found his little brother as a great target.

He didn’t even take too much drugs, that was actually what bewildered most of his colleagues to the point where they gave up but Kakashi knew what it was-

Depression, surpassed anger, something had happened. Something terrible had happened beneath those tall walls that Itachi had built for himself and he had decided to make himself a mask to cover the hurt.

He didn’t take much drugs because he knew that if he took so much, he’d actually be addicted-

Itachi was not addicted, he wasn’t a drug user and he wasn’t even a smoker.

He was just a mask that usually slipped when he thought he had gone too far-

Your brother won’t visit today, Jirayia had told him coldly before leaving and if Kakashi hadn’t been looking for it, he would’ve missed the concern, the self hatred, the way his eyes had widened, or the way he had swallowed drily before the mask was pulled back on his face and he only had shrugged.

He wasn’t an addict, he was just acting like one so he’d stay here. So he’d be able to be away from Sasuke because he didn’t have the heart to tell him to go away.

“You’re never with the others when the dosages are being passed.” It wasn’t a question, every morning they would give some low dosages of drugs to the patients to keep them from becoming wild but Itachi never even glanced at their direction, he took it in his hand before hiding it somewhere in his sleeve and then, when no one was looking, he’d dispose it into a trashcan with a look on his face that would be considered as nothing but disgust.

Something had definitely happened to this twenty four years old kid and he would find out, even if it was the last thing he did.

Itachi swallowed, his Adam apple bubbling before he looked out of the window, refusing to keep the stare and Kakashi only nodded, extended his hand and grabbed the handle of his cup before bringing it to his lips and taking a sip of his coffee.

“Why isn’t he coming?..”

He looked up to the blank face- almost blank face- and frowned.

Did he care about his brother or not?

Would he, please, make up his mind?

“Who?” He asked as if he didn’t know who Itachi was unwilling- willingly?- talking about before the man licked his dry lips and looked out of the window.

He looked anxious, a crease between his eyebrows before he smoothed his expression back to the neutral point once more.

“Listen, if you don’t want to talk, then you shouldn’t ask me questions either.” He said and waited for an answer but didn’t get one so he cleared his throat and looked at the clock.

He didn’t look for a progress this soon anyways, it was unlikely to happen for at least a couple of months so Kakashi sighed and pulled the chair back to stand up. For now, all he could do was to observe, learn what he could and talk to Sasuke.

“If there’s no more question, I think we’re over for today.” He said before turning back-

“Sasuke.”

He turned back with a raised eyebrow to glance at the man that had blurted out the name, looking awkward and unsure as if he didn’t know whatever he was doing was right or not.

“Who is that?”

“My little brother, he visits every Saturday but didn’t today so-

“He’s at the hospital.” He replied without much of a care because he still didn’t really, because he hadn’t seen the kid much, he had also only encountered him once and the child had outright refused to accept any type of help from him.

Kakashi had also wanted to talk to him about his own obvious issues but never got the chance.

Itachi visibly paled, his eyes widened, mouth hung open slightly, and his mask fell down completely. The look broke away to the point when he took a deep breath and it shuttered in his chest making it sound like a wheeze than anything else, still didn’t seem to care-

“…why?” He asked in a small voice, suddenly looking like a twenty four years old than an eighty years old, ancient man with a heart harder than rock on the earth.

He seemed hesitant, tired, worn out and so, so lonely.

“He had a heart attack.” He answered mercilessly. Basically, from what Naruto had told him in his phase of panic and crying fit, Sasuke didn’t exactly have a heart attack but had come close to it. Naruto had sounded like Sasuke had already died which had made something in his heart squeeze painfully-

He had never prayed before but he’d wished that terrible pain not even upon his worst enemy.

Never should any parent hear their child sound so desperate-

Never. Ever. Kakashi hadn’t been able to handle it and he was known to be quite emotionless.

But he still lied to Itachi’s face, watched as color drained even more from his sculpted face, his eyes widened and he pulled his hands to his lap, twisting his long fingers and did not breath. Just looked into his face and then, immediately looked down to his lap, worrying his bottom lip-

He was not okay and maybe, it wasn’t the best course of action to use Sasuke as a valid card but the kid was the only thing which made Itachi show a fragment of reaction so, Kakashi was going milk it dry.

This way or another, he was going to get that information from Itachi’s tightly sealed lips and find out why he was pretending to be an addict, pushing his little brother away who he seemed to care so much for and battle depression and anxiety all on his own.

These doctors here had only focused on an issue that had never existed in the first place.

Addiction, while Itachi had only been depressed and an skilled liar who had fooled every single person in here.

But not Kakashi.

So he lied as well, and he would keep lying until Itachi couldn’t keep the façade anymore. Kakashi would chip away his mask bit by bit until his face was raw, then, he’d tell him the truth that his brother was actually fine.

Until then, Sasuke would remain hospitalized, not step a foot into this building and even if it would make Itachi suffer silently, he would just have to swallow the pain and when it became too much and he was throwing it all up..

Then, the first step to healing would be taken.

He learnt it a long time ago that sometimes, in order to fix something, you needed to break it completely.

He walked away, didn’t turn back once but could feel the burning gaze of those tearful eyes following after his moving posture.

-/

He looked at peace when sleeping and Naruto was actually starting to get relaxed, he had spent the last ten minutes crying his eyes out, calling Kakashi and telling him what happened, crying some more because his fucking dad’s voice would always make him cry when he felt like the world was crushing him. Then, he called Mrs. Cozin and told her that everything was okay even if it wasn’t that okay, wanted to talk to Tobi but he had cried himself to sleep so Naruto cried a bit more about that and now, he was staring at Sasuke’s moving chest to reassure himself that the bitch was actually alive and not dead like a damn creep.

He felt tears gather in his eyes again and looked up to the milky ceiling to stop them from running down his face. He was so done with crying, honestly, what the fuck.

What the actual fuck?

He glanced back to the raven’s profile, his pointy nose, his high cheekbones- the top hallowed cheeks and decided that he was going to feed Sasuke until he literally busted.

No way around it.

For about five solid minutes he had stared at Sasuke’s dark strands and debated with himself to run his hands throw them, like Sasuke was particularly not going to wake up until tomorrow morning because of the amount of anesthesia in his system so he wouldn’t even notice-

Naruto wanted him to notice and there was so many problems with that.

He didn’t like Sasuke, he just tolerated him. Sure, they were friends in his book but he didn’t like Sasuke. He didn’t like his soft smiles, the way his eyes fluttered when he was sleepy, how he scrunched his nose when the heat of the coffee ran up his nostrils, how he raised an eyebrow when he was done with Naruto’s shit and..

Okay, maybe he noticed way too much.

Still, Sasuke wouldn’t notice and even if it sent a pang in his heart, he still felt the urge to just..get his damn fingers in that dark head and figure out if they were as soft as they looked.

He bit his lower lip and glanced towards the window where the curtains were drawn in tightly. It was dark and moon shone brightly behind the thick, rainy clouds. Thankfully, it wasn’t raining and there didn’t seem to be any sound from outside of the room so it meant that coast was clear.

Maybe..

It wasn’t as if Sasuke would notice, fuck it, he might never know.

He took a deep breath and extended his hand forward before letting hover above the raven’s lax face.

Fuck, was he actually going to do it?

Shit,What if he hurt him? He’d much rather kill himself first than to let that happen.

He braced himself and slowly brought his hand down to touch the soft surface of Sasuke’s cheek and felt a shiver run down his spine as their skin connected. He blinked, gazed at their skin and saw how their skin tone differed, how Sasuke was almost alabaster next to him, before letting a smile grace his lips.

He was actually, genuinely touching him.

He didn’t breath for a solid second before nuzzling his index against the fine bone of his high cheek and when he received no reactions- of course, he wouldn’t- and he felt brave enough, he placed his hand higher to the tip of Sasuke’s nose, let it rest there for a second and felt how cold his skin was-

He frowned and pulled the covers higher on his chest. There were some IVs stuck to the vein on his hand so he was careful as he pulled it higher until he stopped at Sasuke’s neck and he froze-

No. Fucking. Way.

Sasuke had fucking moles.

Moles.

Seriously?

Three moles that were grown on the side of his neck and moved to the inner part of his collarbone.

Naruto had a thing for moles, c’mon.

Licking his lips, he looked away and glanced back up at Sasuke’s lax face. Okay, he was still sleep. Sighing, he nuzzled one of those dark dots and frowned before letting the tip of his finger linger on his collarbone right next to his mole that was black and a little bit raised.

He wanted to fucking kiss it.

Naruto moved back to his head and decided that he was brave enough to touch his hair.

And damn it all to hell, those fucking strands were soft as fuck. They practically flew from his fingers before settling on Sasuke’s head and around the pillow again. He imagined gripping them, pulling them and running his fingers through-

Woah. Hold up.

Okay. No.

That was weird.

Maybe, he should stop?

He stared at those pink, slightly parted lips.

……should he?

He extended his hand again and placed the pad of his finger against the soft skin of his bottom lip and pulled it down, exposing a tiny bit of white teeth and swallowed heavily.

Did he have plastic surgery or was it natural beauty?

For a split second he imagined himself kissing the literal shit out of those lips, pulling them with his teeth, licking as if asking for entry, making them plump and red-

Okay. Deep breaths, those were not such great thoughts to have.

Specially since he was thinking them about his friend who was sleep and almost had a heart attack that day.

So he pulled himself back in his chair and tried not to think too much about how tingly his finger felt or how his gaze kept moving back to those sinful looking lips-

He wasn’t just fucking beautiful-

This bitch was breathtaking.

He pulled his phone out of his pocket and decided to only focus on his games, social medias and other apps than anything regarding the fucking sleeping beauty on the bed.

Approximately of fifteen minutes later, there was a knock on the door before it opened, revealing the same kind doctor- Hinata Hyuuga- was what he read from the ticket on her chest before she let herself in.

“Is everything okay?” She asked kindly, coming towards the bed with a tray and placing it down on the side table beside the bed. It was filled with multiple scary looking syringes that Naruto did not want anywhere near him-

“He seems fine so far-

“He’s gonna be okay, stop worrying so much. Just keep him off his feet, feed him well and he’ll be fine.”she replied kindly, understanding why he was so concerned probably because she dealt with this all the time before taking one of those scary looking shits in her hands and grabbing a plastic bag filled with some kind of liquid with the other-

Was she going to inject that shit into Sasuke?!

“That’s not gonna hurt him, is it?” He found himself asking, suddenly feeling protective and not wanting that… that “thing” anywhere near the raven-

“It’s okay, I’m gonna set it into the plastic of the IV.” She replied with a smile like she could tell why he was acting this way.

“Oh..okay.” He said lamely, embarrassed and frustrated with himself for losing his wits so quickly.

She only smiled and did whatever she needed to do. Naruto didn’t pay much attention to it because he was too busy staring at Sasuke’s moving chest, how thin it was as it rose and fell with each shuttering breath.

Hinata finished quickly and told him that Sasuke might wake up sometime around ten in the morning tomorrow and he was just too grateful so he just nodded and he was left alone again.

He leaned back on his chair, flexed his hands a couple of times before the door opened again so he turned his head only for tears to well up again as his eyes fell over Kakashi who stepped inside with a small bag of Macdonald.

“ you know I can’t cook-

Naruto didn’t let him finish before he threw his arms around his dad, hid his face between his shoulder and neck before letting those wrenching sobs escape his lips.

The way he cared about Sasuke was genuinely starting to annoy him.

The man froze but pulled him in anyways, he wasn’t much of an emotional person but tolerated Naruto’s bursts to an extent and when things weren’t as bad they were, he’d just call him dramatic before ordering takeout. It worked back when Naruto hadn’t started fighting with everyone on sight just because they looked at him wrong or said the false thing. Things were so much simpler back then, weren’t they?

“Feeling better?” Kakashi asked as he rubbed his back with one hand, the other around him too but holding onto the bag and Naruto nodded before stepping away. He rubbed his eyes- his puffy eyes that seemed to never dry today- before taking a deep breath to compose himself and stop acting like a child.

“Yeah…what took you so long?”

Kakashi waved a hand before placing the bag on the table. “Stupid work. Forget about it, how’s sleeping beauty?” He asked as he pulled a large burger out of the bag before gesturing to Sasuke’s unmoving body.

Naruto sighed, already feeling much better than before at seeing the idiotic guy there with him before grabbing the other sandwich. “They said he was fine and that he should be off his feet and eat some shit to pull some meat on him…oh, and apparently, he’s lactose intolerant.”

Kakashi smirked, clearly amused before taking a bite. “He certainly looks like someone who’d be lactose intolerant.”

Naruto gazed back at the sleeping body; he wanted to feed the entire sandwich to him just to see the raven eat. He’d been on doorsteps with Sasuke for the past month and he’d never once seen him put anything beside liquid in his mouth. Guilt was a sneaky thing and it was currently taking Naruto’s appetite completely.

He placed the sandwich down and sighed, it wasn’t just the eating thing either. Was it normal for one person to be coming back home at two in the damn morning?

It was scary to think of it specially since Sasuke was only nineteen, they were the same age and Naruto was barely able to keep Tobi contained for one morning to noon period, how the fuck did one single person manage to not only to raise a child but also work and stu-

Was Sasuke studying as well?

He’d been over to their house often at nights just to annoy Sasuke but he’d never witnessed even a glimpse of a book that wasn’t related to children, full of pictures and definitely not something an adult would enjoy.

He frowned, still staring at the profile and deciding that he was going to take care of this idiot because someone had to-

Mrs.Cozin was nice, kind and she cared a lot but she sometimes forgot that Sasuke was also child and while Tobi needed attention and care, so did Sasuke. It usually sounded vexatious and annoying to Naruto when she complained that the child seemed thin when the obvious round cheeks that Tobi had jiggled when he ran up and down the stairs. She never seemed to notice the way Sasuke would get a look in his eyes as if he thought that he wasn’t good enough, as if whatever had been doing wasn’t the best and that he was fucking up-

He wanted to point out to her so many times that yes, Tobi was a healthy, small child but at least you couldn’t count his ribs while Sasuke could be wearing a hoodie and still his thin wrists gave it all away.

“Somebody is worried sick…”Kakashi said with amusement written all over his face as he smiled and stared at his soul.

Lying to him would be stupid but Naruto wasn’t going to outright admit that he had his heart in his throat when he drove to the hospital, had spent the last hour crying because he couldn’t get the image of Sasuke, fallen on the floor and completely pale, out of his head so he puzzled his expression and rolled his eyes.

“Shut the fuck up. Why would I be worried? It’s not like I care.”

He didn’t…he didn’t care, at all.

Okay, maybe a little but Naruto only thought of Sasuke as a friend and nothing more even if Kakashi laughed silently and shrugged before sipping on his Coke.

“If you say so.”

“So, what? You’d gotten a new patient, right?” He asked to change the subject and get it as far away from the situation at hand as possible which seemed to do the trick as Kakashi frowned and crossed his arms, leaning on the table with his hip and looking thoughtful.

“Yeah…actually, it’s Itachi.” He replied, his eyes looking pensive and far away before they focused once more and looked over to him before continuing.

“But the real question is…how is he going to pay for it?” He asked before glancing towards the sleeping form on the bed, a crease on his brow before he licked his lips.

Good. Fucking. Question.

Sasuke couldn’t pay for anything that was for himself and he was already fucking six-

Five minutes too late and Naruto could’ve been staring at a corpse-fuck no.

He was going to have nightmares about that shit.

“Did he already pay?” He asked out of genuine curiosity. Someone who went to work at somewhere around five in the morning and came back at two am, slept for maybe half an hour and got to work again.

“No, he didn’t…I’m not going to ask for money, anyways.”

Naruto blinked, what?

Since fucking when?

Kakashi was rich as fuck, the man had states to his name but when it came to money, he was always merciless. He was heartless, If someone couldn’t pay for it, then their patient also couldn’t heal.

Sorry, not sorry.

“You’re not?..” he asked with disbelief on his face, frowning and blinking rapidly.

Kakashi smiled, his dimples appearing once more before he sighed. “No, I’m not…let’s call it my redemption arc but even I’m not that heartless to take money from someone whose clearly carrying the weight of the world.”

There was another reason hidden beneath the layers of his words and if Naruto hadn’t been the man’s son, he would’ve missed it. It was in his eyes, the way they lingered on Sasuke’s face like he couldn’t help but feel pitiful even if Naruto could never feel such emotions towards Sasuke-

Only admiration. He was able to raise a kid, take care of his sick brother, pay for rent, work his ass off and do all those kinds of things while being only nineteen.

Fuck it, Naruto was nineteen too and he couldn’t even work on his own.

“Don’t you dare pity him.” He almost growled with a hard voice but his dad didn’t seem fazed, only glanced at him with a smile before staring back at Sasuke’s lax face.

“I’d never pity someone like this. In fact, I wish I had the same strength.”

“You’re hiding something.”

Kakashi uncrossed his arms and looked towards the wall where a clock was ticking the time away. “I’ve gotta go. If anything happens, call me.”

Of course, he would never answer that statement so he only waved his dad goodbye and when he was seated back on the chair in that lonely room, he tried his best not to touch Sasuke’s thin hand where the blue veins were way too visible.

-/

Loads and loads of dried mug was probably pressed against his eyelids and that was the reason why they were so heavy.

Yeah, it was a valid reason, right?

No, it wasn’t and Sasuke was being stupid.

Still, they felt terribly, uncomfortably heavy and he just wanted to see around himself mainly because he was way too confused as to why he was back to the land of darkness.

Wait-

Wasn’t he back home?

Was he home right now? Was it the couch where he usually slept on-

No, it was way too comfortable to be a couch and he felt well rested as if he had been sleeping for hours and not just one and a half.

Weird.

Finally, after what felt like hours, he managed to get some feelings to his other body parts where he felt a hand wrapped tightly around his hand-

Tobi? Had Tobi had a nightmare and Sasuke had fallen asleep on the bed trying to comfort him?

No, the hand was a lot bigger.

He finally managed to blink his eyes open and immediately squeeze them shut because of the light that shone directly into his eyes.

He also starting feeling a lot more.

His stomach..didn’t hurt which was a pleasant surprise because Sasuke did remember feeling like he was being split open so it was great not to feel that. His legs were also not being burnt, there was a stinging uncomfortableness in his hand that was covered by another one much larger than his own and he was also feeling nice..

Not sick and tired…okay, maybe a little tired but still nice and at least, less tired.

Like he said, well rested.

He managed to look around after a while and frowned upon seeing a milky ceiling, white walls, a brown door which was closed and a window at the far end-

Just where in the world was he?

He blinked, looked down to where his hand was getting cramped and blinked again.

A head full of yellow hair was resting on the side of the bed that Sasuke was laying on, a tan hand was grasping his own pale one and the face that was turned towards him was completely at peace-

It was Naruto.

Naruto.

What?

He blamed it all on his drugged brain for not overreacting as he looked towards the window again..

Maybe somewhere around six in the morning by how the light was shining.

He still blamed it on the drugs that were flowing through his system because he blinked once, twice and swallowed drily before extending his other hand and pulling the covers securely around Naruto’s board shoulders was much as he could before settling back on the pillows as sleep called upon him, dragging him into the pitiful darkness again.

It was still January and Naruto didn’t need to be cold..

Sasuke totally blamed it on the drugs.

Chapter Text

Chapter 14

Naruto felt a sudden, deep pain at the side of his skull and knew that he was going to fall off his chair way before it actually happened.

His side screamed when he contacted the titled floor and a grunt of pain and panic went through his tightly sealed lips-

This was a terrible way of waking up.

“Where the fuck have you brought me?!”

Naruto thought that the voice which yelled at him sounded extremely familiar but he couldn’t exactly pinpoint where he had heard it before-

A neighbor? Friend?

Sasuke? Oh, cool he was definitely still dreaming then, even thought he had just been about to climb up his lean, thin body and there had been a bed somewhere around there-

“Naruto!”

Shockingly, Sasuke hadn’t sounded like that a few seconds ago and had actually laughed at him with a dreamy look in his eyes so maybe, Naruto was awake.

“…you didn’t die, did you?”

Naruto’s heart swelled in adoration, dream Sasuke was so fucking nice, he was concerned about him even though, Naruto was still struggling to understand why the side of his skull was burning with ache.

He also couldn’t see Sasuke which was a problem because he had been right beneath him not even a moment ago-

He blinked his eyes open just to see if he was still sleeping or not and sure enough, instead of having his head on the softness of Sasuke’s hand, he was on the ground and staring at the wheels of the hospital bed.

Okay…

Next question. The fuck was he just dreaming about?!

“Hey!” An angry voice yelled before something solid collided harshly with his shoulder making him yelp in pain and jerk his head up only to see Sasuke prepped up on his right elbow where an IV was stuck in his inner elbow, his other hand raised, holding a box of paper towels and ready to throw him at his head by the irritated look on his face.

Naruto gaped, startled out of his mind to wake up in such manners and half enthusiastic to see the raven awake and kicking before he saw Sasuke hesitate with the box still aimed towards his head. Sasuke blinked as if surprised to see him awake before a dark glare settled on his face and he threw the box which hit him directly on his forehead.

“Ow! What the fuck?!”

Sasuke glared with such deep passion that Naruto genuinely thought he had down something terrible before he shuffled to his feet and stepped away from the raven who looked one second away from collapsing back on the bed.

“Where the hell is this place?!” Sasuke screeched at his head as he reached for another thing to throw at him which just happened to be a pillow that he ended up yanking from behind himself and had Naruto not been worried sick about this piece of shit, he would’ve lunged forward to defend himself-

“Hospital, you bastard!” He replied as he ducked a well aimed pillow, caught it at the last second and moved further away from Sasuke’s bed before glaring at the skittish little shit on the bed.

Sasuke returned the favor ten times worse as he tried to balance himself on his shaking arms.

Weak, shaking arms.

Naruto was so done with him already.

He sighed and looked up to the milky ceiling, asking the gods for a drop of patience before he decided that he needs to take matters into his own hands and rely on imaginary things. He stared at Sasuke’s unimpressed face and chose to take a careful step near him and when those pensive, dark eyes narrowed, he stopped and decided that he was dealing with a cornered kitten instead of a kid his own age.

“I brought you to the hospital…are you okay?” He asked despite the tense situation because Sasuke just looked too lost and scared and Naruto never wanted him to look like that again-

For some dumb reason, it wasn’t like he liked the raven.

Sasuke sighed and he looked to be in pain for a second before licking his thin lips and looking towards the IV that was still stubbornly attached to the inner part of his elbow and one that was pouring vitamins through an IV that was planted into the vein of his hand.

It kind of looked painful.

“How long was I out for?” He asked with a small voice as if he was terrified of the answer. He seemed as if he was going to tug the IVs off his body and run off but Naruto was between him and the door so he was being extra careful around him-

Shame. Because Naruto did fall from his chair while fucking sleep because Sasuke was just lovingly violent like that.

“Since yesterday. It’s,” he glanced at the clock that was hung on the wall and cringed. “ actually, it’s just eight am, you weren’t supposed to wake up for two more hours.”

Naruto ducked his lips in and took a deep breath. “How are you feeling?” He found himself asking, despite the storm in his head because he did not like Sasuke, he just abhorred the thought of him in any sort of pain.

The raven looked up to him before swallowing and staring over at himself as if only just remembering that he had over body parts. Sasuke frowned, stretched his hand and poked at his stomach and grimaced slightly before biting his lower lip and shrugging as much as he could with how he was propped up on his shaking arms.

Where was his pillow- oh, he threw it at his head and was currently in Naruto’s hands.

“Now, that you’ve got your answer, can I,please, come closer?”

Sasuke stared at him with something close to suspicion, pressed his lips together and exhaled a long breath. “Fine.” Was all he mumbled as he looked away.

Naruto was silently glad to be allowed in as he moved forward to place the pillow on Sasuke’s back only to be stopped when a pale hand gripped his wrist to halt his movements.

“What?” He asked, confused as to why the raven was looking at him like Naruto had insulted him gravely.

“I can do it myself.” He growled in answer before yanking it off his hand and clumsily placing it behind him.

You’d die, if you accepted a single drop of help, wouldn’t you, he wanted to ask but decided that it was wrong to say something like that out loud when Sasuke didn’t even seem a little bit fine. In fact, he seemed to have lost some of his color, his eyes were too sunken and did Naruto ever mention how hallow his cheeks were?

“What the hell are you even doing here?” Sasuke asked as he tried and failed to sit up on the bed, probably still weak from the literal cardiac arrest he almost had and his muscle- if he had any- were way too frail to follow his command.

Naruto wanted to grab his arm and steady his shaking body because Sasuke looked like he needed help but would never ask for it. He was stupid like that and Naruto had promised himself to do things without having Sasuke ask for them mainly because he’d never actually do it.

“What’re you mean ‘what am I doing here’?! For your stupid information, you almost died! You had a fucking heart attack and I was supposed to what?…just leave you here?!” He yelled at the raven who stared back at him completely unimpressed like the answer was plainly obvious.

The thought of leaving him in a hospital room after almost having a heart attack had never crossed his mind due to the fact that it was ridiculous, of course, Naruto would never leave him here all by himself. Would was going to keep watch over him to make sure he remained breathing? Who was going to figure out that Sasuke’s ribs could easily be counted through the thin fabric of the hospital gown?!

Of course, Naruto wasn’t going to leave him alone, in fact, Naruto was never going to leave him alone.

Not again. Not after almost having a heart attack and clearly because Sasuke was incapable of taking care of him as much as he was capable of taking care of others.

“….yes?” The raven answered-

Naruto was going to kick him when he no longer looked like he walked the halls with death at his heels.

“You. Almost. Had. A. Heart. Attack. Do I make myself clear?!”

The most concerning thing was probably how Sasuke didn’t really care about that main point. Almost actually having a heart attack, he had vomited enough to trigger his heart rate, he had starved himself enough for his heart to give up, he had been stressed enough for the muscle not to pump blood anymore-

And he seemed totally okay with that.

Well, shit. Naruto wasn’t.

“Okay, fine. I get it.” He said dismissively before finally sitting on the bed and successfully giving Naruto a full blown heart attack by yanking out the IV at his wrist and before Naruto could even react, he plugged the other one which was in his elbow out as well and pulled the covers back.

“What in the seven rings of fucking hell are you doing?!” He screamed which was definitely a bad idea, they were at a hospital but he honestly didn’t give two fucks about it as he moved forward and only managed to finally catch the raven and stop him from getting out of the bed by pushing on his slender shoulders and holding him firmly in place.

“Stop!” He yelled at Sasuke’s face who blinked in surprise, then glared.

“Get your fucking hands off of me.” He said lowly like a cat that was giving its last warnings before striking and showing you that while it looked defenseless and small, it had claws sharper than any your damn knife.

Naruto, just to spite him, didn’t let go and pressed him harder towards the soft surface of the bed but didn’t really manage to do it mainly because Sasuke was gripping the edge of the bed for dear life.

“You are going to lay back down on this damn bed and I’m going to call the doctors. Then, we’re going home and you are going to stay off your fucking feet until I say so. Got it?” He explained with a low tone to indicate the warning through his voice even if it didn’t really work mainly because Sasuke quirked one, dark eyebrow and leaned in until their noses were touching.

Naruto felt his heart flutter against his ribcage with each beat, he didn’t dare breath as he gazed deep into those dark orbs that seemed to suck the life out of him even if they looked full of hatred, he didn’t even dare to blink in case he’d miss the azures that seemed to just bleed through those irises-

Holy shit.

Sasuke, never the one to back down from a challenge, smirked even though he was wobbly and were Naruto to let go of him, his feet wouldn’t be strong enough to hold him upright and he’ll go tumbling down. His gaze was sharp and his skin felt so fucking smooth and soft from where Naruto was holding onto his shoulders. His hands felt tingly when he actually figured that he was genuinely touching the raven, like Sasuke was under his fucking hand-

Fuck.

“No.” Was all Sasuke said before he took advantage of whatever spell he had placed on Naruto and shoved him off his body to climb down the bed only for his legs to give up on him much like how Naruto had already predicted only that he never reached the ground because Naruto was already there, he slung his arms under Sasuke’s much smaller ones and hoisted him up before putting him back on the bed even though, the raven kept slapping his hands everywhere they could reach, protesting like he was being murdered instead of helped and complaining, screaming, doing all sorts of things to make sure Naruto understood he was disagreeing with all of which was happening to him-

“Ow! Stop it! Gosh!” He yelled before he finally managed to- somehow- place the extremely reluctant body back on the bed, slammed his hand on the button that summoned the doctors and glared at Sasuke’s equally heated gaze.

“Just how stubborn are you?!”

Sasuke glared and cracked his neck side ways to look away from him, giving full view of the long column of his throat and Naruto was suddenly aware of their position with half of his own body on top of Sasuke’s-

He scrambled away as if burnt and crossed his arms to appear put together which was an amazing gesture mainly because the doctors arrived immediately after that.

That shit was way closer than that.

Sasuke pushed himself up and glared but didn’t look anywhere near Naruto again.

-/

“Approximately of two weeks of rest, no getting up from bed, your legs are too weak to hold your weight. Make sure to have as much as fluids as possible and when you handled it and didn’t feel any pain in your stomach, try solid food. I repeat,” Hinata have him a disapproving look. “ No moving unless to the bathroom.”

Sasuke wanted to tell them that he didn’t have the luxury of those fancies therefore, he couldn’t stay on bed for a whole day, let alone two fucking weeks but he decided to keep his mouth shut and not disappoint his late father further by showing any more weaknesses.

It was bad enough that he had collapsed in the hallway and somehow Naruto- fucking Naruto of all people- had ended up bringing him to the hospital which brought forth another humongous problem-

The payment.

According to the blond idiot, Sasuke was out for only a day or so..

So, maybe a hundred dollars or something? It couldn’t be too bad, right?

Couldn’t have Naruto just left him alone there?! Did he have to bring him to the fucking hospital of all places?!

A clinic could’ve done, hell Sasuke’s own bed or couch could’ve been a good alternative.

So what if he almost had a heart attack?!

The most annoying part was “almost”. It wasn’t even a real one, couldn’t they just leave him alone?!

Sasuke could’ve been done and much better without an actual hospital and a waste of hundred dollars.

Fuck this life to its last bits.

“Do you understand?” She asked him once more with her gentle tone that Sasuke was starting to hate. It creeped the shit out of him specially since her eyes were fucking white and-

Okay, Sasuke was being an asshole to judge her for all those shitty alternatives but in his defense, he was going to pay a hundred dollars when he couldn’t even afford to buy a single bread for breakfast.

Tobi was too thin-

No, wait. Orochimaru said that he wasn’t that thin and that he looked healthy-

Maybe Tobi only looked like that because he had shown a picture of him and Mrs.Cozin saw him from a close distance. Was Sasuke being too paranoid?

Probably not.

Fuck it, what the hell was he thinking?!

Before adopting Tobi, however reluctant it had been, he had barely been taking care of himself. He had just only graduated high school and been eighteen so Sasuke had nowhere to go mainly because orphanage didn’t take him anymore.

He had gotten a job at a grocery store which had an apartment complex at the top building and the owner had that fond spot for him for Sasuke for some reason that he later found out was because the guy liked Sasuke for different reasons that a guy who was fifty years old shouldn’t ever have like an eighteen years old for.

Sasuke had swallowed those flirting glances mainly because he had been way too desperate and he couldn’t afford to stay in dorm rooms of his college. He had been at the top of his class, studying to become a psychologist which didn’t really happen because into the third month of the time, Sasuke had gotten a call from an unknown number and Sasuke had been asleep-

He just ended up picking it up only for it to be an orphanage at the bottom of the city telling him that they had a five years old child at hand whose father happened to be his cousin and had recently died in a car crash-

Tragic but Sasuke had vehemently disagreed when they told him that the only relative was Sasuke who was able to take Tobi’s guardian ship.

He had told the man that he couldn’t even take care of himself let alone a little kid. He hadn’t even had a decent job, he had been just a fucked up, desperate college student who allowed his apartment owner to flirt with him to let him stay.

So he had to go to the orphanage to sign the papers that he was also unable to adopt the child and therefore, the government had to place him somewhere safe.

The thing was, Sasuke did go. And he was about to actually sign the papers to let go of the kid only for his fucking eyes to glance towards the door where a little kid had been sitting on the chair next to it, his hopeful eyes up towards his face with tears rolling down his round, red cheeks. His tiny fingers had been picking at his palms nervously and Sasuke had cursed his entire being because he just didn’t have the fucking heart to abandon a little kid.

He, then, had to change the apartment because if a fifty years old asshole could very well be interested with him, surely he wouldn’t show mercy to a little boy. He couldn’t risk it.

He dropped out of college because he couldn’t pay for it anymore even if the principal told him that he didn’t need to pay because Sasuke was at the top of the class and one of the best students-

The problem was that Sasuke couldn’t both study and work. He could…hypothetically speaking but then, Itachi had come to the picture and just fucking no.

The thing was that when he found out that his brother was actually alive and in the Center, he had thought that it’d be okay, he could finally breath a sigh of relief and not be stressed all the time, he could, maybe, divide the responsibilities and not be crushed under it which ended up being a lost cause-

Itachi hated him to his very core and Sasuke was left all alone in the big ass world with no one to turn to.

Except, his parents graves.

He hadn’t cried either times when Itachi screamed at his face that their mom was probably stupid for choosing his life over hers and honestly, Sasuke could fucking relate.

He did spend approximately of fifteen minutes just staring at his mom’s smiling face over the tombstone and asking her just why the fuck would you choose me?

He abhorred the fact that he looked like her, he hated his mom before coming home, putting Tobi to bed and trying hard not to cry because crying always meant a bigger beat down from his father and no matter what happened, even if Itachi’s body usually became his shield against their dad when Sasuke’s five years old bones couldn’t hold on and break-

He didn’t cry because that only meant that Itachi would also get thrown to the wall and Sasuke would eventually shut up.

He wouldn’t cry.

“I’m always going to protect you.”

“Mom loves you so much, she would never approve of dad’s behavior.”

Itachi used to be Sasuke’s shield against not only their father and the reminder of their mother but the reality as well. It burned to be left all alone and Sasuke did try to get better, he really did but Itachi had always been a major point in his life that Sasuke always felt safe from, his older brother had always been like a far corner at the wall where he could protect himself from and when Itachi became eighteen and could finally stand up for both of them, Sasuke stopped getting hit and mostly insulted because their father knew that a single bruise on Sasuke would mean that Itachi would’ve rained down hell on top of his head.

And then, a fight happened between their father and his brother when Itachi had been twenty and shit went down.

Sasuke became orphan and Itachi started hating not only himself but Sasuke and everything around them as well.

Sasuke lost that corner at the far end where Itachi would usually come, fetch him when their father was finally done beating the shit out of him because Sasuke looked way too much like Mikoto.

His brother would, then, become livid and have a yelling match with their dad when he had become old enough and much taller than their father which he would always win and leave Fugaku a drunken mess at the kitchen before pulling Sasuke’s body up from that dark corner between the door and the wall and get him to the bathroom, patch the bloody mess on his lips and brown before tucking him in beneath Itachi’s own bed.

He didn’t have that now, he had to fetch himself up from that floor himself because Itachi was sick and tired of his useless body.

Tobi needed a goddamn guardian who was good enough and Sasuke couldn’t even stay conscience long enough for the kid to put some weight on him.

Itachi would’ve know what to do, he would’ve know how to handle every situation because he had PhD at fucking law, he could work and get as much money as he wanted, he could’ve done so much that Sasuke couldn’t even do in his dreams because he was Sasuke and he was useless, pathetic, and stupid.

He was weak and he knew that if their roles were reversed, Itachi would’ve easily both taken care of Tobi and paid for the best doctor in the entire world for him- if he even cared.-

He wouldn’t hold his breath long enough for his vision to darken around the edges because Sasuke just got too tired sometimes.

But most importantly, Itachi wasn’t Sasuke.

If only Mikoto hadn’t been selfish, if only his mother hadn’t chosen the wrong life, then his dad wouldn’t have become alcoholic, Itachi wouldn’t have lost his own life to addiction, his dad wouldn’t have done that and Itachi probably wouldn’t have become traumatized enough to turn to drugs for help.

She just had to choose him.

She just had to do it…stupid.

And Itachi was also stupid.

Fugaku had placed all of the inheritance, every single bank account and his factory that still ran by the government in Itachi’s name.

His older brother could just stop using drugs, get out of there and would immediately get drowned by money and power. Fugaku had made sure that his one- true son- would never have to suffer when he passed.

And his true son wouldn’t suffer, if he opened his eyes.

Sasuke had been so desperate for money the first few months with Tobi and Itachi’s payment that he just thought- hopefully wished- that his father had, perhaps, shown him a fraction of sympathy and left some money for him only for the bank to laugh at his face and tell him that his father only wished for one child and Sasuke was his wife’s killer.

Sasuke wasn’t jealous, he had always known that Fugaku only wanted Itachi but it still hurt..

He didn’t cry though, because that stupid, disgusting part of him still wanted his dad to be proud of him, to see him not as his mother’s murderer.

Sasuke swallowed drily and nodded his head to show the doctor that he understood before Hinata smiled and turned to Naruto.

Sorry, not sorry but Sasuke couldn’t just take two weeks of work and hope for the best because his fucking body was giving up on him.

He was literally supposed to die from the beginning of his life anyways. His fucking mother decided to cheat death but Sasuke didn’t have the luxury.

Itachi needed a doctor. Tobi needed someone better.

And to be honest, they both deserved better.

“Okay, due to your quite abrupt way of taking the IVs off, you might feel lightheaded and need support. Can you stand?” She asked just as Naruto glared daggers at him from behind her shoulder.

No. But Sasuke wasn’t going to admit that.

People helped him and ended up either dead or in an Addiction Center.

No, thank you.

“I can.” He replied and ignored Naruto’s look of great disagreement before shuffling over the bed and hopping off only to grip the handles like his life depended on him because his goddamn legs were like jelly and Naruto was beside him in a second, taking a hold of his arm and letting him lean on hi-

Sasuke was not going to lean on him, in fact, he wasn’t going to him touch him at all.

“Don’t touch me.” He hissed much like a corner cat even if he much rather to be considered a wild animal-

Anywho, Naruto didn’t look fazed one bit before he rolled his eyes and grabbed his arm completely and forced him to lean on him.

“Okay…well, I hope you get better soon, there aren’t much of meds that you need to take but make sure to rest. I mean it.” She emphasized before smiling and walking out of the room which was as long as Sasuke was going to allow Naruto to keep a hold on him.

The door closed with a click and Sasuke yanked his arm out of the iron grip.

“Are you deaf or some shit?! Don’t fucking touch me!” He made sure to use his most biting voice even if Naruto only rolled his disgustingly blue eyes and let him wobble on his feet.

“Fine..I honestly wonder how you’re gonna get dressed on you own though.” He said as he crossed his arms across his chest and stared at him as if Sasuke was some kind of child-

Okay. This shit meant war.

“If you think that I need help-

“Which you clearly do.”

Sasuke only glared, huffed and took a deep breath to will his useless legs not to give up on him as he took a shaky step towards the closet where his clothes were and then, move to the bathroom to change which was only a few feet away-

He could manage that..right?

“I think I liked you better unconscious.” The blond mumbled under his breath that Sasuke heard and therefore, glared all types of sharp objects at him.

Thankfully, he did manage to get to the closet using the walls but the way to the bathroom was genuinely struggle mainly because there was no wall to support him and Naruto was also looking at him expectingly like he knew that Sasuke was going to fall over at the first inconvenience.

He bit his lower lip and sucked on his inner cheek before glaring at Naruto’s board figure- how big was this idiot?-

“Want help?” Naruto asked, clearly amused with a raised, yellow eyebrow.

“Never.” He answered with enough heat for the blond to frown worriedly, looking like his older brother who cared once and didn’t anymore.

Sasuke could genuinely stop feeling sorry for himself and get something done.

He still glared but managed to take a full step towards the bathroom and reach it after a couple more.

He moved the handle, stepped in and immediately slid down the door.

His legs burnt with each step. Every exhale sent his heart beating furiously against his chest and maybe, Sasuke did need to take it easy.

No.

He couldn’t. If he took it easy, then who was going to take care of everything?

He sighed and looked down at the clothes in his hands.

His head hurt.

Would today end already?

-/

They climbed down the stairs of the hospital right after Sasuke had glared him to submission and paid for the hospital bills which made the raven pale upon seeing the cost and swallow.

Naruto had pressed his lips together but didn’t mention any help in case Sasuke would lose it and start yelling at him.

“Okay, you stay here, I’ll get the car-

“I’m not coming with you.” He said with an eye roll before going to the other direction which made Naruto bit his lips to keep from screaming to the heavens because this little shit was too fucking obstinate for his own good and also-

“Which part of no walking, did you not understand?!” He yelled at the parking lot of the hospital and Sasuke didn’t even glance at him.

“All of it!” The raven yelled back with heat that Naruto was genuinely getting sick and tired of hearing-

“Why you little-!”

He was done, absolutely done so he ran forwards and grabbed Sasuke’s bony arm and pulled him sideways only to kneel and grip his legs, hoisted him up over his shoulder and moved back to the car all the while ignoring the loud screams of protests, punches to his back or the kicking legs.

“Put me down, you motherfucking bitch!”

“In your fucking dreams, you little shit!”

With much struggle, some looks from the locals and weird looking old couples that probably found the situation amusing, he finally placed Sasuke’s body- his kicking and screaming body- into the car and closed the door, locked it because Sasuke was dangerous like that and ran over to hop it himself.

There was a heavy, tense silence before he looked over to his passenger who had crossed his arms across his chest and glaring outside of the window.

“Ain’t gonna slap me this time?” He asked, remembering the first time he had forced Sasuke in his car and ended up with a slapped cheek.

Sasuke smirked bitterly and glanced over. “Sorry, I forgot.” Was all he said before a hand was thrown towards Naruto’s face and easily grabbed.

“No, I don’t think so.” Naruto said from where the pale hand was only inches away from his face.

“Listen, you either do as I fucking say or I’ll do it with force. Wether you like it or not.” He didn’t wish to be this blunt or even mean but Sasuke needed to have some sort of protection at this fucking point.

“What if I say no?” He asked as he yanked his hand out of his own and stared at him with anger written all over his face.

“You don’t get to say that.”

“Well I do.”

Naruto only smiled and started the car.

“Who are you going to complain to? Your dead parents, or your addicted brother?” He asked to pin the needle and even if his heart twisted at the shocked look on Sasuke’s face, he thought that the raven needed a reality check.

He couldn’t do everything on his own. Someone would get neglected, wether it was Tobi, Itachi or himself and by the looks of everything that had happened so far, Sasuke only chose to neglect himself.

“I wouldn’t have told either even if I had them,and Itachi got nothing to do with you!”

“Oh yeah?! Hit a nerve or something?! What makes this shit so special?!”

“I’m not like your ass, only running to your daddy at the most ridiculous inconveniences in your fucking life!”

“Of course, I’m going to run to my dad at the inconveniences in my life, who else am I gonna run off to?!”

“You’re stupid!”

“Not as much as you!”

“You’re pathetic!”

“”You’re stubborn!”

“Oh, we’ll you’re an idiot!”

“And you’re all alone!”

Naruto stopped the car and twisted his body to stare at the wide dark eyes even if it broke his heart- for some reason- to see the hurt in them.

“I got myself…I’m not alone.” Sasuke said like he actually meant it..

But the unshed tears said otherwise.

“Keep telling that to yourself.” He hissed before starting the car and driving to the streets.

They didn’t speak anymore, Naruto drove, feeling guilty for yelling at the raven and rubbing his family’s condition at his face and Sasuke staring out of the window and wrapping his arms around himself.

Naruto stole a glance at him through the corner of his eyes and pressed his lips together. He could still remember how the same rigid body had gone lax against that same seat only yesterday.

Did he go too far?

Guilt was a terrible thing, that was for sure.

“Listen-

“Shut the fuck up.”

There was no heat though, his voice also wavered and for a second Naruto actually assumed that he was fucking crying only to turn his head and see that there was not a single tear running over his hallowed cheeks.

No more talk happened during the ride until they reached the building where Sasuke immediately unlocked the car and let himself out as soon as the car stopped.

“Hey! Wait!-“ Naruto yelled after him as he also untangled himself out of the car and ran after the raven only to see him already climbing the stairs and reaching the second floor.

“Wait!”

‘He just shouldn’t be on his feet.’ Hinata had said.

‘Only five minutes too late-

Naruto sprinted up the stairs until he finally got in front of the raven, spread his arms and blocked him from moving forward.

“Listen, I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry! I was being stupid and you’re right, I’m a crybaby. I depend on my dad way too much than I should and you’re great and amazing but for the love of god, just please, stop walking.” He pleaded, his mind was too blank with panic to care how pathetic he sounded-

He just never, ever wanted to see Sasuke’s face go as lax as it had.

“…why do you care so much?” He asked with a frown and honestly, Naruto just didn’t have an answer to that.

He didn’t care…he just…didn’t want to see him..

What?

Hurt? Betrayed? Angry at him? Sad?

…yeah.

No.

Whatever.

He just wanted him off of his fucking feet right now.

“Listen..you were like…fuck it, you were about to die. Five fucking minutes too late and you would’ve died! Five minutes! Only five minutes!” He yelled even if his eyes started watering again, even if a tear rolled down his face like..

Fuck it. He was so done.

He didn’t want the fucking idiot in front of him to dead. He just..did not.

Sasuke stared at him like he didn’t give two fucks about it.

“Good. Thanks.” He said before moving past him, leaving Naruto dumbfounded at the stairs.

“Sasu-

“Listen, I’m fine, okay? Thank you for caring so much but I don’t need it. I’ve gotten around just fine all these years, I don’t need you or anybody else.” He said from above before turning around and climbing up.

Naruto blinked..

What?

Five minutes…

Only five minutes. Three hundred fucking seconds and Sasuke wouldn’t have been even here to tell him that.

Okay. Maybe, some things needed to be done by force because if Sasuke didn’t give two fucks about himself, it was fine.

Because Naruto cared, and he cared a lot.

So he took a deep breath and decided that while Sasuke hated himself, Naruto…he didn’t hate him. Didn’t like him either but he wouldn’t just allow this to go on.

He nodded to himself before climbing up the stairs himself, reaching Sasuke and ignoring his protests once more as he grabbed his legs and hoisted him up on his shoulder like a sack of potatoes but the only difference was that, a sack of potatoes would be a lot heavier.

Sasuke kicked and screamed and Naruo easily ignored him as he climbed those stairs, waved at Mrs. Cozin when the woman walked out of her house with her heart at her throat just as Tobi raced behind Naruto where Sasuke’s face was and jumped up and down.

Naruto wore a blank face, keyed Sasuke’s door open and walked in with the other individuals before smiling towards Tobi’s innocent face, moving towards Sasuke’s room where he had never been before and throwing the raven on top of the bed, turning around and closing the door-

“I’ll make tea!” Mrs.Cozin said right before Naruto closed the door shut and turned around to face the glaring raven.

“You don’t give a fuck about yourself? Fine. I do. And that’s enough. So, get out of those fucking clothes and shoes, wear a hoodie or something and if I see you out of that bed for anything other than bathroom, you’ve gotta have to deal with me? Got it?”

All his seriousness got, was an eyeroll.

Chapter Text

Chapter 15

Mrs.Cozin left as soon as she had brood the tea and got Sasuke to drink the hot liquid- which he didn’t really manage to keep down and ended up a quivering mess on the bathroom floor with his head on his forearm and resting on porcelain side of the toilet, surprisingly or maybe unsurprisingly too weak to knock off Naruto’s hands as he cradled the shivering strands of black hair in order not to have vomit on them- she bid her goodbyes like always, told them to ask for anything, if there was anything needed and sooner than he thought possible, Naruto was left alone in an apartment that he had only been inside a few times with his hands full of dinner.

Thankfully, after the vomiting episode and almost giving Naruto a stroke, Sasuke didn’t leave the bed…didn’t have the energy to leave the said bed before and Tobi kept staring at him with round, black eyes like the older raven was going to disappear any minute.Poor kid was probably traumatized not only because he had been on the bed with Sasuke when the raven’s stomach decided that tea was not on the lists of things that it was ready to digest but because the child had lost his father as well..

Naruto didn’t need to be an expert to know trauma when he saw it on someone more or less, on a kid who was like an open book. The fidgeting, the crease in the eyebrows when someone moved too quickly or in Tobi’s case, the way his childish gaze followed Sasuke’s every move all the way to the bathroom gave it all away.

He tried to get the child to eat something, play with him or put on some TV programs but Tobi only gazed at the room on end of the hallway with a distant look and a worried frown on his eyebrows until Naruto decided that a kid on the bed with Sasuke wouldn’t exactly be a bad idea. Besides, Naruto needed to call Hinata to let her know that Sasuke couldn’t even keep something as simple as tea down let alone a bowl of soup.

Granted with the permission, Tobi ran off to the hall and disappeared inside the room through the ajar door before the sound of him jumping on top of the covers and Sasuke’s quiet ‘ be careful.’ Was heard and then, nothing but the swishing of covers and sheet-

Tobi was probably sleeping next to him now.

Good, at least someone was there in case Sasuke’s stomach rebelled again.

Hinata had probably taken a liking to him which Naruto was grateful for because she had given him her number and Naruto was going to abuse the shit out of that kindness until Sasuke could eat a whole burger and feel fine after that. So he called and after a couple of beeps, she answered and was presented with Naruto’s ranting way of saying what the problem was-

She just laughed and said that it was because of the IV and that Sasuke would get better in a few hours. A soup would be a great way of placing his stomach and digestive system back in order so Naruto thanked her, closed the phone and turned to the hallway to check on the two raven only to see Tobi sitting on the bed and dangling his small legs from the side of it with Sasuke sound asleep either from exhaustion or hunger..

Maybe both.

“Wanna make lunch?” He asked the kid whose eyes lit up with those lights he got when he was excited or purely too happy.

And that was how Naruto found himself chopping tomatoes in the dim light of the kitchen where Tobi was currently eating whatever was left of the tomatoes and staring at the knife that Naruto was holding far away from him. At first, he had thought that the kid wouldn’t be too interested in evidently shape utensils but was quickly proven wrong when Tobi’s eyes had shone with determination and had reached one tiny hand towards the handle of what seemed to be sharpest knife in the entire drawer-

Just fucking no.

“You sure he likes tomato soup?” He asked despite the fact that he had already boiled the water, oiled the garlics and onions and could hear their slight sizzling from the heated frying pan. It was probably too late to back down but Naruto was ready to fucking bake something, if it meant that Sasuke would eat it without a protest. It was a lost cause and he knew it but Naruto was so close to just shoving food down the raven’s throat, if it meant he would get something in his stomach.

Tobi nodded eagerly as he chewed on a juicy tomato, making its milk spurt all over his cheek. Tobi frowned at the mess on his cheeks before pressing his lips together and smearing his sleeve all over his face-

Bad idea. His white sleeve was completely red and Naruto knew it was going to be so sticky.

He decided to let the matter go and not mention any of that to Sasuke mainly because he knew the strict raven would demand Tobi to be washed by himself or would force Naruto to not only scrub the shirt clean or Tobi’s skin.

By his tidiness and the way the house literally smelled of deodorant and a nice cinnamon, it was obvious that Sasuke kept the house as clean as he possibly could which brought forth a problem-

More like a question.

If Sasuke went to work at six, came home at two, fed Tobi dinner and also cleaned the house-

When did he sleep?

Naruto didn’t even want to know the answer at this point and was only glad that the raven was currently asleep underneath the covers of his beds, would hopefully remain that way for a few more hours until Naruto woke him up to take pills and eat something.

“When is it gonna be ready?” Tobi pouted and leaned on his forearms, looked up at him through dark, curled lashes and smiled lazily.

“Somebody’s sleepy.” He said instead of answering; he honestly had no idea when it was going to be ready, maybe in an hour or so. He didn’t really know and Sasuke was absolutely out cold from the drugs that were still running through his system. He knew that he didn’t have much of sleep schedule or even a few hours of sleep so he decided to keep him on the bed and not wake him.

“No…”Tobi argued as he rubbed his eyelids with small fists as a yawn escaped his thin, pink lips.

“Want me to put you to bed?”

“Suke doesn’t like to be touched.”

Naruto frowned, looked closely at Tobi who was already sound asleep and glanced at the hallway that reached the room where Sasuke was located.

He didn’t like to be touched?

That was new. Actually, that was a news that Naruto had no idea about.

Naruto had been quite literally manhandling Sasuke around for the past couple of days and to make it even worse, he had also been hoisting the raven up over his shoulder so to be exact, Naruto had basically pushed Sasuke’s boundaries way past their limit in these days so perhaps, he owned him another apology.

“Shit..” he mumbled and almost collided backwards to the stove when Tobi thrusted his head up and successfully made Naruto concerned for the state of his neck and yelled at the top of his lungs.

“Bad word! You said a bad word!” Tobi yelled, glared and hopped off the chair with a dashing speed, he was also screaming Sasuke’s name over and over again to alert him that apparently, Naruto was a terrible kid and he had used a bad word.

Shit!

Naruto ran after him to stop the action, dashing around the table and only succeeding in stubbing his toe against the edge of that fucking table and having his elbow hit against the wall which sent shivers up his entire hand and by the time that he had reached the room, Tobi was already on the bed, jumping up and down and nearly crushing Sasuke who had woken up like his soul was thrust back into his body and trying to calm Tobi down.

He was propped up on his elbow and his other hand was reaching for Tobi’s excited body, his face was decorated by pillow’s pattern and half it was completely red, to top it all off, his hair was a mess full of tangled strands that was plastered to his sweaty neck and forehead-

His red hoodie barely covered the collarbone and Naruto’s fucking eyes just had to zero in on those three moles that had driven him crazy just a day ago.

“Tobi…okay..what even happened?” Sasuke asked sleepily, his vice a roughed up mess and probably still drugged and rubbing his tired eyes with a hand which was still shaking and Naruto - for the very first time- wanted to yell at Tobi who just didn’t seem to know or care that Sasuke had only just come out of the hospital, was still drugged, tired and nearly had a heart attack so he needed to stop jumping on that bed and falling over Sasuke’s waist, making the raven wince from pain as Tobi’s hard, bony body fell on top of his sensitive stomach.

“Tobi..okay, get off him.” He said maybe a little too offensively because those five minutes would forever ring in his ears as a reminder that he almost lost the raven on the bed who was still trying to fucking wake up.

He licked his lips and pulled Tobi’s reluctant body who protested rather vocally and ended up squirming his way under the covers and nestling himself right next to Sasuke’s chest,pressing his entire body close to the raven’s collarbone, tucking his head underneath the raven’s chin and sticking his tongue out to Naruto.

Sasuke blinked and glanced at the weight that had attached to him before sighing as if done with everything already, he looked up at Naruto with a question on his face before he blinked again and raised an eyebrow.

“Well?”

Naruto sucked his inner cheek. “Apparently, I said a bad word and Tobi felt the need to let you know.”

Sasuke’s eyebrow raised even higher before he nuzzled the side of Tobi’s head with the soft pad of his index and smirked.

“Well, Tobi’s right. You shouldn’t say bad words.”

Naruto gaped with much dramatics before huffing and glaring. “Okay, cool. Thanks for taking his side.”

“You’re very welcome.”he replied drily before looking down at Tobi with warmth. “ what do we do with people who say bad words?” He asked nicely in a tone that Naruto was starting to feel like he would never receive.

“We don’t talk to them!” Tobi said with a smile as he squirmed even deeper into the covers.

Naruto sighed and leaned against the wall before shaking his head at the silliness of the situation. He glanced at Sasuke through his lashes to see that the raven was rubbing his stomach and looking mildly uncomfortable. He blinked hard as if putting sleep away from his eyes before pulling the covers back-

“What do you think you’re doing?” He asked as he moved from the wall and stopped in front of the raven to stop him from moving around. Tobi had already settled on the warm spot where Sasuke had been laying on and watching them with something close to bemused interest,he had been sleepy not to minutes ago and it was obvious that his eyelids were still pretty heavy.

“Getting up.” Was all Sasuke said before doing as he had mentioned and Naruto didn’t even get the chance to stop him before the raven was up and had pushed past Naruto and on his way to the bathroom.

“Hey!-

“Don’t.Don’t fucking test me right now.” He said, suddenly irritated and tense when not even a few seconds ago he had been all happy and golden auras-

“Suke! Bad word!”

Sasuke ignored the kid and stared at Naruto long enough for the blond to feel submission creep up his spine so he moved and allowed Sasuke to get to the bathroom which the raven did and slammed the door shut, making both he and Tobi flinch rather noticeably.

“You shouldn’t talk to him after waking up.” Tobi mumbled from the covers.

Naruto glanced at him and raised an eyebrow in question before Tobi huffed as if Naruto was the child in the room.

“Suke is always mad after waking up…he needs coffe.”

Naruto blinked.

What?

He laughed in shock and shook his head. Of fucking course, Sasuke wouldn’t be a morning person even if it wasn’t exactly morning and somewhere around noon.

Naruto swallowed heavily and looked around the room which was actually pretty small, a green curtain was draped over the window, the bed was small and clearly for only one person, a red blanket that was wrapped tightly around Tobi’s body, a night stand that had Sasuke’s phone on it which was also plugged to a charger. It was an old iPhone and had a purple case on it, it’s screen was cracked and Naruto didn’t even want to know how Sasuke had ended up breaking a part of the screen completely off and the phone was still fucking working somehow.

The walls were a little darker than the ones from the rest of the house, perhaps a little too milky and looking almost creamy which would be nice to look at while you were trying to sleep and at the far corner, near the door to the bathroom which also had jackets and hoodies hung from a hanger off the door, there was a desk filled with multiple thick books and files, some seemed old and others new. Stickers framed the side of the desk which were written in a perfect handwriting.

Come to think of it, a plethora of stickers had also decorated the fridge which consisted of the same handwriting although, Naruto hadn’t really paid attention to them. The ones from the fridge were so much that the whiteness of the thing couldn’t even be seen-

The door opened again and Sasuke got out, looking fresher, more put together and also Naruto found out what he was actually wearing. A red hoodie that fell all the way to his knees and was baggy enough that Sasuke seemed lost in it, a pair of sweats were hung loosely from Sasuke’s small waist that the raven kept pulling up as they stubbornly fell off his bony hips-

He looked almost cute and Naruto’s heart fluttered against his chest.

“What?..” Sasuke asked with a raised eyebrow which was exactly the minute that Naruto shook his head and cleared his throat before crossing his arms and pointing to the bed with his index.

“Get in bed. C’mon.” He encouraged which Sasuke rolled his eyes and then frowned as he sniffed the air..

“Is something on the stove?” He asked worriedly, he was already moving towards the door with a rapid pace and Naruto was already moving to stop him and place him on the bed where Tobi had fallen asleep on-

Naruto was about to take Sasuke’s arm even if the raven despised physical touch but stopped when he also sniffed the air and sure enough, it sunk greatly of burnt garlic and onion-

Shit.

“Sasu-

“The fuck did you do?!” He yelled as he turned the heat off, placed the pan off the stove and opened the window of the kitchen where a few vases of flower were decorating a nice view and turned around to glare.

“What exactly were you trying to make?” He asked after staring at the miserable looking garlics and onions that were pretty fucking burnt along with the pan before glancing at him wearing an almost bemused expression.

Naruto gaped, looked towards the table where the chopped tomatoes were still staying on the board and looking soggy and probably sour as well.

He stared at Sasuke helplessly who sighed as if pained to be having to deal with someone like him.

Come to think of it, he most likely was.

“Tomato soup.” He answered lamely and cringed when Sasuke blinked as if taken back and stared at the chopped, juicy tomatoes, then he looked back at the burnt pan in his hand and blinked against. Understanding slowly was drawn to his eyes and a hint of smile ghosted his lips before he brushed it off.

Naruto saw it anyways and fuck it, because that tiny ghost of a smile did ‘things’ to his heart. Made it flutter furiously for one and Naruto had to swallow in case, he fell over and embarrassed himself further.

He didn’t like Sasuke one bit but that shit…that little pull on those lips was enough to send him down the spiral.

“You didn’t succeed, I suppose.” He said with a smirk which Sasuke was trying and failing to hide and that fucking shit was making Naruto tingle in every fiber.

“No, not really.”

Sasuke rolled his eyes and roamed his eyes across the floor and cabinets before moving to the fridge, opening it and grabbing a container full of a red liquid-

Tomato soup.

“You could’ve looked harder.” Sasuke said as he placed the container down on the table, closed the fridge and walked over to a cabinet and opened it to pull a large pot out. He put it on the stove and heated it up before pouring some of the liquid inside.

“Don’t just stay there, get your ass here.” He said harshly even if ,for once, there was no heat behind his tone.

Naruto would’ve considered it a success in his part, had he not been trying to avoid eye contact with the raven whose kitchen still smelt faintly of burnt garlic and onion.

He couldn’t even make something right.

“…I’m sorry.” He apologized at last before leaning against the wall with his arms crossed on his chest. He didn’t looked up in case, he’d see that blank face stare at him like Sasuke already knew that Naruto was good for nothing, asked for too many shits from Kakashi, after everything that had happened in his life was still just an orphan kid with no hopes of future-

“The fuck you’re sorry for?”

He glanced up with shock and licked his dry lips at Sasuke’s bewildered face as if he was genuinely confused by Naruto’s apology-

“I fucked up.”

“Yeah, no shit.” He replied sarcastically before looking back down at the bobbling soup and turning off the heat. “ I fuck up too, what’s your point?”

Naruto frowned, not understanding the situation before he clenched and unclenched his hands uncertainly.

“You’re not mad?..”

Sasuke stared at him like he was crazy or had probably grown a second second. “No?”

Okay..

Maybe, Naruto needed to work on his issues a bit more and actually talk to Kakashi about said issues. He had a free therapist after all.

“Right..”he cleared his throat before it dawned on him that Sasuke was currently moving around-after rolling his eyes at him- and setting up the coffee machine.

“You should go to bed-

“Don’t even start it.”

Naruto glared, suddenly fed up with the idiot across from him before he huffed and decided to take matters into his own hands.

“Do I need to repeat the doctor’s words back to you?”

Sasuke smirked bitterly. “I heard her loud and clear.” He blinked hard as if still sleepy before grabbing a large mug from the cabinet. “ the answer is still no.”

Naruto licked his lips and weighted his options, at some point he knew that he couldn’t exactly force a grown person into obedience simply because Sasuke was his own person and had a hell of a glare.

So, he needed to approach this carefully.

“Listen,I can do it-

“And I don’t need your help.”

Naruto took a deep breath to keep himself composed and not to throw his previous plans out of the nearest window. Why did he even think that convincing Sasuke to accepting help would be an easy task?

“You can’t move alot.”

“Wait till I get to work.” The raven replied without missing a beat as he poured coffee into the mug and moving out of the kitchen with grace and ease which did something to Naruto that he was ignoring before sitting on the couch, propping one of his long legs on the coffee table and sipping on the still steaming coffee.

Naruto hoped that he’d be able to keep it down.

Now. Back to the main issue.

“What work?” He asked with an obvious hint of warning in his voice. He also wanted to pour the cooling soup into a bowl and shove it into Sasuke’s pale hands and have him drink it all but for now, he needed to address the shit that just left the raven’s mouth because Naruto would die first then, revive himself and not allow Sasuke out of his site for the next two weeks until his full recovery.

Sasuke might not give two fucks about his health and that was cool, Naruto cared enough for both of them.

“Work. I’ve got a paid leave from the Community but I still need to go to the thrift store.” He answered as a matter of factly before placing the mug on the table by leaning forward, he then sat back and crossed his arms across his middle, looked up to Naruto as if daring him to say otherwise.

Well ,shit. Naruto was so going to say otherwise.

“You’re not going. Call the fucking place and tell them that you nearly had a heart attack-

“Nearly. Had a heart attack.” He corrected sarcastically and Naruto was done for.

“And that makes it okay?! Are you fucking stupid?! Do you have a death wish or some shit?!”

“Why the fuck do you care so much anyways?! It’s my damn life and my fucking choices!”

“I…” he stopped and thought about it for a second.

Did he care? No..yeah..a lot actually but he didn’t at the same time.

He just didn’t want Sasuke to throw away his life and health as if it had zero importance.

“You should take care of yourself and you don’t so someone has to knock you into bed!” He said instead of everything else that he could’ve said.

“And that person doesn’t need to be you! And I’m okay! I’m fine!” He screamed back at him from the couch where he was sitting straighter and glaring. Sasuke didn’t really sound like he was trying to make Naruto understand it, he sounded more like he was trying to convince himself that there was nothing wrong with him..

“You’re not!” Naruto all but yelled and distantly hoped that Tobi wouldn’t wake up and see them at each other’s throats again.

“Listen, even if I end up dead, it has nothing to do with you!”

Naruto gaped, and tried desperately not to think of those five, golden minutes that could’ve passed so easily like any other minute and bit back a frustrated scream.

he suddenly thought back to Tobi who hadn’t stopped looking at Sasuke like he’d disappear any second, the way his black eyes had followed every movement, the nerves and this tiny fingers just fidgeting-

Suke doesn’t like to be touched.

Fuck it. This kid was observant, he knew when something was wrong.

“Don’t be fine for me or for your goddamn self!.” He yelled, suddenly overwhelmed and swallowed wetly. “ then, be fine for that poor kid! He’s worried sick and you don’t give two fucks about this kid! You know what Sasuke?! You are the most selfish person I have ever met! You only see yourself and your damn pride! Poor Tobi is stuck with you and can’t get away with it! So what if you accept help?! What if you rely on someone?! Is it so hard?!”

He regretted them as soon as the words had left his mouth specially since Sasuke’s face had gone blank and an empty sort of look was in his bottomless pools-

Naruto had never hated himself as much as he did in that moment-

“I’m sorr-

“Get out.”

“Listen-

“Get the fuck out!”

He stood there for a second, debating with himself to just bolt out and don’t think about it or just beg Sasuke for forgiveness-

Sasuke rolled his eyes and Naruto wanted to stab himself when he saw tears at the corner of his dark eyes as Sasuke got up and and pointed towards the door with a glare and obviously fighting back tears as if he wasn’t even allowing himself to cry-

Maybe, he just didn’t want to do it in front of Naruto but he, somehow, knew better and it had a deeper meaning.

“I’m sorry.” He said just to be considered a friend but the raven stared at him with disgust that Naruto didn’t even know if it was directed at him or Sasuke’s own self.

“Get your fucking charity and get the fuck out of my house!”

Chapter Text

Chapter 16

“So you just…ruined everything?” Kakashi asked as a matter of factly from across the phone and it irritated Naruto’s nerves to no end. It was stupid, irrational and stupidly annoying to the fucking point where Naruto just wanted to throw the damn phone across the room and watch as it shattered into million’s of pieces.

Yes. He was that fucking frustrated.

He despised himself so much that he wanted to throw his own damn body out of the balcony and probably wouldn’t even feel a single amount of pain because he was so fucking angry.

He just had to open his big ass mouth and say what seemed to be the absolute worst thing he could’ve possibly said.

“Fuck me.” He moaned into the phone and cringed when Kakashi made a disgusted sound.

“No, thank you.” His father replied with a hint of humor in his voice that made Naruto six times more vexatious and fighting back the urge to just kick the shit out of himself and others around him just because life sucked at the fucking moment.

“Can you not?!” He heard himself yell across the line, he wasn’t in the mood and he doubted that he would even be until further notice or more specifically, until Sasuke stopped glaring at him like Naruto had personally offended the shit out of him-

Which he technically had but the circumstances were out of order.

Kakashi didn’t respond in a while and after sighing deeply as if Naruto was giving him grief by simply existing ,he said something in the lines of Naruto thinking way too deep for someone that he didn’t really care about with a tone that suggested that he knew Naruto did care way too fucking much but wouldn’t admit it.

“I don’t care…I just..-

“Kid, I know you better than you know yourself. Get your act together. Apologize because you were an asshole and then, see whatever the hell you’re up with that boy.”

Said like a true father who cared way too much and didn’t care one bit at the same damn time.

“….fine.”

Naruto could practically hear the fucking smirk when Kakashi answered in affirmative and then, he tried to change the subject and Kakashi allowed it, mumbled about extra times and stupid gas prices and the conversation went back to the addiction center, Itachi and back to the raven next door.

“Is he home?” Kakashi asked curiously but Naruto heard the unspoken comments there and licked his lips, tried to surpass a sigh and blinked.

“How should I know?”

“You always look out of the window for him…don’t you?” He asked after rubbing the problem in Naruto’s face, much to his dismay-

God fucking damn it.

“Honestly.” He mumbled reluctantly and narrowed his eyes as he moved to the balcony to look out to the dark street where Sasuke had left for work a few hours ago, successfully giving Naruto a heart attack and an anxiety one as a cherry on top before he decided that running in the street with his slippers and yelling at the savage raven that fuck it, he’d just drive him to work or some shit, was a bad way of presenting himself in the neighborhood even if the people were mostly consisted of gangsters and drug dealers, also, Sasuke would’ve probably kicked him to afterlife.

He stayed behind and bit his lip when Sasuke slowly disappeared from his sight.

“He’s at work.”

“….what?” Kakashi asked as if Naruto was dumb and Kakashi wanted the idiot to get back to the main issue as soon as possible.

Naruto, unfortunately, couldn’t.

“I’m serious.”

There was a knowing pause from the line which made Naruto cringe in a way that was obvious he was going to get yelled at.

“Didn’t he just get out of hospital..like..a few hours ago?!” He exclaimed loudly and Naruto heard the man huff in impatience, probably some sort of frustration as well before he continued.

“ try making him stay in bed.” He challenged with sarcasm because what else could he possibly do?

He had no idea where that thrift store was and he had also debated for hours on end to just run to the streets and look for the raven who most likely would shun him like Naruto didn’t exist or scream loud enough to make his own voice hoarse and Naruto’s ears bleed.

And yes, Sasuke was violent enough to do that.

“This isn’t good, he shouldn’t even be up and moving, let alone…why didn’t you do something?!” He asked anxiously and Naruto frowned, glared at the window of the balcony and tried not to scream.

“What was I supposed to do?! Run after a full grown bitch and drag him back to his bed by his ear?!” He argued even if he knew that deep down, it had been exactly what Naruto had tried not to do and unfortunately, had succeeded.

Kakashi sighed rather loudly- worriedly which was confusing because why did his father care about Naruto’s random neighbor of all people?- he didn’t say anything else for a couple of seconds before he sighed again.

“Call me when he gets back.”

“He gets home at two in the morning.”

“What the fuck?!”

Naruto cringed inwardly and shrugged to nothing.

He’s been cringing a lot lately…

Fuck you, Sasuke.

It was a rather obnoxious time of the entire day to get back home but Sasuke was- somehow- managing to pay the rent which was skyrocketing everyday, taking care of the house, pay for his brother, Tobi’s health that was always on the best level whereas Sasuke’s always seemed to be as low as the earth’s fucking core.

And he had also had a near heart attack recently- just two fucking days ago- and shouldn’t even be at work, or on his feet, or moving around-

Did he even eat something? Did he manage to keep it down?

“Okay…I’ll drop by then.”

“At two am?!”

“Yes..I need to talk to him.”

Naruto gaped but didn’t really complain either before Kakashi hanged up and Naruto brought his phone down before sliding it back in his pocket.

He stared out of the window for a couple of minutes, gazing at the cloudy sky, the sad looking trees around the street that seemed to be always lonely- or dead and only made the whole vibe of the place even more depressing -,the dead homeless that the people still hadn’t called for the services to dispose the corpse and the gangsters whose number increased every day.

It was six in the afternoon and the sun was soon setting in the distance, making the street below him seem endless and even dirtier than ever with collapsed trashcans that were full of kittens and their mother that were staying in there until the cups were big enough to move..

The asphalt that seemed to be kind of wet as a telltale of a rainy night and Naruto suddenly thought to the idiot who wouldn’t call for a taxi, who would run all the way back home and not eat because he was anxious for Tobi’s health more than he was for his own, wouldn’t buy anything for himself because he needed to get Tobi new things or pay for his brother’s hospital and Naruto had called who was probably the most selfless person, selfish.

Naruto had seriously rocked the shit out of that irony, hadn’t he?

Was Sasuke selfish?

Someone who worked for hours on end, cooked but didn’t eat in case a child would go hungry, fed the cats whenever he could, paid for things that people his age wouldn’t even know of..

Was he selfish ?

No.

But Naruto was. Because no matter how much he tried to ignore those five fucking minutes, he couldn’t. He couldn’t ignore the way his heart pounded when he thought back to the glaring face that had gone lax, the pale features losing whatever color they barely had, a stomach that was too weak to keep anything down, a body that was way too thin and a heart that had had enough and had simply given up.

Naruto was selfish because he wanted Sasuke for himself, and only for himself.

It was pretty stupid since he cared about Tobi as well but the older raven just made a part of him tingle and warm and so, so soft as if it was made from cotton.

Silk. Beautiful like the darkest pool of the night.

And Naruto couldn’t keep Sasuke for himself because the raven was responsible, he was selfless and he cared deeply and was taking care of everyone without asking anything in return..

He accepted his brother’s hatred but never returned it, he accepted Tobi’s crushing hugs even if he didn’t like to be touched and he was the loneliest but was there for everyone.

Sasuke had to go to work because if he didn’t..

Then, who would?

Naruto hated to admit it, despised the situation and wanted to smack himself and maybe, Itachi as well because Sasuke was nineteen with a burden of a person who would be long since dead.

He had to go to work because if he fucking didn’t, then who would pay the rent? Disburse for groceries? Taxes? Addiction center? Everything.

No one. There was no one but Sasuke.

Sasuke was all alone in a big ass world that Naruto had his father to protect him from but Sasuke didn’t have one single person who would be there for him.

His father was dead, so he didn’t have a strong chest to lean on, his mother was dead, so he didn’t have a warm embrace to get comfort from , his brother was addicted so, he didn’t have a person to rely on.

No, Sasuke leant on his couch and pushed forwards, he didn’t get comfort so he only wrapped himself around a blanket and he didn’t rely on anyone but himself.

“I’m not alone…I have myself.” He has said in that car and Naruto hadn’t really paid much attention to it up til now..

Sasuke only had himself.

And nobody else.

It shouldn’t hurt that much when he came to the realization but he felt his chest seize in pain and he huffed a sob as it wrapped an invisible hand around his throat and ‘squeezed.’

He didn’t love Sasuke…

But deep down, just as a tear rolled down his face, Naruto knew that he was only fooling himself.

-/

Call it his shitty luck or life’s way of telling him that things were as bad as he thought they were but Sasuke did actually manage to keep that fucking coffee down and it was the best shit ever.

Can you tell he’s desperate?

Before coming over to work, he had stared at the warm tomato soup for a whole, long minute, debated with everything in him to just ignore it and let it cool down and feed it to Tobi instead but he ended up pouring that hot, red liquid into a small bowl and did eat it and it- somehow- stayed down and was hopefully digested by then.

Sasuke was honestly, so fucking grateful for managing to eat a bowl of soup and not throw up that it was sad at that point.

He blinked to clear his vision because he still wasn’t wearing his glasses before blowing the smoke of the cigarette into the open air. One thing that he liked the most about working until late and walking back home was the silence that followed everyone deep into the night as they strutted towards their home.

Not that the big apple was actually a city that slept, in fact, the damn hellhole was always awake-

Only the backstreets, or more specifically, the streets where Sasuke’s apartment complex was located and streets like that. It was almost deserted, windows shut tight,lights out or barely flickered on, people were no where in sight as they should because while the normals went to bed, gangsters, drug dealers and all other sort of bitches that would do anything for money were out in open.

Sasuke was desperate, fucked up, broke as shit but his father had beat enough sense into him to make him understand that begging for money or doing anything in those regards would literally mean the same as death and Sasuke survived in that wretched world, got beat up and learnt to get back up but he’d never bend over.

So he wouldn’t go on the streets or a fucking club and get naked for creeps to whistle and throw money at him-

Fuck no.

Tobi was important and Sasuke agreed, Itachi was his brother but god forbid, Sasuke would never-

Could never, ever do it.

Just…no.

It had become like an instinct, one that he couldn’t surpass and it tingled, crawled underneath his skin when he thought too much over it because he just couldn’t accept the fact that he might end up dumped over a street with a certain whiteness between his legs-

No.

The biggest cliffhangers in his life usually left him feeling useless and on edge although recently, things had taken a wrong turn and well, a year and a half of his life had basically been a cliff-

He was turning twenty in four months.

They would pass relatively fast and Sasuke knew that by the time he was that particular age, he was to-apparently- feel asymmetrical and excited about life because he was becoming a full grown adult and he should put more months about moving out of his parents house, getting a decent job and so much more but Sasuke already done all of that.

What now?

He was already working, he already had a place and so..

What now?

Was he seriously going to put his whole life into working until late at night with no off days, taking care of a child who he still didn’t know what he was going to do with, and what not?

The simple answer was yes. But Sasuke really did want to study in a college, he seriously wanted to become a psychologist, make money and get into a better place in a side of NewYork even if it cost him and Sasuke…

Well, he just had to stop dreaming about shit. It wouldn’t happen, he had to pay for a money that he could only think about as a daydream, raise a child in the best way as a person who was raised in the one of the worst ways and shit was practically drowning him.

Sasuke almost smirked in the cold of the night.

He had such thought while he was the reason someone else was dead. He had stopped his mother’s heart, he was the reason that poor woman had screamed herself to death because a parasite was crawling out of her.

Mikoto was a selfish woman. And Sasuke inherited the fucked up thing from her.

Naruto had been harsh and Sasuke had literally been this fucking close to just slapping the living shit out of him but the blond, no matter how much Sasuke had been close to committing genocide, had been right.

Sasuke was being a shitty piece of shit. Tobi deserved someone much better than he who barely survived and always was second guessing himself and debating with his damn self to just get the poor kid back into the orphanage. Naruto was so fucking right that it hurt Sasuke deep in his chest when he thought too hard about it because at the end of the day, he was useless, worthless-

A killer. A parasite. A murder. The reason his mother was dead.

Lovely. Wonderful.

He flicked his finger and dusted the cigarette before bringing it back to his lips. The weight of the white stick comforter him somehow and Sasuke knew that he shouldn’t do it, smoking killed but Sasuke was born to die.

He was never supposed to live and his mother had just decided to exchange her own life with his own.

Sasuke had never planned to make it above thirty. Never, not even when Itachi had been there at that far corner of the living room where the broken chair had been his only shield against his father, did he ever think that he’d actually live until thirty-

Either his father would’ve killed him or Sasuke would’ve just jumped off of the roof of the manor.

Then, life took a swing and Sasuke had to live because if he didn’t, then there would be no one to take care of Tobi, the poor child would go to that orphanage that Sasuke still had nightmares about, Itachi would have no one who’d care for him enough to work twenty four seven to pay for those unconditional doctors.

There were few reasons why Sasuke was alive and those few ones were enough for him.

He took a deep breath of that cigarette that would sooner or later end up killing him before blowing it out through his nose. Two huge, contentious clouds of darkness rushed out of his nostrils and into the open air, twisting around the dusts of the weather, disappearing once they collided with the temper and Sasuke realized that it was snowing.

Soft pedals of ice were falling from the sky, placing themselves on the damp ground, either staying as they waited for others to join them or disappearing slowly as they lost battle with the temperature. The ground already had a nice, even coat of cold whiteness draped over it, covering most of it as the softened ashes of the sky turned icy.

Sasuke used to love the snow, playing with the crystals that used to be his favorite toy and throwing balls at Itachi who would not show a single ounce of mercy and would basically cover Sasuke’s entire body in cold snow, even if he windows later apologize and ask if he was okay.

Good times.

Sasuke merely got annoyed at the weather as an adult who still didn’t really know how to be an adult.

He threw the remains of the cigarette on the snowy ground and walked away, thinking of all sorts of trouble the poor weather would bring mainly because he..didn’t have a car.

It windows be way too colder now and he didn’t have the best kind of clothing which meant that he was already shivering in his thin tshirt and jeans.

He didn’t really have the money to pay for clothes and whatever he had and was wearing belonged to his older brother and Itachi had in fact, commented on them once and asked if Sasuke couldn’t get himself new clothes instead of using other peoples’ second hands.

Sasuke had pointedly avoided that question.

He was broke. The joke of the year.

Almost ten more steps, he reached the street and avoided eye contact with the many individuals who clearly were looking for trouble before standing before the door to the apartment complex, keying it open and stepping inside. He had learnt it the hard way, after much fights, slaps, kicks to the gut and hard punches to the nose that if he didn’t look at anyone and minded his own business, then the gangsters or the drug dealers wouldn’t really care about him.

It was a fun life, good hours and shit was going down in the meantime.

Absolutely lovely.

He climbed up the stairs and took his time to prepare himself for the turmoil that would be the little kid who would throw himself at his midsection, wrapping small arms tightly around his waist and Sasuke would have to keep himself calm and not flinch harshly because he was just so fucking done with getting touched almost constantly or touching other people constantly-

He was just so,so,so tired.

He ate a small portion of food at work and managed to keep it down somehow which was a nice getaway from the reality that he actually ended up almost dying. It was kind of fascinating that life could be this terrible and Sasuke was somehow surviving as well.

He reached the last step and almost took several ones back when he saw the two individuals who were chatting with each other-

Naruto and his father.

He was only glad that they hadn’t seen him which meant that luck was on his side for the very first time in what seemed like forever.

Also, he could hear them talking which wasn’t the best thing and Sasuke wasn’t the kind of person who would ear drop on people much less a father and son.

Regardless, he couldn’t do much of anything mainly because presenting himself would mean that he had to see Naruto and his father would talk to him because the man would be like that, ask him for shit and no matter how selfish, how much of a piece of shit that Sasuke was, he would lie over and over again for Naruto because the blond did actually bring him to a hospital when he was absolutely not obligated to do so, he did try to talk to him, he did bring food over to have with them almost every night and all that shit but most importantly because father meant pain.

Fathers hurt.

Fathers pained.

They were all aggressive.

And Naruto had seemed terrified of his dad that time.

And there was no Itachi for Naruto.

Going out to the open would mean that Sasuke had to climb down the stairs and his steps would be easily heard which also indicated that he would be noticed and there goes his plan of an easy escape.

“He should’ve been home by now..” Naruto said with a mournful voice.

“Well, I can wait.”

“Kakashi…seriously. Poor guy is coming later and you might trigger him-

Oh, so they were talking about him. Great. Lovely.

Sasuke didn’t really feel sorry for Naruto anymore. In fact, he was totally okay with Kakashi beating him up, no-

Sasuke was going to take the fucking honors and beat the living shit out of him himself.

“I need to speak with him and I don’t want his brother to see him so…I had to come over.” Kakashi said as a matter of factly and Sasuke felt the bottom of his stomach drop.

He froze. Didn’t even breath for what felt like forever until his lungs seized and protested against his rash decision, making his head hurt and knees feel weak because that was..

Kakashi was..

What?

What did that even mean?

He hadn’t had the time to see his brother’s doctor yet so could it be that..no.

No, he couldn’t be that unlucky.

Swallowing drily, he looked up to the stairs and tried to think of a way.

He couldn’t get down without his steps echoing off the walls, he couldn’t get up in case he had to endure Naruto, and he needed to speak to Kakashi apparently because of Itachi so-

What was he supposed to do now?!

Not for the first time in the hour, did Sasuke curse his mother again for choosing his useless life over her own before deciding that his headache could wait and climb up the stairs.

Upon taking the very first step, the voices halted in their speech and before Sasuke could get up to another one, the voices turned to whispers and someone walked towards the stairs and Sasuke could see Naruto’s blond hair from the corner of his eyes.

Naruto rushed back to the houses and finally, Sasuke reached the floor where both adults were literally waiting for him in front of Naruto’s house. Kakashi still looking expectingly towards him, Naruto seemingly was anxious as he fidgeted in his spot and his ocean eyes kept searching his face for something that Sasuke didn’t know.

He still thought that the idiot looked ridiculous with that eye color and those damn freckles that traced the map of his face, his long locks of hair fell over his eyelids, making him appear even more stupid and Sasuke kind of wanted to kick himself for the stupid way that his heart was starting to beat rapidly.

He still didn’t like the idiot.

He did not.

But the way Naruto kept fidgeting and looking at him anxiously made Sasuke irritated to the point that he wanted to kick whoever was responsible for the blond’s nervousness.

Why was he feeling protective over an idiot who had clearly called him selfish and all sorts of things, he’d never understand.

“Sasuke! Hi!” The blond idiot declared with a nervous smile that didn’t really reach his blue eyes and Sasuke wanted to smack someone.

He remembered the blond as a happy person, smiling, gleeful and full of life and the person who was staring back at him with a look full of anxiety was not who he was supposed to be.

He glared and ignored him, hence, the disappointment that was written all over Naruto’s face that made his heart squeeze and pound way too loudly in his ears.

Kakashi turned to greet him with a nod as he extended his hand to shake and Sasuke, no matter how reluctant he was to be touching him, shook his hand back and immediately pulled it away.

He had to remind himself that this man, even if he was currently on his nerves, was a fucking father and all that drama, was his brother’s doctor and Sasuke had to play nicely.

“Hello…not the most convenient time to see each other but you seem to have a busy schedule.” Kakashi said with a smile that Sasuke could easily read before Sasuke nodded and tried not to flinch under Naruto’s watchful gaze or Kakashi’s knowing one.

“My schedule isn’t that busy-

“It’s busy enough for a heart attack” Naruto said fiercely with a glare on his ocean eyes and Sasuke glared at him full of hatred before glancing back at the therapist.

“You wanted to talk?” He asked, ignoring Naruto’s own glare and only staring at Kakashi who sighed as if he was dealing with two children before he nodded.

“Yes…I think you already know that I’m going to be your brother’s doctor.”

He swallowed. “I know. Can we take this somewhere private?…without your son present?”

The disappointment on Naruto’s features burnt a part of him for some reason but he chose to ignore it and only key his door open after the therapist nodded in affirmation.

-/

The house wasn’t a big one but it was unconditionally cozy and warm.

As Sasuke opened the door, the first thing that was seen was the living room that was attacked to the kitchen which could be seen as it was an open kitchen, to the left was a hallway that led to a closed door that Kakashi thought was a bedroom.

The inside was looking absolutely welcoming. Milky walls that had a clock hung over it, multiple shelves filled with different plants and books as decoration, there was one seemingly large coffee table in the middle of living room and towards the third wall, a window had green curtains draped over it, there was no carpet on the wooden floor, one couch at the far end which had a pillow and a blanket on it in a messy fashion as if recently used and a television on another low table that seemed barely used.

It looked beautiful. Clean and cozy.

Itachi was missing out.

The complex and the instruction of the inside was similar to Naruto’s place and by the looks of it, their balconies were quite the same, in the exact position and if they both got out , they could see each other.

Nice.

“Coffee or tea?”

He glanced towards Sasuke from the open side of the kitchen to see the raven pulling two mugs out of a cupboard and place them on the table in the middle of the kitchen.

“Coffee, please.”

Sasuke nodded and put the heater on before flipping his hands and coming towards him and leaning on the wall of the kitchen, crossing him arms and gazing at him with something akin of nervousness and anxiety.

Kakashi could see the tensions on his thin shoulders, in his shaking form and beneath his dark eyes that had darker circles underneath them.

Enough for a heart attack, Naruto had said and Kakashi could see it clearly from this distance. He could almost hear the pounding of Sasuke’s obviously weak heart from across the room, the way his stomach was probably begging for food and the way his entire posture screamed exhaustion that ran too deep beneath his bones.

Kakashi did things for money, he loved those stinky dollars but he just couldn’t expect a single penny from this boy who seemed so lonely, so tired and yet strong enough to survive the odds.

“You’re powerful.” He found himself saying to the raven who raised an eyebrow as if confused which he should be.

Kakashi didn’t give complements for no reason and this nineteen years old boy was stronger than Kakashi himself who was forty four.

“I thought we were going to talk about Itachi.”

“So dismissive”

Sasuke raised an eyebrow and Kakashi was struck by how similar the brothers were. Leaning against that wall with an indifferent expression, Sasuke was the absolute copy pasted version of his older brother.

They also had similar reactions.

“Right. So…aren’t you going to sit?” He asked as a matter of factly, mainly because people like Sasuke didn’t like beating around the bush and wanted to get to the point immediately and Kakashi needed the raven to know that he was the boss and that if he wanted his older brother hale and healthy..

He needed to do as he said.

The raven looked annoyed as he rolled his eyes and pulled a chair from the kitchen before sitting on it.

“Can you get to the point?”

“Of course. After you tell me where the little one is.” He was genuinely curious about that, surely Sasuke would’ve left the kid in the care of someone if he was out most of the time of the day. It was harmful to his mind and body but Kakashi kept the advice to himself.

The truth was hard to swallow as it was a big bite but it was what it was and Sasuke was the only person that both Tobi and Itachi had.

He was the one who payed for everything but if he didn’t, then there was no body who would.

Sasuke had to work all those hours. Was it sad? Yes.

Did it need to be done? Also yes.

Sasuke looked mildly irritated but seemed to have only taken a deep breath and nodded towards the front door. “He’s at Mrs.Cozin’s. I’ll retrieve him later.”

“It’s already,” he glanced at the far wall where a clock was hung. “Oh, it’s past two thirty.”

“She has Insomnia.”

Okay, poor woman. Kakashi values sleep like no other, he couldn’t imagine how horrible it must’ve felt not to be able to sleep.

“Okay.”

Sasuke rolled his eyes before getting up from the chair and moving around the narrow wall towards the coffeemaker and grabbing one of the mugs to pour the hot liquid into it before doing the same to the other, bringing them over and handing him a steaming one.

“I forgot to ask if you liked it dark or not but there should be some chocolate behind you on the shelf.” He said, pointed towards a full shelf behind Kakashi’s head as he sipped on his own.

“Thank you, I like it dark anyways.”

Sasuke shrugged, leant forward and placed the hot mug on the coffee table where Kakashi’s own was resting.

“So..can we get to the point?”

Kakashi stared at him and decided to take pity on the poor boy.

“What do you think of your brother? I mean, do you personally think that he could be fixed or not?”

Sasuke blinked as if confused before a frown settled on his icy features which was what made Kakashi shiver at the cold air of the house. He glanced towards the window and sure enough, it was snowing.

He should turn the heater higher.

“I think you should turn the AC higher.”

“I can’t. I couldn’t pay for the heat bill so they cut it off. I can bring you a blanket, if you’re cold..” he said with hesitation written all over his face.

Kakashi stared at Sasuke’s own pink nose and cheeks, his the tip of his red ears,and the shakiness of his hands that were wrapped tightly around the hot mug and decided that he could handle a little bit of cold, if a child could live with it.

Because Sasuke was a child. Just a kid with the responsibility of an adult.

“Right, okay. So, what do you think of your brother?”

Sasuke licked his lips and shrugged, looking uncomfortable and uncertain.

Kakashi thought of Sasuke’s older brother and genuinely wondered what could possibly posses the older Uchiha to make his little brother go through all of these while he was hale and completely fine..

Itachi was not addicted.

But Sasuke’s clothes smelled like cigarettes and Kakashi knew a sick person when he saw one.

“He’s..Um..he..I don’t know. He’s aggressive, dismissive and…uh..cruel, I guess?” He answered uncertainly and it made a part of Kakashi sad and the other part of him angry at the older raven who was acting terribly towards his younger brother.

He composed himself, he was a doctor and a therapist. Itachi clearly had reasons.

But, what?

“How did he use to be? Be honest. I’m only trying to help.”

Sasuke squirmed in his seat uncomfortably before he pressed his lips together and nodded.

“He used to be nice, calm and not reactive at all.”

“He wasn’t reactive towards Tobi.”

The raven didn’t answer, just sat there and looked at him as if Kakashi had grown a second head before a deep frown settled on his features.

“What do you mean Tobi? Itachi has never seen him, I don’t bring him ov- how do you even…”he trailed off, confused and utterly speechless.

“Naruto had apparently been showing the city to the kid and I asked him for a coffee, he brought him over as well but with my permission. It wasn’t even that bad. Your brother was fairly okay with the kid.”

Sasuke didn’t look convinced, if anything, the raven looked downright murderous.

“….you knew that though, right?”

Sasuke bit his lower lip in pure fury before arching his eyebrows and nodding with a fake smile.

“Of course..now, can you just tell me what the fuck is up with my brother?“

“You don’t know?”

He looked frustrated now. “I know he’s addicted, needs to care more, hates my guts and you guys can’t help with that, because Itachi just hates me-

“He doesn’t hate you, in fact you’re the only reason he shows a fraction of emotion at all.”

Chapter Text

Chapter 17

Two things happened at once.

A) Sasuke would gladly drink Naruto’s blood as war prize when he was done with that piece of shit for bringing his six years old kid to a fucking addiction center of all places. The matter was less about Itachi and more about the damn place,Sasuke wasn’t really worried about his brother’s reaction towards the kid( Itachi loved kids to no end),it was about that damn place,disgusting, full of people that Sasuke wanted nowhere near Tobi and what not, that stupid blond had brought him there. Naruto was done for.

B) Sasuke hadn’t felt this bewildered in such a long time that he was about to genuinely start counting to ten just to remind himself that he still had a functioning brain because what Kakashi just said made no sense to him.

“…what?” He asked after a short beat of silence because Sasuke had no understanding of the situation at hand. It pressed against his brain to issues and made him anxious, and allowed tears to gather in his vision but Fugaku had beat him long enough to force him to take a deep breath and not let them fall.

He was not going to cry.

The man sighed as if Sasuke was giving him grief before he leant forwards to grab the mug of coffee. He took a sip of the still steaming liquid and held it in his hands, looked down and seemed to be considering the answers even if Sasuke doubted there would be an answer.

To be completely honest, Sasuke was just waiting for the man to sake psych and laugh at his face. There was no way, Itachi would give two fucks about him, let alone show emotions only for Sasuke’s sake. Of course, he wouldn’t. Itachi would just not care. Since when did the older even consider him worthy of his attention?

There was no way such thing was going to happen.

It hurt but Sasuke couldn’t help himself.

“You heard me.” Kakashi replied with a pitying tone that Sasuke was starting to abhor. It went on his nerves to no end and made it harder to control those stupid drops that clouded his vision.

“Okay, let’s say he cares and all, how is it going to fix anything, Itachi is still addicted-

“Except the fact that he isn’t.”

Sasuke just froze in his spot.

…what?

Sasuke frowned deeply, creasing his brows and blinking because he couldn’t have heard it right, there was no way. He genuinely couldn’t feel his heart beating, nor hear himself breath through his nose or mouth, it didn’t make any sense. His ears were plugged and those damn tears were nearly escaping-

Why would Itachi be in an addiction center, if he wasn’t addicted?

Why would those many doctors sedate his brother with those drugs, if Itachi didn’t already have a shit in his system?!

Itachi had to be addicted because that was the only reason why he’d be saying that Sasuke was useless, worthless, a fucking piece of shit-

He had to be addicted.

He was.

He just had to be.

Everything Itachi had said so far was because of the drugs and not because his brother actually meant it-

No. That was wrong.

Sasuke was thinking selfishly, god, he should be glad that he’s not addicted and he’s thinking of himself. He’s taking it all the wrong way, so what if Itachi meant those words, it wasn’t as if Sasuke didn’t say the same ones to himself on daily basis so what changed?

Just because Itachi said it- what the fuck?!

It was fine. Sasuke was okay. Fine. Okay. Everything was fine.

It might burn somewhere in his chest and cloud his bison dangerously that made him feel those stinging slaps of his father again but it was okay.

So what if Itachi agreed with their father and Sasuke’s demons?

It was fine.

Itachi wasn’t addicted.

That was what mattered, Sasuke or his feelings did not.

“Are you okay?” Kakashi asked with hesitation and worry in his voice that Sasuke was colliding back from before he squirmed in his seat, composed himself and nodded.

“Sorry, I zoned out.” He lied, cleared his throat and focused back on the man. “ so, he’s not addicted?”

Kakashi didn’t answer but only stared at him with something akin to concern and an almost parental look in his brown eyes. It unsettled him to no end and Sasuke was so done with everything at the moment.

“He’s not…not by a far chance.”

Sasuke frowned. “ so, I should get him out of there?”

Kakashi sighed and leant back before twisting his fingers together in a fist. “I’m gonna be honest with you. I’m a therapist, and I know a hurting soul when I see one. Your brother is salvageable. In fact, I’d give it a few months, if you do as I say.”

His heartbeat stuttered but Sasuke wasn’t going to allow that stupid hope to rear its ugly head again. Besides, Itachi might want nothing to do with him but that didn’t mean that Sasuke wasn’t going to help him out.

Not that he could actually help someone but he was the only one that his brother had at the moment and only after Itachi was out of that hole, had gotten his life back, would Sasuke leave Tobi with him because Itachi was better with kids, he didn’t flinch when a child touched him, had shit ton of money that Sasuke couldn’t even imagine possessing in his dreams and was overly a much better person.

Then, Sasuke himself would leave. Just…disappear.

He was selfish for that, wasn’t he?

But he was just so,so, tired of constantly dealing with a brother who wasn’t even addicted and had all the rights to hate which he did, a child that deserved someone so much better than a poor excuse of an adult that was Sasuke, he just wanted to leave.

Go to another fucking city for one and just disappear.

Become someone else, someone who hadn’t murdered his mom, hadn’t been the cause of his father’s hatred and all that shit.

“No. You should actually let him stay. What I need you to do for now, is to stay low. Don’t come anywhere near the Center and make sure to ignore him. You might have to end up coming there once in a while but do not, and I repeat, do not care about him, look at him, look for him or anything in those regards.”

Sasuke sighed. So he was just supposed to act like his older brother.

Cool. Nothing hard. Thankfully, the words seemed to have made his fucking tears disappear and the invisible hand around his throat finally cease its squeezing.

“Okay. I can do that. Is there anything else I should be aware of?”

The man scrubbed the side of his black mask that was over his features and shook his head. “Not much..except the payment-

“I’ll pay you as soon as I can. Jirayia said that you don’t take in debts and it’s fine, I’ll try- I will make that money in a week-

“I wasn’t going to ask for money.”

Sasuke froze for what seemed a genuine few minutes before blinking and getting out of that daze.

Just what the fuck did he hear right now?

“Um..you..don’t want it?”

The man shook his head again and Sasuke, if he wasn’t as prideful as he was, would’ve jumped in the air and just fucking thanked whoever had listened but he was that prideful and he would not be accepting that.

“I don’t accept it. I can’t just…look, I don’t want your pity.”

He didn’t want the pity, but god knew that he needed it. There was no way he could ever make that much money in a matter of seven days but he’d much rather become a dirt at a sidewalk than to ever see the look on Kakashi’s face directed towards him in any way.

“Listen,-

“I’ll pay you. This way or that way, I’ll do it.”

By the sound of his wavering voice or the promising look in his eyes that screamed stubbornness, Kakashi could probably tell that Sasuke wasn’t going to accept anything like that so he sighed for what seemed to be the thousandth time in those few minutes and nod his head.

“Fine. But pay me after your brother is completely okay and back at how he should be.” The sentences had a determination in them that made Sasuke press his lips together and glare. It was ridiculous and stupid because Sasuke would never be allowing himself to hope.

“You will accept it this way or I won’t receive anything.” Kakashi added with a hard look that made Sasuke almost squirm in his seat as if he was sitting in front of his father again and the man was scolding him for getting a low score in history.

Fugaku didn’t pay for anything except his school and other things such as food and that was it. Sasuke pretty much always used Itachi’s old clothes, his dad never got him anything and Sasuke, honest to god, didn’t blame the man one bit.

He was the reason that his wife died.

“Fine.” He finally replied reluctantly before huffing his chest, acting much like a child and leaning back on the chair.

He abhorred the situation but Kakashi smiled and nodded pleasantly.

-/

Kakashi waved him goodbye from across the sidewalk and Naruto only returned the gesture. It usually left him feeling hollow and empty when his dad left but Naruto needed to learn to pay the things himself, grow up for once and stop depending on the man for everything.

In fact, he should probably start fucking working as well. College wasn’t so hard these days and Naruto needed to start becoming a fucking adult.

Like Sasuke.

He pressed his forehead against the side of the cool wall and gazed towards the falling snow through the balcony. The frozen crystals landed on the ground and the black railing of the fire escape, contrasting with the dark color and Naruto wanted to make hot chocolate or just any hot liquid and bring them over to Sasuke.

Would it be stupid?

Probably, but he needed to apologize somehow.

Selfish and Sasuke could never go in a single sentence. It was just so wrong and contrasting against each other that he doubted he’d ever feel anything like remorse for himself again.

How did his stupid mouth come up with that?! Was he being an idiot?!

Yes. Sasuke was so fucking right, Naruto was an idiot.

Stupid. Bull-headed. Crust-muscled. Witted. Imbecilic. Undeserving-

There was a sudden knock on the door, stopping his inner self-abuse that Naruto was lovingly promoting to himself because why the fuck not? He had fucked up anyways.

He was still staring out of the streets so there was no way Kakashi could’ve come back. Who was it?

Mrs.Cozin?

Wha-

Sasuke would never, ever come here, simply because he was way too prideful and angry at him.

He sighed and upon hearing the much louder, angry Knock, he moved faster towards the door.

“I’m coming! Hold your horses!” He yelled and If it was the old woman, then he’d just apologize. Mrs.Cozin wasn’t Sasuke or Kakashi, she forgave way too easily anyways.

He swung the door open and felt his breath left his lungs in desperation for his heart to start beating madly in his chest-

Fuck it, maybe he did actually like the raven.

But he didn’t. God damn it.

Naruto would’ve drooled at the beautiful sight but those breathtaking features twisted in something close to anger before a fist collided into the side of his skull, making him almost fall to the floor before he realized that the force wasn’t even a fist but a sharp slap-

Holy shit, Sasuke had the bitchiest slap on the planet, Naruto could debate with anyone on this.

There was a sinking silence before Naruto cracked his neck to stare at the angry raven as he rubbed his throbbing cheek.

“You have one helluva slap.” He said to the fuming raven who raised his hand to strike again only for Naruto to grab the offending limb, pull the boy inside with his and close the door shut.

Sasuke struggled to free his hand, squirming and yelling all sorts of insults and Naruto frowned because the raven didn’t really have much of strength and he only sighed and grabbed the other hand that was about to slap, pushed the boy to the wall and pinned him using his own body. He pulled both of the raven’s hands above his head, placed his knee between Sasuke’s legs and pushed his chest towards his. They were only an inch or so away from each other’s faces and glaring daggers at each other.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” He asked in a hushed tone because he did all those things in a rush and unknowingly as a reflex before he realized what he had done.

He had a feisty Sasuke pinned to the wall of his living room.

He had him pinned to the wall.

He really did that.

He was suddenly feeling nervous, his adrenaline and excitement all gone, replaced with something close to anxiety-

Holy fuck.

He was lost in those dark pools and he just couldn’t look away, the white snow on the ground or the ones that were still falling from the sky got nothing on Sasuke’s smooth, soft looking skin. The pink lips were very inviting even if they were pressed into an angry line, the pink all over his high cheeks were also incredibly adorable and it melted something in Naruto that he valued but when it came to Sasuke, he would hand it over.

There were butterflies and a nice warmth starting from his chest and going all the way down his legs-

He couldn’t even breathe at that point.

Sasuke also didn’t move, stared at him with complete hatred and Naruto was feeling Sasuke’s lean, thin thighs covered in black jeans around his knee and he was weak. Naruto was way too weak to keep gazing at those beautiful features and not just fall onto the ground, gasp for lost breath because Sasuke was just that fucking gorgeous.

And he also hated to be touched and Naruto was pushing the boundaries all the way out of their order.

He let go of him as if burnt and moved a feet away before swallowing drily, scrubbing his still stinging cheek and licking his dry lips.

Sasuke brought his hands down and pushed himself off the wall, glaring at him with such passion that made Naruto abhor a part of himself for touching him without permission, pushing his boundaries and making the situation so much worse.

“I’m sorry-

“Don’t come anywhere near me or my kid again.” Was all he said before he moved to the door to open it-

“I’m sorry! Okay! Wait!-

Naruto moved like a flash, like a man on a mission as he closed the door himself, pressed his back to the wooden thing and hypocritically trapped both him and Sasuke inside.

“Let me explain.”

Sasuke laughed bitterly, the force of it shook his thin chest through fabric of his black shirt before he nodded in a mocking manner and raised both of his skinny eyebrows.

“What exams there to explain?! You brought Tobi to an addiction Center of all the fucking places and what?! I was just supposed to be okay with that?! Let alone the fact that you didn’t even tell me!” He snarled with all teeth, making him appear almost wild and beyond furious like a cornered animal and ready to slash its sharp claws against the sensitive skin of anyone who dared to approach.

Naruto took a deep breath and pressed himself firmer to the door before licking his lips in a bad habit of nervousness.

“Listen, first of all, I’m sorry for taking him without permission but the kid was crying his poor eyes out and I just couldn’t not help! He was crying for you but you were at work and he had been inside of an apartment for days! He needed to wind out a bit…Addiction Center wasn’t on my thought..I’m sorry about that.”

Sasuke scoffed, fully dismissive and looking like he was about to rain down literal hell on top of his head before he bit his lower lip and took a deep breath as if to control himself before he stared at the floor and bolted towards the door immediately afterwards.

Naruto held him on the thin shoulders and didn’t allow the raven access to the door that he so desperately was trying to go through-

“Wait-

“Get your fucking hands off of me!” He screeched like a caged animal as he thrashed against his much boarder frame, slapping and kicking and screaming and doing all sorts of things that would indicate that Sasuke was protesting against whatever was happening.

“Will you just listen to me?!”

“Fuck off!”

A fisted hand collided with the side of his skull and Naruto felt a white, searing pain wash over the hurt side and he momentarily pulled away before awareness came back and he grabbed the wild fucking cat-

“You thought that what?! I was about to just forgive and forget?! You don’t get to just do whatever the fuck you want and get away with it, you aren’t someone special, or important or anything you think you are-

“I know!” He screamed in the raven’s face with enough heat to shut him up, leaving him speechless and heaving for breath as they both stared at each other’s eyes, an inch or so away from their faces, “ you think that what? I think I’m important or all that jazz? No!”

“I know I rely on my dad way too fucking much, I’m unemployed and I’m not that great in college, I suck at many things and okay…I know I’m everything you say that I am but at least, I don’t hide behind a mask and try to build my walls even taller!”

He gazed at the teary eyes and knew that Sasuke would not be crying. They had been at each other’s throats for a while and screamed harsher things at each other and Naruto knew like how he knew his own name that the sky could crack open but Sasuke would never shed a single tear.

Specially, not in a fight.

“I know how to ask for help. You don’t. And that’s where our differences begin.”

Naruto expected many reactions but the bitter smirk and the actual tear that fell from those dark pools as if the sling was overflowing and the plate had finally shattered.

Naruto wanted to kick himself for that single tear. He wanted to bring a knife and hand it over to Sasuke before begging him to just slit his throat. He wanted to jump over the railing of his balcony and just end his own life because he was the fucking reason of that tear drop.

He had actually made Sasuke cry as he was an inch away from his face.

Naruto wanted to die in a most painful death.

Another tear fell from the other overflowing night pool and Naruto wanted to resurrect himself just so he could kill himself again.

“I’m sorry-

“Who am I going to ask help from?” He asked in that wavering voice, his red rimmed eyes glistening as more tears fell through his soaked eyelashes and Naruto wanted to scream in his face that he was there.

He could ask anything from him!

Naruto was ready to do absolutely anything just so those drops would stop falling from his eyes.

“Hm?” Sasuke asked through the tear streaks. “ my dead father who only knew how to abuse? My dead mother who was selfish enough to lose her own life so I would live? Or my addicted brother that doesn’t give two fucks about me?!”

“Who the heck am I gonna ask help from?!” He screamed, suddenly furious before hitting his chest with what little strength he had.

“You can ask me! Fuck it, I’d do as much as I can-

“Why do you even care?!”

Because I love you, he wanted to say, scream it in his gorgeous face repeatedly until he understood that nothing in that damn world would ever be comparable to Sasuke’s tears.

Specially, those fucking tears that did things to Naruto’s weak heart.

He couldn’t handle them. He would’ve much rather been dead than to ever witness such heartbroken, helpless and shattered expression on that pale face.

Gosh, why did he push him past his carefully laid limits?!

“Because…” what could he say?

That he loved him when he wasn’t even sure? That he just didn’t want him in any pain when Naruto was causing it?

An inch away from his face and those thin, soft looking lips that were getting red from crying and trembling because Sasuke was in pain-

Who was he going to ask help from?

He didn’t have anyone. He couldn’t rely on anyone.

There was absolutely no one.

Except Naruto.

“Because I care.” He said firmly to that crying face, huffed in his face and shook the thin shoulders as if the gesture would make the raven understand the words better. “ I care too much, maybe even way too much but I do care.”

The single thought of kissing those trembling bottoms sent shivers down his spine and Naruto wanted to, god he wanted to but he couldn’t. Not when he was the reason that the carefully built walls around the raven had come tumbling down, colliding with the ground harshly and leaving him exposed to the bitter cold that Naruto only wanted to protect him from because no one else would.

He didn’t want Sasuke to be alone anymore.

He knew what loneliness felt like and Sasuke needed someone but wouldn’t ask for it.

Another tear fell and with it, a piece of Naruto’s heart rotted as well.

Did he actually love Sasuke?

Maybe..

He couldn’t stand to see him cry, that was for sure.

The raven sniffed, seemed to have suddenly gained back the lost focus and squirmed in his hood to get free which Naruto finally( reluctantly) let go.

Sasuke wrapped his arms around himself and for a split second, he looked even smaller before sniffling as another tear fell and moving past him to the door.

Naruto didn’t stop him, didn’t chase after him when the raven opened the door and let himself out but he did feel the terrible way his heart squeezed painfully in his chest when Sasuke didn’t go for Tobi but his own apartment, closing the door behind him in a silence that for some reason was louder that anything and Naruto wanted to chase after him, break the door down and cry with him, hug and hold his trembling body and whisper sweet empty promises that things would be okay, even if they didn’t, allow both of them to slide down the wall and never let go but he just couldn’t..

Because Naruto wasn’t sure of himself and besides-

Sasuke didn’t want him anyways.

Chapter Text

Chapter 18

He slid down the wall, cradled whatever was left of his body and hugged his knees to his chest, placed his head on his folded arms and for once in over two years, after his principal in orphanage had struck the side of his cheek, he ‘sobbed.’

The gesture tore the soft tissue of his throat and for a split second, Sasuke genuinely thought that he might have gone mute before another broke through his tightly sealed lips and he couldn’t help himself anymore.

His face scrunched up, nose flaring and he probably looked so ugly as fat tears fell from his uglier eyes, reddened lips trembled and his entire face became wet and puffy. It didn’t help the fact that he was feeling familiar sting at both of his cheeks, pinch marks on his arms and hard kicks to his stomach when the person who usually delivered them was long since dead.

It had been four years since the death of his father and yet, Sasuke still couldn’t cry and not feel the marks that the man left behind.

The fucked up part was that he was even crying.

What overwhelmed him? What pushed him over the edge?

Nothing, and just that fucking yelling so close to his face triggered him because Sasuke was traumatized and loud noises scared him, terrified him and made him want to cover himself under the blankets, have no thoughts and only breathe through his panic attack.

That fact that he was that damn lonely finally got to him.

The silence approval that he was actually alone in an enormous world could’ve been a high indication but Sasuke just felt washed out, torn, so fucking lonely and tired. He wanted to sleep for hours, wanted to eat a piece of pizza without a single thought of how he was going to pay for it, he wanted to take an entire day off from work, stay home and not take care of a kid who he still couldn’t afford for, laugh and drink to his fucking doom and go to college and just feel alive but he couldn’t because he was Sasuke and Sasuke had been born from the passage of a dead woman who had willingly sacrificed herself for him.

He wanted to chug some pills and die just to prove the woman wrong that his life wasn’t worth it.

He would’ve done, fuck it, every morning he gazed at the pills from the bathroom mirror and debated with himself before deciding that he should still hold on because Itachi still wasn’t okay enough to take care of Tobi and Tobi still needed an adult.

An adult that wasn’t Sasuke but the poor kid didn’t have much of a choice.

Gosh, Sasuke was so selfish but he just wanted to leave so bad.

Get away from everything, leave everything behind, don’t even glance back at whatever was left behind his shoulder and through it all, he knew that he couldn’t. The burning sensation behind his eyeballs suffocated his senses and more tears fell from his eyes that still felt burnt and bruises from invisible slaps and punches that no Itachi would bandage later because his older brother gave no fucks about him.

Sasuke was being pathetic. What the actual fuck?

He was feeling sorry for himself when his older brother was addicted?..wasn’t addicted?

Itachi had enough issues to consider addiction to finally get away from him than a normal life but at least he’d recover. Hopefully.

There were homeless people in the streets, starving and devastated and Sasuke was hugging his knees like a child and crying his fucking eyes out for no damn reason.

He had been yelled at, so what? His insecurities had been slammed into his face and so fucking what?

Not for the first time in ever, he wanted to look up at the sky and scream loud enough so his mother would hear that he hated her, so his father would hear that Sasuke despised him and abhorred him as much as Fugaku hated him.

He was being delusional and stupid.

He scrubbed his face with the sleeve of his shirt and sniffled loudly in the silence of his apartment. He let go of his knees and spread them over the floor as a few more tears fell. He could feel the puffiness of his eyes and the redness of his nose and cheeks and lips-

It disgusted him. A warm shower would be nice right now.

The emptiness after crying always felt weird but no matter how much Sasuke pushed on and didn’t fucking cry to keep himself composed and on the edge, he…he felt light as if a huge weight had been lifted off his chest and shoulders.

It was amazing even if the ghost of the mammoth like hands was still tingling his cheeks and the soft edges of his body, around his neck and the near his shaking fingers.

Was it stupid that he didn’t want to get up? Just sit with his back pressed to the door and look at the wall opposite him with an empty look on his face?

Probably not. Maybe yes..who knew?

It wasn’t as if he had someone to ask it to.

You have me, a voice said in his head, screamed it at the top of its lungs that sounded fairly like the blond next door. Full of raw emotion and hurt, delusion and maybe some hope that Sasuke was still a little confused about. Why would Naruto care for him?

Sasuke wasn’t anyone special, in fact, he was most likely the least interesting person on the planet, with a normal face that had a few moles here and there, three dots in his collarbone that his brother and he shared and pretty much it about his face. He had a terrible personality, an edgy self with no emotion, he abhorred everything and kept to himself, minded his own business and wished that he didn’t exist so, why?

Naruto was special, sophisticated and powerful.He was kind and caring, smart, with people who cared about him and everything that would make him stand out in the crowd as a glowing ball full of shine as the sun-

Perhaps, Naruto was the sun.

And Sasuke was just like any other shadow that existed underneath the glow of that aura.

I care, the voice yelled again but Sasuke didn’t want to believe it. Believing that someone cared would get the person hurt, pained and Sasuke didn’t want to be the cause of another person’s screams. Itachi had been enough, Itachi will forever remain as enough.

His older brother had been just like any other star that shone brightly and covered the room and Sasuke had consumed him like a black hole. He had consumed his mother like a black hole, he had corrupted his father too and he just didn’t want the blond to have the same fate.

Was he being selfish again?

He had learnt it the hard way to harden his heart and not allow anyone in. Tobi was special, a little boy with wonder in his eyes but the child wouldn’t remain under Sasuke’s care forever so the chance of Sasuke’s curse getting to him was low and he just didn’t have any other choice but to keep away. Try not to flinch as little, cold hands touched him as not to traumatize the kid, put on a smile when he thought that Tobi needed it, bring the kid to his father’s grave when he missed him, try to be there even if he wasn’t home that often.

Perhaps, it was actually good that he wasn’t home often, he couldn’t spread his disease then.

Naruto needed to be kept far away. Naruto shouldn’t be consumed with his terrible pain.

Naruto needed to be kept alive and grin from ear to ear, make those baby blues shine brightly like the ocean and the sky in the peak of summer afternoon at the beach, waves crashing lazily and those freckles dance across his cheeks like sands that flew across the air.

Naruto was like summer, his skin was bronze like the beach, freckles like sand across his face, the deep summer ocean in his eyes and his hair a golden aura of the sun. Shining brightly and basking.

Not like Sasuke who was dark, just a shadow that only brought forth nightmares, couldn’t even be a cool place in the summer.

He was just a shadow.

Naruto was beautiful. Caring. Amazing.

Sasuke didn’t deserve amazing things. He was a shadow.

And Naruto deserved the world.

-/

A nostalgic smell was always pleasant even if his mind couldn’t conjure enough memories of his mother’s soft scent.

Whatever he could recall was based on the cinnamon in the tea or the damp earth after the rain, the mixed coffee that he could never forget and the roses that she used to grow in the gardens at the back of their house.

He might’ve had issues with reminding himself of her smell and warm voice but he did remember her face, and not only from the pictures that his father just never got off from the walls or the tables but because of his own face and his brother’s.

He could see her blank features staring back at him from the bathroom mirror, her dark eyes glistened and shadowed from starvation and pain so deep that it was effecting her physically, sharp bones grazing her pale skin but Itachi was only staring back at his reflection in the broken mirror, it had a cracked edge and the plastic around it was rotting away, giving away the white and replacing with a brownish color. The sink smelled funny, like detergent that Itachi was actually allergic of, the titles were all white like the hospital and Itachi still hated a little bit about that.

He grew out his hair to look like Mikoto a little more in the beginning of his childhood and then, it became a habit and Itachi couldn’t imagine himself without his long locks. Even if they spent the time being bundled in a bun at the top of his head, some shorter strands falling at his nape and around his ears that he kept tucked behind them.

His shirt was loose..or maybe, he had lost too much weight. His pants barely hung on his hips anyways so perhaps, he should start eating again. When was he last time he allowed his body to consume nutritions?

Surely, not too long ago.

He couldn’t recall.

Coffee was a terrible substance of an alternative to anything else. He definitely needed to start eating.

…maybe later.

After he learnt that his brother was fine. Immediately after finding out why Sasuke had even been to a hospital- if he had been dismissed from it or still in there-

There was no one to keep an eye on him. The realization kept his gasping and an anxiety creep over his vision.

Itachi had seen it, the young body slowly getting weaker, the reassuring smile slowly disappearing and leaving only a grimace at its wake, vacant eyes where it used to be a light in there.

His little brother. His little moon. Always so bright as he smiled up at him with his bloody lips and bruised cheeks. Not really knowing why their father despised him so much and always favoring his side as he sat, taking steps carefully as if not to hurt his short legs further and wake the monster that was drunk and passed out on the kitchen floor.

Gone. Sasuke wasn’t there anymore and a shell remained of his younger self. He never knew peace except that far corner of the living room where Fugaku would rage and scream, break things and throw them at Sasuke but because of the furnitures, they couldn’t slam into Sasuke’s much smaller body.

Itachi had tried to protect him, using his own body when they had been younger, screaming and yelling when he was older, threatening and hiding the kid behind his own taller frame in order to get the monster away from his battered and abused brother who only shook from both pain and fear like a falling leaf on the dying tree in the thick autumn air, barely hanging on and still fighting even if it was way too late.

It had broken a part of him to see the baby that his mother had left behind, broken, crying and receiving no attention even as an infant, moaning weakly as his small limbs stopped kicking to gain the needed attendance that their father never showed before Itachi, even at five, decided to take the matters into his own hands and raise the kid on his own.

Feeding a starved baby was hard but he quickly learned what the best temperature was for the milk, how to boil the water for the dry dusts, change diapers, stay out of his father’s sight long enough so the man would get drunk and fall asleep before taking the kid to his own room and try to rock him into a peaceful slumber. Waking up at ungodly hours to a moaning, crying baby that wanted attention and only fell back into sleep if Itachi had placed him next to his own small body.

Naming the baby also fell on him when the birth certificate still was empty except for their dad’s signature. Itachi’s clumsy handwriting was still on there.

Sasuke had been the one that their mother had loved as much as she had loved Itachi and Itachi had promised her that he would always be there for his little brother, always protect him. Forever.

He taught him how to walk, how to talk, comforted him through the nightmares, pulled him into a corner when the hits became harder, shielded him, took the burnt of it, kept telling him that mom loved them both so much and only because she loved him, she gave birth to him and that he shouldn’t listen to their dad, the monster wasn’t right. He shouldn’t pay him any mind.

He was the one to caress his back when he threw up for the first time, placed a damp towel on his forehead when he got sick for the first time, taught him the lessons when the teachers left, kissed his head and poked his forehead in their own secret gesture to reassure him that he was there and that Itachi would never, ever abandon him.

Would be there but when the time had come and Sasuke needed him the most…

Itachi hadn’t been there.

He couldn’t have been there. The choice had never been his own.

Mikoto was smart and many said that Itachi’s genius genes came from the woman as much as he looked like her but Itachi had soon found out that the real clever, cunning one was actually Fugaku who planned everything and was always ten steps ahead.

He had done it. The monster had finally done it and Itachi had been too late to stop the hell from breaking loose.

He had come home too late.

Something in him broke that day and no matter what, he couldn’t conjure enough patience and emotion into allowing himself forgiveness nor the power to look at Sasuke and not see failure in keeping the promise that he had bid to his late mother.

Until he got hospitalized. Until things got out of hand and nobody was telling him anything. It had been two whole weeks and Sasuke was nowhere in sight. Itachi’s guilt was deep and painful but he had to make sure that nothing had happened-

His brother, his kid was fine.

He had raised Sasuke in the place of his father, he might as well worry like a parent rather than a brother.

Not eating wasn’t helping the situation but his stomach was in knots with worry and even if he managed to get anything past his throat, he doubted he’d be able to keep it down.

-/

“Tell you what. Ask him out.”

Naruto choked on the noodles and spurted into the restaurant bowl, coughing with half of the noodles still in his mouth and almost throwing up as he heaved for breath before pushing the bowl away and coughing some more. He finally managed to genuinely feel something soothing after his friend had stood and rounded the table to rub and hit his back-

He finally breathed.

“You okay?!” Sakura asked with worry on her sea green eyes as she leaned on the table with her left hand to gaze at him anxiously.

Naruto was still trying to recover so, he only nodded his head and swallowed heavily. “ I think I blacked out for a second.” He replied after a few more seconds.

Sakura smirked and laughed, relief in her sigh before she moved back in her seat, she flipped her hair from its ponytail and leant forwards now to rest on the table with her crossed arms, successfully arranging her small breasts to plump and make a black line appear from her cleavage all the way to her collarbone.

It used to make him horny but now he was lost in dark pools, sometimes drowning and other times floating on his back as he counted the twinkling stars, watching the moon and thinking how similar it was to a certain person, how easy it was to mistake it for the shadow of the sun while the light of it was a blessing, soothing and not as harsh as the morning star.

Naruto loved the sun, the morning and all sorts of activities that happened during the bright hours but as the sun set, the basking of the evening begun, he couldn’t help but stare at the moon, close his eyes and feel the darkness shut around him comfortably.

Moon wasn’t as bright as the sun, it was soothing, it didn’t have the hostile light that bore into your eyes and shed the scars, it had hidden love, dark passion and a cold hand that caressed the skin of his jaw pulling him into sleep and staying until the morning.

Was he being stupid?

“So…back to the main point. Don’t choke again,” she eyed him weirdly. “ you should ask him out.”

Naruto didn’t have any noodles in his mouth but he did almost choke on his own spite again. He pressed his lips, decided to look anywhere but her face and chew on his inner cheek.

“Uh..,” he started, gazing at her pink dyed hair. “ you dyed your hair again?” He asked lamely as to change the subject even if the attempt was as poor as Sakura’s own clumsy hands that had tried to dye the back of her hair too and had miserably failed.

Why she never just went to a hair salon, he’d never understand.

Sakura raised her eyebrows so high, they could’ve touched the ceiling which wasn’t as high as Naruto’s exaggeration went because if he decided to stand up from his seat, the top of his head would easily touch the ceiling that he was comparing to the length that Sakura’s own pinkish eyebrows had gone.

He was trying to change the subject even in his own head, it seemed.

“What?..” he asked when she still didn’t answer, only gazing at him with something close to both shock, pity and maybe, anger as well.

“Gosh, your head over heels in love.” She huffed in a long sigh and leant back in her seat, crossing her arms behind her head and blinking at him owlishly.

Naruto hated her a little bit more in that moment.

“No I’m not!” He defended which only gained a raised eyebrow from both Sakura and his own inner demons plus his beating heart that stilled, then beat a lot faster upon seeing a glimpse of Sasuke.

“Dude, I’ve known your blond ass since middle school. I know what expressions look on your face and this,” she gestured to his whole body instead only his face.” Is in love.”

To be completely honest, Naruto’s heart was nodding madly in agreement but his brain still couldn’t indicate the alarm bells from his heart and if they were because he was having a heart attack or if he was actually in love.

The butterflies in his stomach were also silent and gazing at him in anger as if saying, just what the fuck is wrong with you.

He only knew Sasuke for two and a half months.

But it felt like he’d known him for his whole life, whispered something inside of him.

“But I’m not..” he defended again and the sympathy in her eyes couldn’t make him feel any smaller.

“Honestly, he looks like an asshole to me and didn’t you say he had a kid?”

“Not his own…he takes care of him. Tobi is his cousin’s son.”

“Aww, so we got an uncle!”

Naruto smiled softly at the thought, it was a little ridiculous to imagine Tobi calling Sasuke anything other than the adorable ‘ Suke’ but uncle just seemed like a title that was for older men-

And Sasuke was only nineteen.

Hell, even Itachi was just twenty four.

Tobi had called him ‘ Tachi.’

It was kind of cute.

“We lost a soldier…” He heard Sakura say and turned his eyes up to look at her grinning face.

“At this point, do me a favor and ask him out.”

“How am I doing you a favor?” He asked with a raised eyebrow.

“You space out, then you smile like the ones in the horror movies, you get that weird soft look in your eyes, you sometimes even blush which I seriously don’t want to think about the detail of your thoughts in that time- you get weird!”

Sakura didn’t believe in love, she believed in hookups even if her relationship advices worked the best. She was a lesbian anyways but mostly because she was fierce and if she wasn’t spending her time with working out or working, she was at the Ring.

It was a downtown place where all street fighters went and fought for money( it wasn’t anything big but awesome for winding up even if you ended up with bruises and broken bones), actually it was close to Naruto’s apartment-

When was the last time he’d gone there?

Naruto needed to wind off, it was obvious. Sasuke..

Whatever it was, didn’t like him back, in fact, he probably hated him. He needed to forget those tears anyways.

“You haven’t lost a soldier..in fact, how about a little beat up at the Ring?”

If the way Sakura’s eyes shone with danger and mischief, was anything to go by, they were going ham that night.

Her grin was teeth as she replied, “ maybe, he’d alive after all.”

Chapter Text

Chapter 19

“Is that…” the smooth voice sounded horrified as it’s owner tried to compose himself to continue. “ porn?” He finished with a slight crack in between the letter ‘O’ and the letter ‘R’.

Kakashi almost chuckled but held himself back at the last second by only planting a pleasant smile on his face( even if the man noticed the twitch of his lips) before looking up and waving the book back and forth in one hand, making the papers ruffle loudly and smack together.

“Yes! I love the way this author describes dicks!” He said low enough only for the man to hear but not that low to make him seemed ashamed of getting caught. Not that Kakashi even was, the cover of the book was literally a naked woman with multiple men licking her legs, head thrown back in the bliss of pleasure and listen, Kakashi wasn’t a sex addict and he just read the content for the romance but the look on peoples’ faces as they saw the cover was always amusing.

Itachi had his eyes wide and mouth ajar, eyebrows all the way up to his hairline before his gaze moved back to the cover and up to Kakashi’s face in a silent shocked question as if to ask if Kakashi was genuinely serious and reading porn in public, much less his work place.

“Do you wanna read it?” He asked enthusiastically and this time, he couldn’t help his chuckle when the raven collided back with his chair, slamming his thin back to the fine wood and nearly falling over before he braced himself using his hands to grip the edge of the table. He was still looking at him like Kakashi had somehow managed to successfully grow a second head.

“No, thank you.” He replied quickly, almost too quickly as if he was afraid and terrified of a porn book. It was just bunch of papers with filthy content, so what?

“Aww, you’re no fun.” He said before glancing at the thick book that was in the raven’s slender hands.” What’re you reading, genius?” He asked as he butted his head towards thick piece of paper.

Itachi frowned, still looking distressed before his dark gaze moved to the tome that was cradled loosely between his fingers, almost grazing the edge of the old papers but not loose enough for it fall over his lap.

“Internal combustion engine,” his hands move to reveal the cover of the book just as his eyes moved to read the last part.” Fundamentals.” He finished.

Kakashi blinked..that was…so nerdy. Absolutely not something that he’d enjoy, hell he didn’t think anybody would enjoy reading those kind of books and only poor college students were forced to fry their brains over them and this man was reading something as energy consuming as that just for..fun?

“You enjoy those?” He asked with surprise which somehow doubled when Itachi nodded.

“Interesting.” He said and raised an eyebrow when the raven snorted and went back to his book but not without roasting Kakashi’s old ass one last time.

“Just go back to your lonely desperation.”

Kakashi couldn’t help it, he took offense.

“Excuse me?! I’m only forty two! I’m completely able to get anyone I want.” He defended his honor but was mainly glad to see the tight lines of worry gone from the raven’s face, his skin had gotten its color back and he had even taken a little nibble of the breakfast after Sasuke had stopped by to pay for this month and listening to Kakashi’s advices, he hadn’t even glanced at his brother.

Itachi was probably way too relived for care for that.

It wasn’t his time to even work today but the older brother was actually fun to be around with, he had nasty comments, wicked sense of humor and no care in the world and in the last few days, he had only heard a few greetings from his lips and nothing else. It worried him at first, before he finally saw Sasuke this morning( even if the younger raven had looked like death itself and Itachi’s gaze had lingered on his form that had been between the door of the office and Jirayia, staying a little too much on his shaking hands before sighing in relief that only his brother was no longer in the hospital).

“You wish.” He replied and no amount of postering or nagging from Kakashi got him to talk again. His gaze moved smoothly from the pages, lingering on one specific long word before moving again, pausing to understand the concept of a picture before racing once more. It was soothing and Kakashi wondered if the guy was some sort of an intelligent being before his life took a turn and Itachi decided that pushing his little brother away using harsh words, hostile behavior and breaking pieces of himself, being called an addict was worth it.

Did he even want to do it?

“What was your dad’s job?” He asked bluntly to get to the point, another thing that most of his colleagues avoided in a conversation with a particular patient who was extremely private or secretive.

In his own personal experience with skittish people, young or old, this motive worked the best. Being blunt and expecting nothing but the truth. Being truthful and selfish, uncaring for the other’s emotions and cold anger seemed to trigger them and only upon flipping the switch, did they crack and start speaking.

Itachi’s mask fell for approximately of a second before it was back up again. His glare was harsh, bitter cold and snowing. His face a mask of blankness and Kakashi found it quite startling, as if he was gazing into the void of a lawyer who was questioning or defending in a courtroom that would’ve been his client’s doom and yet, the lawyer, as the defender, was a monster in itself.

He had lawyer friends and Itachi looked like one, acted like one, read like one and was spitting imagine of his late mother.

Mikoto Uchiha had been a demon. The Lilith of the court.

Kakashi was not in her field of work but he did do charity on the prisoners and often times, he found innocent people that Mikoto had thrown in jail because she had power and her accusations in the court had been unbeatable.

Unlike the painful truth that broke apart her family when the woman died, so many innocent people sighed in relief.

“He had an oil company and a few factories to his name.” The cold voice replied with something akin to suspicion that Kakashi could easily understand. Their one sided conversation had pretty much went from low voices, funny side to drastic real quick. He still pushed on-

“That was shit ton of money. I bet.”

“It still is.”

Kakashi raised an eyebrow, that meant that they still had huge amount of money even if their parents were dead and so, if they possessed millions of zeros in their bank account, why was Sasuke-

“why’s Sasuke struggling? Shouldn’t he be living in the most luxurious of houses?” He asked again, uncaring for the way Itachi seemed to have haunched back into himself, glaring at something on the floor, biting his lower lips harshly and refusing any eye contact.

The raven didn’t respond and Kakashi found himself being impatient, raising an eyebrow and pushing on.

“Shouldn’t you be in a better facility?” He asked, narrowed his eyes to capture any kind of reaction even if he received none in the response of his straightforward question.

“I think it’d be rather ominous, if that much money was wasted-

“Drop it.” The icy voice replied just as Kakashi raised his eyes to glance at the glaring raven. His thin brows were creased and his eyes seemed more vacant than before, for a single second Kakashi thought that he had missed the point completely before he caught.

The silent tapping on an index finger on the raven’s knee which was a drastic sign of anxiety-

But for what?

It was a simple question. It required a simple answer so, what was so wrong about this?

“Why? I only need an easy answer-

“Maybe, I don’t want to give it.”

Kakashi smiled to himself, knowing full well that Itachi noticed it, in fact, the slight quiver in his smooth expression suggested the educational guess that Kakashi was starting love himself for coming up with.

“Oh, but you need to talk to me. I promise-

“To keep my word? Do you think I’m stupid?”

The glare was present, a highly knowing face was staring back him with bottomless eyes that pulled the nerves and the tendons of each fiber of his being, if Kakashi didn’t place his keys right. The game was playing in both of their favor although, Kakashi knew that Mikoto’s son wouldn’t easily back off and ride it out.

Oh, no. Itachi would demolish every single drop of milk that he had suckled from his mother’s breast before turning it into some sort of drug and forcing it down his throat just so Kakashi would become a patient just like him in a facility that no one really got out of..unless for grave.

Except, the man in front of him who needed to take responsibility and set his life right, grab a hold of his younger brother and break apart whatever wall had been built between them.

Life liked to fuck with you sometimes, just for the hell of it and Itachi was fucking with life just to put that shit back in its place.

Except the fact that instead of controlling it, it was controlling him.

“Do you have the slightest idea how many times I’ve heard the same thing from other people that sat in the same spot and looked like I was a piece of meat to swallow?!” The man hissed, didn’t raise his voice but it had the same effect as if he had been screaming. His cold fingers were gripping the edge of the table as if hot iron was melting on his back and he was in pain.

His expression sure, gave it away.

And Itachi was actually right, there were just some words that all doctors used to a level, sometimes maximum that would leave them repeating the same thing over and over again and sometimes in a minimum level that brought them to a stop to caresses the back of a child who only wanted a parent to love him or her enough.

Kakashi used his words wisely. Never too much or too less as if the single letter would lay him off thousands of dollars and make the expressions last longer.

A look of hurt, pure pain and longing staying just like that forever in a cartoonish fashion that never got old. It might’ve broken down a couple of times during a few episodes of the show which- according to many- only multiplied the taste of the series even if to Kakashi himself, it just got boring.

Itachi’s face and expression along with those pressed lips and haunting eyes-

More like an angered cat that anything that he wished he looked like.

He leant back and absorbed the situation from further away. A few girls were standing near the window and pointing to something out on the street, almost all of the couches were occupied with men old and some younger than they needed to be allowed in a place like this. The doctor’s office was full, Jirayia was also yelling at something just beyond his reach of sight. It had always been like that in any facility dedicated for sick people, whether mentally ill or just physically.

The problem never got solved. People just got lonelier.

“You wouldn’t really make a good meat. Too boney.” He declared and relished in the way Itachi visibly flinched and made a disgusted face before standing up from the seat rather violently and stomp his feet like a child and moving to the other end of the room where the books were and it was a little hilarious.

Even incongruous.

The room was quite small and he couldn’t possibly get too far from him mainly because if Kakashi walked approximately two feet, he’d be able to lean against the same shelf that Itachi was furiously grabbing an even thicker book from.

Still…he’d let him get away for now.

For now.

-/

A fist with the size of his entire head collided with the side of his skull and he couldn’t help the grunt of pain before he was thrown to the ground of the Ring.

His entire body felt like it was on fire and on air at the same time and Naruto wasn’t sure if it was because of the adrenaline that was cruising threw his veins, traveling all the way to his heart and making it beat way faster than it should or because the bruises only made him high and the pain with pleasure was something he was into and he had never even known.

Was it bad?

Yeah. Probably.

But was it so good too?

Absolutely.

He rolled onto his side to avoid the punch to his gut and a kick to his legs before jumping back on his feet, dodging two more kicks and a punch as a cherry on top-

Naruto was sure making a damn cake.

The problem was that Sakura was beating up eight more guys at the same time which only provoked Naruto and motivated him to push further and grab onto the guys who were busy thinking of attacking moves and pulled them towards the wall of the small circle, after making sure that all of the head had connected to the brick wall, he let their unconscious bodies go.

“You doing okay, there?!” Sakura called from behind her shoulder with a toothy smile that was all blood before-

A hand grabbed her around her throat and threw her to the ground before a guy, bigger than even Naruto himself, started to beat the literal shit out of her.

Come to think of it, maybe it would’ve been better if they had stayed home.

Ring wasn’t the best of places after all.

-/

Things went downhill from then on, one moment Naruto was chasing two guys and beating up four others while Sakura was recovering from the blows to her broken nose and the other, they were running for their life.

Naruto could vividly remember the times when he was running as fast as humanly possible. When he was six years old and Kakashi had first adopted him, brought him home and had declared that they needed to bath. Naruto had been rightfully horrified and Kakashi had so lovingly chased him across the room before grabbing his collar, taking the shirt and everything off before placing him directly into the tub. The other time when he was running was a few years ago at the Ring; he had fucked with two men and they hadn’t taken it well so they decided that running after a fourteen years old Naruto had been a good idea.

This was the third time that he had decided to risk his own life and visit the Ring, piss off bunch of bitches and now, was running for his life.

Sakura was too busy laughing maniacally than to care about the way that they were literally being chased by their soon to be murderers.

The biggest issue was probably that there was no where to go except empty streets with nowhere to hide and Naruto was running out of breath, his lungs were heaving furiously and his heart was no better, the rooftops could be a way of getting a hand of the situation or even hiding for only a couple minutes to catch his breath but Sakura was laughing like it was best thing ever to be chased by lunatics who wanted them dead so hiding or even slowing down was out of question.

They needed to stop at some point though, whether it’d be because of the men catching up to them or because they were finally saved.

Somehow. Someway. Hopefully.

-/

“Suke! Can we go to Naruto’s class too?”

Blinking to keep his eyes open from sleep, he raised an eyebrow and glanced at the child- who was supposed to be in bed- and frowned.

“You went to college too?”

Tobi nodded furiously, colliding the sharp edge of his chin to his collarbone with passion before stomping his feet.

“Well no, you can’t. Go back to bed.” He mumbled sleepily before rolling to his side on the couch, pulling the thin blanket over his body and closing his eyes and it could’ve been a good way to go back to sleep, blissful, short sleep that he had but then, he felt a slight weight on his hip so he glanced up and through his blurry vision, there was Tobi who was sitting on him and looking like he wanted something so bad that he didn’t know what to do about it so he only pouted and moaned like a literal child that he was.

“No.” He said and placed enough force in his voice to make the kid frown.

“But I want to.”

“And I don’t have time.”

Tobi pouted even harder, made his eyes bigger to appear puppy like even if he knew that it didn’t work on Sasuke. “ can Nards take me there?”

Just when the fuck did the blond get so familiar with this kid?

“Tobi, drop it.” He forced out from his tightly clenched jaw, brows creasing in annoyance and he was told that he looked pretty terrifying when angered and he couldn’t really help it because he was just so mad-

Who the fuck did Naruto think he was?!

So okay, maybe Sasuke didn’t hate him( sometimes) but to get his six years old kid into a place like that was just unacceptable, Sasuke was rightfully fucking furious even if saying it so dismissively and in such harsh fashion to Tobi wasn’t really a good idea, in fact it was a terrible idea-

The kid frowned for just about two seconds before tears formed in his huge eyeballs, running down his cheeks in enormous drops and making his pale skin flush pink, brows creasing into each other and his entire face crumbled-

Okay, now Sasuke was feeling guilty.

Having cried himself only recently in what felt like years, he probably shouldn’t be this sensitive to other peoples crying but he was and he was so fucking done with it.

Reluctantly, he sat up and even more reluctantly pulled the kid to his chest, placed his shaking, sobbing and pretty much wailing body on his crossed legs and rocked them both back and forth to make a soothing rhythm even if he personally despised physical contact like no other.

Itachi would’ve done a much better job.

At least, he wouldn’t flinch from the soft touch of little fingers around his hand. He wouldn’t look a kid and see his own ruined childhood, fight with his own demons because he seriously couldn’t afford for a child who was growing way too rapidly and in a few months, Tobi was starting school and Sasuke’s fucking, useless heart failed.

It failed.

He was usually too busy to think about the fact that he could’ve been dead. Actually dead.

Five minutes. Only five minutes.

The scariest part was that he found it refreshing. It was almost like cold water in the middle of the desert for a dying man because it made him realize that he could die.

He was human. Not a robot who worked, and worked and worked some more and worked again before coming home and collapsing onto the couch.

If it was up to him, maybe he’d even think back to the days when he felt actually like a person rather than whatever he was these days.

Good days were over after all. You only pushed on from now on.

“I’m sorry.” He whispered in Tobi’s hair, pressing the kid close to his chest and for once in his life, feeling something like closure when the contact of the other person wasn’t from his brother but someone else.

Funny how Itachi hated him and yet, if he was one touching him, Sasuke wouldn’t flinch once.

He still apologized though. Because he wasn’t good enough, because he had yelled at a little kid who clearly wanted to get out a bit, for being Sasuke and not someone else-

For everything.

He apologized to his father because he had killed the man’s wife. He apologized to his brother because he had killed his mother. He apologized to his mother because he had taken her life so, so, so selfishly.

Tobi didn’t say much, only pressed himself closer to his tuck his head underneath his chin and soon, before Sasuke even knew it himself, the kid had fallen asleep.

Sasuke looked down at the boneless heap on his lap and decided to get the kid back on the bed-

And that was when he heard a familiar voice yell out his name.

Chapter Text

Chapter 20

If it had been said to him a few years ago that one day, he’d be rushing down the stairs with his recently failed heart in his throat, pounding like there was no fucking tomorrow and constantly trying to focus on the fact that a blond idiot was currently getting beat up by bunch of punks-

He wouldn’t have believed you, nor would he have let you go without bruising the shit out of you.

But…technically, he was actually running down the stairs in a rush as if he was late for work rather than the other alternative that was currently running throw the possibilities that once was his life, so he pushed down the urge to bang his head against the nearest wall which were multiple and his choices were pretty much but he still surpassed the idea for the better thing that he could hit across the damn wall which was the very blond head that was the reason why he was even considering the outcome of murder.

How fast could a life change and decisions make one’s heart go harder and fonder at the same fucking time, Sasuke would never understand.

The loveliest part so far was how he didn’t even think about any of the shits that he could do to Naruto but only the shitty fact that someone was beating him up and it wasn’t so good of an idea or even a pleasant one to know that someone else who wasn’t Sasuke was beating the daylights out of Naruto.

So yes, Sasuke was genuinely considering murder that might’ve gotten him in trouble with a plethora of police officers, had he said it out loud.

“Fuck you, Naruto.” He whispered to himself before slamming the door of the complex open and letting himself out to the cold air of the night which was rather a loud time of the entire day mostly because there was a girl who he had seen a few weeks ago when Naruto had first moved in-

His girlfriend?

Sasuke shook his head and looked back at the literal idiot who had not so lovingly punched a guy six times his size and just got thrown to a wall that was near a trashcan and immediately cracked as soon as Naruto’s back hit its side harshly.

The blond definitely broke a bone, specially because he grunted painfully, as if his throat was split open and he couldn’t stop screaming when he finally hit the ground.

So, Sasuke did call the cops, okay?

And they were actually pretty close mainly because he could hear the sirens a few blocks away, singing, screeching with passion as if it was trying to reassure people of safety but only managed to scare them away.

Funny how the police often forgot that the same person they were killing, was actually of one those people that they had sworn to protect.

Still though, he could hear the sirens, he knew damn well that these bitches were going to get arrested. So there was no reason for his hand to grip the bat harder and smack it against the back of the bald man who doubled over and was unconscious in a matter of seconds.

千葉?

There was no reason for him to ignore the bewildered look on the girl’s face, duck over another punch and go over to the idiot’s side who was still not fucking getting off the ground.

There was no fucking reason for his failed heart to beat as fast as it was just because the damn idiot was. Not. Getting. Up.

The thing was, Sasuke wasn’t stupid. He knew why his heart wasn’t cooperating like it should because he wasn’t really supposed to feel like his own brain had stopped functioning and his eyes couldn’t see past the closed summer eyelids, because Naruto had blue eyes.

There were like the fucking ocean and no matter what happened, oceans weren’t supposed to dry up. Naruto wasn’t supposed to be down, he should be up and smiling like the sun, spreading his dimples and dusty freckles..

He just wasn’t supposed to be still.

His skin wasn’t supposed to be cold when Sasuke finally managed to reach him and kneel next to his fucking summery still body, there was supposed to be heat there, moonlight wasn’t supposed to shine on him, moon was stupid and useless and crazy and awful and terrible and sick and disgusting but sun was life.

Sun was everything that Sasuke just couldn’t touch.

Naruto wasn’t something Sasuke could touch.

Sasuke couldn’t touch anything, anyways.

He wanted to die.

Swallowing past the sudden cold, dreadful sensation at the back of his throat which was like a hand had fisted around his neck, he took what seemed to be most painful breath and extended his hand and stopped because he couldn’t touch Naruto.

He wasn’t good enough and besides, he had never really wanted to touch anyone except Itachi and sometimes, maybe Tobi as well but Naruto..

Naruto was an stranger and sure, maybe his heart was in his throat. Perhaps the thought of never seeing those oceans was more suffocating than how he liked to think that it was but to go as far as saying that he needed to touch the blond to reassure himself that he was alive?

That was way too much.

Wasn’t it?

He could just stare at his broken back which was fucking bloody too and see if it rose and fell but his damn heart wasn’t assured, and his mind was completely silent. There was no other response from his body except the fact that he wanted to just touch that tanned neck and count his beating heartbeat so his own failed ones would slow down.

He blinked to clear his vision-

Wait. Clear his vision?

He placed a hand on his own face and nearly doubled back dumbfounded.

His face was wet.

He almost throw up and laughed hysterically as both the sensation of slaps arrived back on his cheeks and the thought accorded to him that this was the second time in a row that Naruto had made him cry, successfully broken his walls down and made him vulnerable enough to fucking cry-

And when the realization finally hit him in the face, bluntly and harshly, he couldn’t help the sob that broke his throat, carefully laid back walls and reared its ugly head again.

He couldn’t really care about the fact that he was crying though,the phantom of the sharp slaps and kick and punches and all that was almost nothing as his mind couldn’t focus on the fact that Naruto could be dead or alive or the fact that his demons were all quiet for once and only urging him to count the lost breaths of the fallen sun.

See, if his heart was beating and Sasuke wasn’t sure when or how he did it, but one moment his hand was on his face and the next it was on Naruto’s neck.

It was almost disgusting at first before his brain zeroed it on the beats and his body stopped feeling the rush to hide, to shield him and he found himself counting, not giving a fuck about the way his skin tingled around where his index and middle finger were pressed firmly on the side of the idiot’s neck, he also forgot about his surrounding, his own demons telling him that he would never be good enough and that a shadow could never save a sun and yet, he still somehow managed to surpass the urges and count the beats and sigh in relief when he realized that Naruto was only unconscious.

Stupidly, more tears fell.

Whether they were from relief or something else, he didn’t know.

He didn’t really care either.

Sniffling, he pushed the unconscious blond to his back and examined the side of his forehead where blood was oozing from a wound that wasn’t as big as Sasuke had thought that it was and was bleeding heavily only because it was a head wound and those shits tended to bleed badly.

He probed the wound anyways just to see if it could be salvaged and stop bleeding until he got the unconscious man into his house and tended to the obvious problem and Sasuke was so fucking glad to be a health worker.

Even if he was something as low as a health center worker.

He still knew something about wounds and knew how to stitch and bandage shit.

“Is he okay?!” He heard a female voice yell from the back and Sasuke reluctantly glanced over to see all guys on the ground, the girl standing between the mess on the ground with bloody hands and a knife-

“What the fuck did you do to them?!”

“They were about to kill us all!”

“So you just decided to gut them?!”

He just did not understand women, seriously what the fuck?!

The pink haired glared harshly and stomped toward him only to freeze as the familiar blue and red lights hit the walls-

Fuck, the cops!

“Can you carry him?!” He asked bluntly to the girl who had frozen over and still beyond the heaving breath that were bursting threw her chest-

“Hey!” He yelled again, they didn’t hav time and Naruto was down, this bitch was literally useless and they were in a mess full of heavily wounded guys-

It would end badly.

Horribly.

“Can you carry him?!” He asked.

“Y-yeah!”

“Then, fucking do it!”

She swallowed with a tearful gaze before dashing over and kneeling down, avoiding Sasuke( as if he cared) took Naruto’s strong shoulders and swiftly pulled what seemed to one of the biggest guys Sasuke had ever seen on her back like he weighted nothing-

To be completely honest, Sasuke gaped with all of its glory, mouth hanging open, eyes winding and all that jazz that made the girl smirk like Sasuke owned her and run towards the build before pausing and looking back at his still sitting form.

“Aren’t you coming?” She asked.

Sasuke felt the broken baseball bat that had made a heavy man go down, thought of little Tobi that deserved so much better, Itachi who despised him, his mother who had died for him and a father who only wanted him dead and thought that he could easily take the blame.

Sure, he’d be thrown in jail for all of the drama and he was honestly fine with that, he didn’t particularly care about what happened to him, he was a shadow after all and he didn’t really matter.

But then, who would pay for Itachi, who would take care of Tobi until the kid got better and Itachi was himself again, who would tend to Naruto’s wound?

Who would bear the weight of the world when they really didn’t need to?

No one.

So, Sasuke took a deep breath and decided that shit went wrong in life regardless of many facts but fuck it, this whole shit could be blamed on the gangsters and no one would think twice about it.

The cops wouldn’t even question the people of the streets, only take the unconscious bodies and take them to hospital, then jail mostly.

So he nodded and ran after her before shutting the door and motioning for her to let him help carry the dead weight and frowned when she shook her head.

“You look like you wouldn’t be able to lift a chair. Besides, Naruto’s light. I got this.”

He chose to ignore the jab and pointed out that the stairs were quite much and she’d end up getting exhausted by the end of it.

She rolled her blazing green eyes and pushed past him just as the cops finally arrived.

-/

She didn’t get tired, hell she wasn’t even sweating and by the time the girl finally laid Naruto on the uneven blankets on the couch. It was a shitty mess, Sasuke thought, his blanket was completely pinned underneath Naruto’s dead weight in an awkward angle and nothing would ever fix it without lifting the guy up, his pillow was nowhere to be found( Tobi very forcefully had insisted to keep it to his side) so Naruto’s blond head wasn’t in the most comfortable places mainly because the couch was hard and inconvenient, the guy’s long limbs were also spread out and Sasuke doubted that the girl would fix him in any way that wouldn’t be embarrassing to both of them so Sasuke only sighed and ignored the glaring girl and the sound of the police officers who were busy with gathering the unconscious people, and he moved towards the blond to at least try to fix the obvious issues.

Approaching him, Sasuke was deeply focused on keeping his face straight and not allow a single emotion past his defense as he knelt next to Naruto, took his hands and legs before placing them correctly on the both ends of the couch, looked up around his living room, scanning it in hopes of finding a pillow and finding none, he surpassed a sigh, cursed his damn luck and everything besides trying to keep from reminding himself that his tear tracks that had dried on his cheeks were also quite annoying and probably disappointing his father before standing to leave to Tobi’s room( his own room? He wasn’t even sure anymore.)

The girl stood next to the kitchen wall, arms crossed and a expression closed, eyeing him with what seemed to be the deepest way of suspicion and probably thinking of ten hundred ways of killing him even if Sasuke would appreciate the idea.

He still ignored her and moved towards the room, opened the ajar door as quietly as he could possibly manage before before strolling towards the bed, almost smiling when Tobi opened his eyes slightly and immediately settled back down when he knew that it was Sasuke and not someone else. He slowly slid a pillow off the side of the mattress and moved out again, fully closing the door behind him this time as he stepped back into the living room, adjusted Naruto’s head on the soft thing and moved back towards the kitchen where he had hidden a small first aid kit.

The pink haired( however annoying that her mere presence was) didn’t comment on anything and only stood a little away from the wall as if not to bump into Sasuke or his rapid motions.

He genuinely appreciated it, he didn’t want to talk, think, look or even acknowledge the fact that someone like Naruto could’ve died.

Five fucking minutes were nothing for Sasuke and they didn’t exactly hold a significant meaning but five fucking seconds meant a lot more when it was about Naruto.

The thought of never seeing those blue oceans that ( for some reason) had turned from upsetting into relieving, that sunny smile and the way the freckles danced across his cheeks was enough to send his mind down the spiral so, Sasuke kindly shut his thoughts off and only focused on patching the idiot up, bandaging what needed to be bandaged, stitching whatever needed stitches, cleaning cuts, icing bruises all the way trying pathetically to shun the fact that both anger and some sort of longing clouded his vision every time his fingers touched the side of Naruto’s face.

He almost smirked when he noticed that he’d been touching Naruto this whole time and not flinching. He did the same thing back in the health center as well but he had to take a cold shower as soon as he was back home-

Safety….he felt safe upon touching the blond.

As if his subconscious knew that Naruto would never touch him in wrong, wouldn’t do anything to upset him, would go on extremes to keep him calm, would chant about five unimportant minutes like a broken record and love..

But no sun loved a shadow and Naruto deserved so much better.

Why the fuck did he even care about that? It wasn’t as if he remotely even liked Naruto, hell, he only tolerated him at best so why-

“Is he okay?”

He frowned at the bruise on the side of Naruto’s tanned cheek and glared towards the girl who had somehow gained what seemed to be ten folds of confidence and was standing rather proudly with her arms next to her sides, legs straight and face completely passive.

“Yes. No thanks to you.”

The bitch pressed her lips together in a horrible manner and looked away as if ashamed and clearly distress before deciding that Sasuke’s opinion about her life choices could go to hell and turning back, furious.

“You’re a piece of shit, you know that?”

Frowning, he cocked an eyebrow. “How is any of this my fault again?”

Those blazing green eyes flashed with something like protectiveness before she took a step near him, her hands fisted to her side and wholeheartedly ready to fight.

Well, she could fucking try it.

“If you hadn’t been such a little stubborn fucker, then he wouldn’t have even wanted to go to Ring!” She screamed and for a second his body locked, lungs seized both for the fear of waking Tobi who had cried himself to sleep on Sasuke’s bony chest and because he was back there—

And Itachi wasn’t here to protect him.

So, he blinked and took a shuddering breath to calm himself down before reminding himself rather violently in his mind that he didn’t need protection anymore and he could take care of himself well.

“What the fuck are you talking about?” He asked calmly as not to wake the sleeping child just as the pinky scoffed, crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes.

She jerked her thumb towards the unconscious blond. “ he cares about you for whatever reason and you act like this!”

Now to be completely honest, Sasuke’s mind caught on a few things a little late so glanced at Naruto’s lax face and wondered just what had possessed this stupid moron to participate in a place like Ring right before his heart bled through the veins of his cheeks and pushed the thoughts out because..

Care?

Somebody cared about him?

Him?

Sasuke?

Did the world forget that those who cared about him ended up wounded, six feet under, at a corner of an addiction center?

Was the sun truly dumb enough to risk something for a shadow?

Someone who didn’t matter?

“Can’t you just relax for once? Not be all proud and make decisions based on your pride?! You’re not that important, you know?! But Naruto is, he is important and amazing and an outstanding human but you are the garbage that someone throws out so, step up your game and fucking do something about it!”

She was heaving for breath by the end of her long speech and Sasuke’s ears were too busy picking the sound of the door to his room opening just slightly and even if his back was turned, he could imagine Tobi’s scared eyes searching for him who was sitting in a kneeling position next to Naruto’s unconscious body.

He didn’t say anything back and only stared at her passively, unemotionally and probably pulling his best Itachi impression by doing so even if the thought disgusted him.

The pink haired huffed in annoyance before shaking her head.

“If anything happened to him tonight, it would’ve been your fault. Because he loves you and you are too fucking blind.” She spat before taking her way to the door and leaving the house with a bang.

Love..

Such a funny word for someone that didn’t believe in it.

It was just another phase. It’d pass.

Eventually.

“…Suke?”

“Go to sleep, Tobi.”

“…why did you she yell at you again?”

He glanced at Naruto’s lax face, counted the bruises on face and knew that this man on his couch shouldn’t be loving someone like him.

“Because I’m Sasuke.”

Chapter Text

Chapter 21

“You okay?” Was a question that he heard quite often almost too much for comfort but he still dealt with it in the same way as he had done when his older brother cared enough to ask.

“Yeah, just tired.”

Tired of what? He wasn’t exactly sure although, saying everything was triggering for literally everyone or almost half of the population so he kept his mouth shut and Sasuke needed attention off of himself as soon as possible so he always headed to the back rooms and smoked his lungs off.

It was a pretty handy strategy specially, when he didn’t know if his shoulders could hold the weight of the world for longer than minute. Cigarettes took the pain off, gave him a get away and he took the chances for granted. Was it a good way of pulling the pressure of?

Absolutely not and Sasuke would never recommend it even if it was the only thing that took his mind off of the fact that he was all alone in a big world that he was never supposed to live in.

But the thing was that Sasuke wasn’t in the back rooms anymore and instead, he was dangling his legs over the side of the cold railing of his balcony, ignoring the freezing breeze, filling his lungs with poison and spreading it into the air of February because he was sick and tired of watching his own warm breath or his sick thoughts that kept circling back to the blond who had tangled himself into his blankets, refusing to look at anything but the moon that shone above, wishing that he was the small planet instead of the shadow that he was.

Always disappearing and pathetically smoking to get his stupid self together because nothing else worked, cutting didn’t cross his mind mainly due to the times that his father threatened his six years old self so phobia seriously said the biggest and the loudest NO possible, staring up at the dark sky normally worked but Sasuke had just found out that someone as beautiful, wholesome and magnificent as Naruto loved someone as lame, sick and pathetic like Sasuke.

They didn’t work, would never work.

Naruto shone brightly and Sasuke only knew how to absorb. Destroy and crumble, never picking after himself, staring at the mirror and only seeing death and destruction while the blond could and would heal the wounds-

They were a No and would forever stay that way.

It simply did not work.

No matter how much Sasuke wanted to stand up for himself, yell at the fucking girl and defend himself, he knew that it was useless, worthless and he would’ve only been wasting time.

“You smoke?”

It was stupid as much as it was ridiculous but when his natural body instinct to that question was hiding the burning stick that was resting almost innocently between his fingers, he only brought it up almost as if not giving two fucks about the blond who had propped himself on his elbow and staring at him worriedly before dragging a long, poisonous breath.

Fuck it, it was almost as if his body knew that Naruto wouldn’t harm him. Sure, Sasuke hated when people found out that he smoked but with Naruto, he simply didn’t care.

And that was a terribly thing because it meant that Sasuke was getting attached to those damn blue eyes.

It was both funny and depressing at the same time, it made him want to throw himself off the fucking balcony just to prove a point.

“I know you’ve probably heard it before but…you shouldn’t do it.”

He sounded better, he was definitely sitting up now and Sasuke almost smirked in the cold of the night mainly because the warmth he felt at the back of his neck couldn’t describe the one he was currently denying in his chest. A single voice shouldn’t make butterflies go swirling in your stomach.

“You’re right. I’ve heard it a thousand times.”

“And you still do it.”

“Why not?”

“It’s fucking bad for you.”

Sasuke dragged another breath and Naruto sighed deeply as if truly pained that he was dealing with him. Truth to be told, Sasuke was also sick and tired of this treatment and only wanted to feel something other than shame when he looked at himself in the mirror.

A hand came forward quickly enough that he didn’t even see it before the cigarette was snatched right out of his finger before it was thrown away to the depths of the street, it’s light slowly disappearing until nothing but darkness and Sasuke’s sudden anger remained.

He turned his head to the direction of which Naruto was standing, or more like leaning heavily against the wall, cradling his side as if it pained him to stand and glaring at him through those haunting blue orbs that Sasuke didn’t even know when he had started to adore.

“It’ll kill you.”He hissed from something that was both emotion and pain even if Sasuke seriously couldn’t care any less.

“Oh yeah, so could’ve Ring killed you.”

The blond didn’t respond but still glared nevertheless, mostly to prove his point before he shook his head as if understanding that Sasuke seriously didn’t care before pulling his weight almost entirely on the wall and glancing at him, this time with soft eyes, something amiss in his gaze that had him locked in his place and not knowing what to do except staring at those oceans like his life depended on it-

Love, a hidden emotion except the fact that Sasuke was aware that Naruto had feelings for him. And he shouldn’t have those damned feelings for him. Why should he? For god’s sake, he would much rather have another smoke than to even think about that.

“I had it under control.” The blond idiot said with something that was close to pain in his voice that Sasuke couldn’t tell if it was because of the bruises or because of the fact that Sasuke was so keen on smoking his lungs off.

“Sure you did, especially when that guy threw you across the wall.” He whispered without the usual heat that consisted of his voice and seemingly, Naruto also didn’t care due to the way he smirked like Sasuke had just said a typical nice joke instead of burning the bridges, consuming whatever was left of his life in a form of smoke and cigarettes that apparently Naruto was disapproving of.

Naruto sat down next to him on the balcony and fisted his hands as his ocean gaze stared up to the night sky, reflecting the moonlight on his sandy skin and for one split second Sasuke genuinely wanted to ask Naruto if he actually loved him-

Loved him, someone as fucked up as him?

But then, that girl could be lying and Sasuke only wanted to crash somewhere soft and sleep the night away mainly because the moon shone way too brightly today and calming Tobi once more had been taxing, exhausting and he just did not want to deal with anything regarding his statues anymore.

“Don’t smoke…okay?” Naruto mumbled and that was the exact second that Sasuke realized the blond had dropped his blond head on his shoulder, his gaze sleepy and up to the moon. Sasuke was ridiculously calm about the ordeal.

He was supposed to abhor physical touch and here he was, letting Naruto lean his head against him and basically fall asleep-

Maybe it was because he was also tired and today’s events had caught up to him and he just desired a closure, to be the one saved for once, to be loved and not abandoned so he closed his damp eyes, tried to dismiss his father’s dead voice or Itachi’s angry ones and allowed the sun to rest on his shoulder, even if the burden of a shadow windows forever remain as stronger.

-/

It was an hour later when Naruto emerged from the deep sleep that had clouded his mind for the past few hours and allowed his eyes to open only to see what seemed to be a roof or maybe even a ceiling filled with small pieces of wood, his gaze didn’t stay there for long and moved towards his left side where more view of the place came into his vision, a small TV that was probably barely used at all, a coffee table, cozy looking coaches and a curtain-

What Naruto just could not put his finger on was where the hell was he?

Sure, it appeared to be a house filled with familiar looking objects but beyond that, he was at loss.

He squinted and tried to sit up using his elbows as a tool but ended up slamming back into soft pillows. Mumbling curses and many colorful words, he tried again and failed once more-

“Give it a fucking rest, you’re not going anywhere.”

His eyes winded, he usually heard that voice in anger( not that the statement wasn’t spoken in frustration) and smooth only in his dreams which recently had taken a turn and left him yearning for a cold shower.

Sasuke was never supposed to sound both tired and smooth in real life, that was, if it was even real life so he didn’t dare turn his head to the right where the silhouette of the raven was standing, hovering over his head.

“Hey loser, did you go deaf?”

Never had ‘loser’ sounded so beautiful before therefore, Naruto had to be asleep and from whatever he could remember from last night, he had been thrown to a wall and nothing else so yes, he was dead and the grim reaper had decided to take the looks and the angelic voice on the one he had stupidly fallen for-

Naruto had to have been an amazing person before his death because the moment he turned his face, he could easily see Sasuke leaning against the frame of his kitchen, sweatpants and a jumper with his messy hair and dark rings under his eyes like orbs so deep, Naruto was so fucking ready to drown in those endless pools.

Dream Sasuke raised an eyebrow before rolling those night eyes and moving towards him, unknowingly he was making Naruto’s mouth water quite dangerously and so fucking idiotically, Naruto couldn’t look away from the soft, pale hand that was coming closer and closer to his face to probably caress his scarred( childhood accident) cheeks and kiss his chapped lips-

Only to smack him upside the head.

“What the fuck were you thinking?!” He demanded angrily.

“Suke! Bad word!” Reprimanded Tobi’s squeaky voice from somewhere in the kitchen.

“Ow! What the hell?!” He yelled as he quickly covered the bruised spot. He was quite disappointed to say the least mainly because Sasuke from both afterlife or dream wouldn’t be this harsh so this shit was real life and Naruto was luxurious enough to die from being slammed into a wall.

How convenient.

“You know why.” The raven replied with a hard tone that had him squirming in his seat, or more like the place he was currently laying on.

“I do not?” Because he seriously didn’t. Last thing that he knew was being hit by the bricks and nothing more.

Oh! And Sakura was supposed to be there somewhere-

“Where’s Sakura?!”

Sasuke, the bastard, raised an eyebrow blankly.

“Who’s that?”

“The pink haired girl! You’ve seen her with me befo-

“Oh, the bitch. Yeah, she’s fine. She’s actually in your place, want me to call her here?”

Naruto blinked rather dumbfounded and quietly decided not to mention the sudden way his heart thundered when Sasuke leant a hand on his hip to absorb him better-

Naruto was done for.

Just why couldn’t he deny this bastard was a wonder.

“She’s not a bitch and no, you don’t need to.”

Sasuke shrugged before moving back towards the kitchen where Naruto could finally see Tobi’s little legs dangling from the counter top. Sasuke didn’t usually allow Tobi on high surfaces but he guessed that the kid was too insistent that day or perhaps, Sasuke was just way too mad to care about sufficiencies.

“What happened?” He asked despite the situation or the way Sasuke only glanced back at him from his thin shoulder before rolling his eyes and moving back to feeding Tobi who devoured the apple slices that were being given to him which made a part of Naruto horrendously jealous, fuck it he was envious to be fed by hand especially, if that hand is Sasuke’s.

For a split second, a wild thought entered his mind and he wanted to ask the raven to feed him before he remembered that not only would Sasuke scoff and throw the bowl to his head but if he somehow agreed, he’d have to lean over and Naruto might just end up kissing those soft, pink lips just by seeing those three moles that Sasuke probably didn’t even know that Naruto knew he had them.

So Naruto wisely kept his mouth shut and only looked longingly towards the kitchen.

“The fuck is wrong with you?” Sasuke asked vehemently and just like any other parent ignored the kid who glared at him and mumbled about the usage of bad words.

Naruto swallowed drily and decided that Sasuke, specifically if it was morning and he had just woken up, was quite homicidal and therefore, Naruto didn’t say that he thought of Sasuke as the most beautiful person that has ever walked on earth.

Instead, he went for the jugular and decided homicide isn’t enough and Sasuke could throw off a genocidal bitch.

“You were seriously sm-

He glanced at Tobi who was eagerly chewing on apple slices and chose to go on with the one sided conversation adult like so the kid wouldn’t understand.

“You were genuinely playing with clouds last night, weren’t you?” He said and successfully ignored Sasuke’s hostile glare. “Those were such dark clouds too.”

Tobi grinned full of teeth before asking about playing with clouds and if he could do it too before Sasuke very carefully, placed the bowl down, gave one single look to Tobi and immediately shut the kid up before turning back to him.

“Perhaps, you should mind your business. Mind telling me why you were playing with dogs last night?”

Fuck him.

Two could play that game.

Tobi glanced at him with something so cute and adorable in his gaze that Naruto silently promised himself that he’d take the kid to the nearest pet store and buy him a dog. Sasuke’s opinion condo for to hell.

“I asked you first.”

“You’re being a child.”

“So are you.”

They glared and Naruto could easily smell the tension in the air before he decided that enough was enough and yank the yellow blankets off of his body.

“You can’t do that.”

“I wasn’t asking.”

Naruto tried, no, he really tried to control the anger but he couldn’t.

“So what, you wanna die?!”

The point that he later found out was that no one should ever mention death in front of a child who had recently lost his father was a terrible idea because Tobi’s eyes welled up and fat tears rolled down his cheeks as he looked up to Sasuke’s stoic face and sobbed.

“You’re gonna go too?!”

Sasuke almost( just a fraction) gave in and glared harshly at Naruto before gently taking Tobi’s sobbing body in his arms and bringing him over to the room and just as he was about to close the door, the look in his eyes made Naruto’s heart drop to the bottom of his stomach.

Sasuke was hard to get mad, but one single poor attempt towards Tobi would send him off and Naruto was absolutely doomed.

Chapter Text

Chapter 22

One of the most atrocious sections in his life happened when Tobi was brought into it, an innocent little dove sent from heaven to Sasuke’s burnt hands to take care of and basically to parent.

To say the absolute least, it did not work.

Sasuke was a frightening influence and he didn’t see himself fit for being a guardian,ever, so while having his hands already full and his entire being ready to collapse, he had made the rash and probably stupid decision of adopting Tobi who by far had been a great child even if he was traumatized by the mere word of death.

Sasuke was going to cut Naruto into little pieces and enjoy it.

It wasn’t as if he was suddenly furious at the blond for making Tobi cry or something, Sasuke himself made mistakes once in a while, especially when Tobi was being difficult and insisted on visiting his dad back in the graveyard where Sasuke would basically, no matter how unwillingly, had to see his own parents grave.

He understood frustration and it was okay but to stick his fucking freckled nose into his business was a different story.

The thing was that he was still alright and comfortable with Naruto knowing that he smoked which was quite concerning mainly because Sasuke doubted he’d be able to say the same about Itachi.

And Itachi was his fucking brother, not minding the circumstances at the moment.

Hence, self hatred and the absolute shit of a life so far.

The point just wouldn’t be said about anything other than the fact that Sasuke was currently trying to calm a crying child down while attempting quite poorly to keep himself contained enough not to destroy every single fraction of Naruto.

Hopefully, he wouldn’t do it.

“You okay now?” He asked nervously to the kid who had finally calmed down and only rested his wet face on his chest, making the fabric damp and maybe a little disgusting as well even if Sasuke wouldn’t really admit to it. He just had almost zero ideas on how to place a child, much less, a traumatized one under care and to make matters even worse than how they already were, he was starting to panic himself so to say the least-

Life sucked.

Flashing news, he thought sarcastically.

Tobi nodded his little head against him and for what seemed to be split moments of both hesitation and worry, Sasuke felt a weird sense of homesickness collide with him almost harshly that would’ve probably knocked the breath right out of him had it been a physical impact.

It wasn’t uncomfortable or even inconvenient but he felt the disgusting wave of dija vu place directly in front of him.

Nasty shit.

Itachi used to do the same for him.

It was kind of unlike his older brother to panic, hell, he would’ve never shown that he wasn’t doing so well either but Sasuke felt it all the same when he rested his bruising head against his brother’s heaving chest and he heard it-

The way his heart was beating rapidly against the cage of his ribs as if trying desperately to get out and free itself but kill Itachi in the process as well even if the feeling of the severity of it calmed Sasuke down.

His brother had been close to a heart attack and he had calmed down by it.

Those five minutes should’ve been wasted instead of being used on him.

Sasuke shook his head a little to clear his head, there was a kid that required his attention not his laughing demons who always seemed keen on rearing their ugly head when he was dealing with too many things at once.

Fuck them and maybe, fuck Sasuke too because he still hadn’t come to terms with the fact that the blond idiot who was responsible for this whole stupid ordeal was, somehow, if possible, in love with someone like him and his brother despised his existence as he should.

“Suke..?”

“Hmm?” He answered from where he was resting his chin on top Tobi’s tiny head.

“Don’t go away, okay?”

Perhaps, it was his father’s stern gaze following his vision because Sasuke’s eyes didn’t dare water even if his heart twisted in a way that he wished would stop beating for.

This wasn’t going to work.

He wasn’t good enough, Tobi needed, deserved someone better and if Sasuke needed to become someone that he wasn’t to accomplish that goal, then so be it.

“Okay.”

-/

“Uzumaki!”

Fuck.

“Listen-

“No! You listen, what the hell do you think you’re doing?!”

So, Naruto was starting to genuinely wonder if Sasuke was capable of smiling.

Technically, at least until now, the only expression he had seen on Sasuke’s quite gorgeous face was either indifference, extreme cases of sadness that Naruto wished to never see again, or the highest level of anger that would freeze hell itself.

This one was one of those times that he found himself asking his heart why it had decided to fall for someone as unapproachable as Sasuke who by far had only pushed him as far away as humanly possible.

Was he bothering the raven?

He hoped that he wasn’t doing it.

Coming out of the room, Sasuke had slowly closed the door calmly and that was probably the most peaceful thing he had done as he jerked his thumb towards the main door before getting out first.

Naruto had no choice but to follow after the human bomb of anger.

They both climbed down the stairs and were now standing in the freezing air( he doubted Sasuke was feeling any of the cold judging by the terrible blush on his cheeks that was clearly from active nerves) glaring at each other because Sasuke was being a piece of shit and Naruto wanted him to quit smoking as soon as possible because :

A) he literally almost had a fucking heart attack.
B) his older brother was addicted so Naruto rightfully didn’t want him to follow the same path.

C’mon, he had the right here.

And no, he didn’t have the right when the conversation turned to the fact that he had made Tobi cry wether it was intentional or unintentional.

He had fucked up there and he was ready to do anything to make the little raven smile.

But-

He was preoccupied at the moment with dodging the rather sharp looking glass that almost hit on in the face.

“What the fuck?!”

“Did you have to mention fucking death in front of a six years old?!” Sasuke forced out with this dangerous look in his eyes that might’ve made Naruto feel both anger and some level of terror a few weeks ago-

Now, he only wanted to wipe it off with a solid kiss. He was going nuts.

“You’re killing yourself!”

“It’s my own fucking business!”

“No it’s not!”

The raven threw a bewildered look of hatred before laughing manically. “Excuse me?,” he hissed. “ what does it have anything to do with your social butterflies?”

Because I fucking love you and I don’t want to lose your dumb ass, his heart screamed but Naruto’s lips remained unmoved in a tight line.

“Tobi can be effected, you know? He’s a kid but he understands more than so many other adults. Maybe, care about his opinion.” He said and he knew that it sounded pretty lame but at some point, he needed to come up with a good strategy.

Sasuke could be stubborn and his level of obstinacy was quite severe so, he needed to approach the manner in a way that would force the raven into submission.

Easier said than done. Especially when the matter was about Sasuke.

“He wouldn’t know, if you learn to keep your damn mouth shut! And scratch that,” he screamed as he gestured furiously all the way up and down to Naruto’s body. “ who are you to tell me shit, when you go to Ring and end up like this?!”

Okay. Fair point but in Naruto’s well earned defense, he was winding off.

“I fucked up, at least I admit it!” He yelled back, frustrated and angry with the whole outcome because knowing Sasuke, this bitch would turn the conversation all the hundred eighty degrees to get what he wanted which, in this case, happened to be Naruto’s nerve system.

And it was quickly reaching the boiling point.

“Oh, fuck off! If I want to be fucked up, then it’s my own damn choice and nobody else’s!”

Naruto glared. This was getting out of hand, he only wanted this idiot in front of him to give a single amount of care to himself as much as he seemed to sacrifice shit for others.

Apparently, Naruto needed to go with plan A and do it for Sasuke.

“Fine, your life, your choices. I respect that.” He started, already regretting his next words. “ but due to my own life choices, I won’t let you destroy yourself and you don’t get to say anything about that.”

Sasuke practically threw his hands up and if not for the fact that he would be exposed, he probably would’ve probably started kicking Naruto into the next afterlife but he only glared harshly and stalked towards the main door to the complex, yanked it open and went inside before slamming the door shut, leaving Naruto alone in despair and the cold air of the last few days of winter.

His heart squeezed painfully.

Could they not just have one, single conversation that wouldn’t end up in an argument?

Last night came into his mind but he only shook his head.

-/

It had been a whole week later before Naruto saw him again.

Or..them.

It appeared to be a challenging task to be carrying three full bags and practically dragging a reluctant six years old who was moaning, pleading, and basically doing everything imaginable to announce his refusal of whatever was happening to him which, in that case, was Sasuke’s cruelty of not allowing him a nice, evenly coated chocolate ice cream.

The isles were full in the grocery store and Naruto’s eyes were fixated on the tall raven who appeared to be at his wits end and struggling so Naruto, like a true gentleman and someone who was supposed to be mad at the dark idiot, decided to be the bigger person and walked over to the two individuals.

“You look like you could use some help.” He declared and immediately regretted his words the second they were out.

Sasuke’s eyes snapped up to stare at him with something that could only be called as surprise before they hardened into utter hatred. The orbs appeared to be completely consumed by the darkness even if the rings underneath them only managed to make Naruto even more worried.

Anywho, he chose to ignore the hostile glare and move even closer and nuzzled Tobi’s head when the kid happily wrapped his arms around his legs. Staring into Sasuke’s indifferent eyes was a little scary to be completely honest but he ignored it and scanned the shaking body in front of him, noticed the trembling hands that were barely holding onto the plastic bags, the dark rings under his eyes that had somehow gotten even worse in the last seven days, skinny face and the terrible fact that Sasuke’s clothes were hanging off his body as if they were swallowing him.

“You look like you need to get lost.” He replied hotly, glaring dagger and some other sharp objects that Naruto was genuinely struggling to ignore because the problem was probably due to the tiny, shitty fact that Naruto just could not possibly tolerate being mad or even being slightly in a pit with the raven and only wanted to keep him close, not having to fight and just making it worthwhile rather than always being on each other’s throats.

“I’m sorry.” He blurted out suddenly, surprising both himself and the raven who raised an eyebrow on his tired face which did things to Naruto’s mad heart that made his knees weak and he was done.

Shit was so fucking present that it hurt.

Fuck it. He loved this fucking idiot.

There was no other way around it.

Naruto was absolutely doomed.

Sasuke blinked before staring at him for a couple more minutes, then he rolled his eyes and grabbed Tobi’s arm that was still wrapped tightly around his leg-

“No!” He screeched vehemently before wrapping his arms even tighter around Naruto’s limb and pouting rather cutely even if Sasuke only rolled his azure eyes and yanked the arm back which didn’t really help much because Tobi chose that exact moment to start crying-

“Okay! How about you back off a bit?” Naruto replied back to the suddenly violent raven who narrowed his eyes and regarded him coldly.

“Mind your own business.”

“I’m minding my business, we already had this discussion.”

That…wasn’t smart, specially since Sasuke’s jaw twitched in anger before he glanced down at Tobi’s still pouting and sobbing face, snapped his gaze back up to Naruto’s face and held the plastic bags tighter.

“Tobi, we’re leaving.” He said icily without looking away from him and Naruto, no matter how low he felt like he was, couldn’t possibly look away.

“Can I stay with Nards just a little more?” The kid asked sweetly with his crying voice that never worked on Sasuke which was exactly why Naruto decided to take matters into his own hand.

“Of course, you can. Why not, right Suke?” He asked pointedly as he glared daggers towards the raven who had so lovingly caused the child to cry.

They both stared each other down and something shifted in those dark eyes, something that Naruto couldn’t exactly describe, before they hardened again-

Something was wrong.

“I want him back by nine.” The raven said before turning around and not looking back as he moved towards the end of the isle.

Naruto made the realization a bit later when he finally managed to pry Tobi off his limbs and walking side by side next to him that something was so terribly wrong.

Sasuke didn’t just give up.

Specially, if the matter of the conversation had anything to do with Tobi.

The pang in his heart was harsh and cold but all he could do at the moment was to drive the kid to the pet store and get him a dog, even if Naruto himself had to take care of the animal.

There was no way that Sasuke would ever allow such thing to happen.

-/

Either something had shifted, or Sasuke was genuinely just not capable of feeling emotions anymore.

It wasn’t just the forced indifference that he usually wore when he came to the center to pay for the month, not the mask Kakashi had forced on his pale face so that his older brother would think that his younger one didn’t care-

No.

This was asymmetrical.

Sasuke genuinely didn’t seem to give two fucks as he climbed up the stairs, spoke clearly to Jirayia and then, so easily as if literally uncaring for the equally dark gaze of his brother that was following his every move. It also didn’t seem to catch his gaze that the said older brother was frowning rather weirdly as if he was scared-

Or the fact that he had gotten up and moving towards him where he was standing, leaning against the doorframe like he didn’t have the strength to carry his own weight, and speaking to the head doctor.

Kakashi was absorbing those moves, all of them, as Itachi stood a foot away from his little brother who landed his dark, no- darker eyes on him lazily as if regarding him, judging him cruelly before Sasuke-

And Kakashi had to double take because he couldn’t believe what he was seeing, the little nineteen years old who couldn’t possibly make his heart go hard when it came to his older brother really just glared at the older man and took his left shoulder off the wall, placed both of his hands in the pocket of his jeans and stared at his brother cooly.

Uncaring.

Indifferent.

Kakashi frowned just like Itachi, except his was mainly because of concern while Itachi was surprised-

Shocked. Dumbfounded.

It wasn’t like Sasuke to do any of the things that he was doing.

“You finally hate me?” Itachi asked as Jirayia placed himself between the brothers in case something went amiss, staring at both of them and lingering his gaze on Sasuke just a second too long in shock before moving it towards Kakashi who only shrugged in response.

If it was a façade, Sasuke could pull off a Oscar leveled actor.

“Didn’t you want me to?” Sasuke answered just as coldly as his brother, not jittering, not stuttering, looking like the spitting image of his late mother with that serious face which was so unlike him but also so right.

Everything was going according to what it needed to be but Kakashi knew that something was wrong.

Sasuke wasn’t cold.

Sasuke wasn’t indifferent.

Sasuke was loving.

Sasuke was broken.

Sasuke was alone.

But he wasn’t cruel and cold.

He wasn’t like this.

Itachi didn’t answer and apparently, Sasuke didn’t expect one either as he smirked to his brother’s face like he had won an argument, rolled his dark gaze and nodded to Jirayia who was too stunned to speak before climbing down the stairs and disappearing from everyone’s sight.

Chapter Text

Chapter 23

Placing the bags on the counter, he heaved for lost breath that hadn’t really been with him since the moment, he had started climbing those stairs, entered the house and finally let go of those wretched plastics that had only made his arms before for a split second of release.

“Fuck.” He moaned as the tension from his back increased when he finally popped the stubborn knots by leaning all the way until his palms were pressed to the back of his shirt. Sasuke was hundred percent sure that he was making one of those blessed out faces when the most obstinate one which was located somewhere beneath his left shoulder blade finally popped with a sickening sound-

“That sounded painful.” Spoke a voice that was both deep and unnaturally familiar that it made his skin crawl and Sasuke couldn’t help the deep frown that marinated his face upon turning around and seeing none other than the annoying therapist leaning against the wall of his kitchen.

He was wisely going to ignore the fact that Kakashi had stepped into his house uninvited and Sasuke hadn’t noticed shit.

Didn’t he lock the door?

He recalled the way his arms had literally begged him for a break and knew that he would not have given two fucks at the time, if someone had broken into his house.

There wasn’t much for them to take anyways.

“What do you want?” He asked rather than answering Kakashi’s question in a much harsher way-

Best example, by throwing the nearest knife at his head and hopefully, kill him in the process.

A white eyebrow was raised on the masked face, creasing the man’s brow and going directly on Sasuke’s sensitive nerves.

“Is that the way to speak with your brother’s doctor?” He asked lazily with a swing of a smirk on his lips which made Sasuke angrier than before and the most ridiculous part was that he didn’t even know why he was so furious at?

Himself, his mind suggested and his demons eagerly nodded their heads.

Because he had finally come to the realization that he was going.

Leaving.

The decision was made and all he really wanted was for his brother to heal faster so that Sasuke could go and wishfully, die in a pit or something.

But he’d be away. Far away from everything and most importantly, everyone.

It sucked that he was actually going to do this and leave every single thing behind was a little depressing and he knew that he was going to miss Tobi, Itachi more than usual and the newest edition to the fucked up senes-

Naruto.

But it needed to be done.

Sasuke was way too exhausted to deal with anything anymore.

Kakashi could utter nice words, say that Itachi cared somewhere deep down somewhere but Sasuke was far too gone.

He didn’t believe shit.

And he was done being nice to everyone. Things just lost their meaning, Itachi could be cruel and hard and cold, okay.

Cool. Sure, why not.

It still hurt, although Sasuke doubted that shit didn’t hurt anymore and he was always in pain.

He was done trying.

“How long does it take for him to get better?” He questioned as a way to change the topic mainly, because he wanted Kakashi out of his house as soon as possible, he needed to go to work in approximately of forty minutes and he was also not exactly in the mood of attending to Kakashi’s weirdness or his stupid ideas of why porn should be allowed to be read in public.

The man blinked and then laughed as if he was mocking him which, yeah, okay it was relevant mainly because Sasuke’s whole being had become a joke at this point.

“Well..it depends. I do think that your performance a few hours ago had been quite magnificent, it did some thi-

“It wasn’t a performance.” He interrupted rudely as he started putting the items away from the plastic, his gaze down and shunning the fact that Kakashi was now eyeing him like one of his patients.

Like Sasuke was some sort of lab rat.

“It…wasn’t?”

Was it really?

He didn’t even know at this point, he knew that nothing in the fucking world would ever make him despise his brother but Sasuke was also so,so,so tired of pretending to be okay when Itachi easily slashed through his carefully sewed threads, destroyed every single fraction of the walls that Sasuke had spent days on building around himself to protect his own mind and yet, just a word could so easily make him disabled.

Kakashi was wrong. Itachi was just not like that.

Sasuke didn’t believe shit.

So, why should he care about hurting someone’s feelings who didn’t care at all and in fact, probably enjoyed seeing him this way.

Broke. Soon to be homeless. Starved. Overworked. Overwhelmed.

Broken and lonely.

“It wasn’t. Now, get to the point.”

Kakashi frowned for a moment and had Sasuke not been staring into his soul, he would’ve possibly missed it. A second later, Kakashi smiled and nodded.

“Good. Okay. I’d give it another three months.”

Sasuke huffed and stared over at the counter where salt and peppers were situated on the side of the wall, next to the half bag of chips that Naruto had eaten the other day that he was here, not when he and the blond had been on each other’s throats.

Definitely before the idiot found out about Sasuke’s bad habits, and most likely before Sasuke found out that Naruto had, hypothetically, feelings for him.

“Are you sure?” He asked with irritation mainly because he was annoyed at the mere presence of Kakashi and mostly because the period was way too long and he wanted to be gone, be left alone, away from everything and everyone.

He didn’t know when he had come to the conclusion in a form of an order, not caring any longer and in spite of anger, madness and maybe some sadness as well.

Tobi had been crying and he had been debating with himself for days now.

The thing was, he could leave right now. Make sure that Itachi was okay and is taken care of, pay for him from wherever he decided to stay but at the end of the day, he still couldn’t.

Why?

Tobi would had no one.

Itachi wasn’t capable of raising him at the moment.

Kakashi nodded, a frown on his face marinating whatever he was actually feeling inside before he swallowed and leant a shoulder against the blade of his door.

“Fine…” he replied as an awkward silence reared its ugly head. It always did when the topic of any of his conversations included his brother and the hard relationship they both were currently carrying..

Correction: Sasuke was carrying, wasn’t he? Itachi wanted nothing to do with him and at some point, Sasuke was personally starting to question if he even wished for a restored relationship.

Probably not. He was done.

Sure, he loved his brother and would do anything to have him healthy again but to be eye to eye or just staying near and to be actual siblings again?

First of all, it was a lost cause and second of all, he wasn’t sure if he wanted one to begin with.

What would Itachi do?

Be disappointed that Sasuke can’t really eat much or that he smokes his lungs to the sky and doesn’t give two fucks about anything else?

…that he wants to leave?

Or be indifferent for either of those issues?

The possibility of the latter hurt too much to consider.

“Are you okay?” Kakashi asked with a sense of a fatherly smile on his masked lips which made him both scared and yearning at the same time.

It burnt to be this terrible at communicating because all he had to do was talk..

Tell the man that he was in pain, his chest was crashing, the weight of the world was becoming too heavy, he hadn’t looked at himself in days, his stomach couldn’t contain more than two bites of food, he was considering just leaving and never coming back-

He was done.

“I’m fine. Just tired.”

Kakashi gave him a weird look as if he didn’t believe anything that just left Sasuke’s mouth, a quiver on his jaw and a blink towards his general direction before he shrugged passively like he didn’t give two fucks.

“Then, rest. You look dead on your feet.” He said before turning back and leaving without anything else, closing the door softly behind him.

Rest..

How lovely.

He had a job. A child that was with Naruto. A brother to pay for.

And the weight of the world to carry.

-/

“Thank you!”

Naruto was seriously never going to leave this child out of his sight or ever say no to him.

The face was way too cute to deny…or the puppy.

It was a red thing with streaks and long whiskers, baby brown eyes that had started licking Tobi’s face as soon as the fur ball was near the kid, wagging its hairless tail like there was no tomorrow, and moving around the laughing child-

Naruto had to get the dog.

There was just no other way around it.

And that was how Naruto found himself smiling back at the adorable kid who was holding a energetic puppy close to his chest-

Naruto wanted to cue quite loudly but decided to remind himself that he was a full grown adult and he needed to take care of that dog on his own mainly because Sasuke would never accept an animal inside his house or because he couldn’t afford for it.

He didn’t really think that Sasuke was such massive fan of dogs anyways.

He seemed like the literal definition of cat person.

He was like a fucking cat anyways.

A feisty one.

“But we can’t tell Suke about this, okay?”

Tobi looked up at him with something like adoration and wonder and maybe a little concern as well because to Tobi, it was quite unlike Sasuke to get angry at anything so it was understandable-

Naruto was so not jealous…at all.

He pulled over a little while later before shutting the car, twisting in his seat and smiling to Tobi who answered back along with the dog that barked pathetically a couple of times.

It was show time.

He opened the door, grabbed the supplies for the pet and moved out to open the other side for Tobi to step out of the car. The kid had the small furry animal in his little hands and was seemingly happy with everything that was happening at the moment even if Naruto was just hoping against all odds that Sasuke would be at work and not anywhere near this place in case, he saw what Naruto had done and would choose murder as the best option.

It wouldn’t be the first time but recently, Sasuke only got irritated and Naruto was starting to only wish to make this damn idiot happy, to smile and just not get mad…

Just..relax for two damn minutes instead of stressing about everything.

“What are we going to call him?”

He turned from the door to the complex that he had opened just now to notice the little kid who was hopping on his feet with the dog dangling in his grip, a worried expression on his face that was so bizarre, it made Naruto’s skin crawl.

“Is everything okay?” He asked and turned the key to step inside of the place, chewed on his bottom lip as his gaze fell on the endless stairs and the bags that he needed to carry all the way to the eighth floor and decided that tending to Tobi’s childish concerns was far better than letting his thoughts dance anywhere around the fact that his legs were going to be screaming very soon.

“Suke wouldn’t get too mad…right?”

The good thing was that Tobi knew that Sasuke was going to get mad..the bad thing was that Naruto also didn’t know just how mad the raven was going to get.

Hopefully, not much because technically, it was going to be Naruto who was the real owner.

“Nah! It’ll be okay!” He replied with a huge grin that made his cheeks hurt along with his heart that was squeezing painfully in his chest.

Could he possibly just do one single thing that would result in Sasuke’s smile rather than frown?

Tobi was immediately happy as he stepped around Naruto and proceeded to go upstairs without much of a problem mainly because he was only carrying a tiny puppy and Naruto was torturing his poor arms with the bags.

Lovely.

They climbed up and by the time that they were on their own floor, Tobi had stopped for Naruto for approximately of sixteen times and Naruto himself was absolutely dead on his feet exactly like Sasuke’s face who was staring at them with something close to horror and confusion and a mix of them both that resulted in a raised eyebrow with a frown to match the vibe before he opened his mouth even if nothing came out to the point that he was basically gaping before closing his mouth and blinking hard.

“You know what?..” he started as he raised a hand towards the dog that was held securely in Tobi’s arms and wagging his tiny tail before sighing like he was frustrated, “ I don’t wanna know.” He finished before stepping around them and ignoring Tobi’s wails of excitement that resulted in a frown later when Sasuke only continued on.

Naruto himself didn’t even try to stop the older raven. It wouldn’t work after all.

Sasuke was headstrong and there was no way he was going to stop for even a single second.

“Let’s get in.” He said and pulled the door open to his house just as Tobi stepped in and let go of the dog who didn’t waste a single second and rushed to pee in the corner of the wall…directly on the sofa.

He could only sigh.

-/

“Somebody is disappointed.”

The reaction he received was priceless. Itachi jumped out of his skin much like a terrified cat before turning around from the window where he had been peacefully leaning on before glaring like he had a personal grudge against Kakashi and his entire race of ancestors.

“Just what is wrong with you?” He asked unkindly with that rude demeanor that only Itachi seemed to be able to pull before turning back to the window, crossing his arms protectively against his chest, letting his head fall on the cool glass and staring blindly out to the streets as if his little brother who had quite not so brotherly roasted him a couple of days ago and disappeared again, would appear below and Itachi would, somehow, gain some peace of mind that his brother was just having a bad day that particular time and wasn’t actually indifferent towards him.

Bad news for Itachi though, from what Kakashi had seen the last time he had encountered the younger raven, Sasuke was no longer pretending..

Things were genuine this time.

“Admit it, you were startled..something on your mind?..or someone?” He pressed, pushing some much needed emphasis on the last word which got some reaction that was both lovely and cute because Itachi was trying desperately to conceal it and all of those years old being a lawyer was coming up short when the matter was about the well-being of his little brother or the deadness that was most often present in his eyes lately.

“What the fuck are you playing at?” He demanded in that Itachi fashion which was quite amusing to witness before gazing out of the window once more.

“I never thought, I’d ever hear you say that word.” And he genuinely hadn’t, mostly because the mere thought that Itachi could utter such words was impossible, if not out of reach of mind.

“Well, now you did; so, fuck off.”

“Wow, I think I like this side of you a lot more.” He stated and both observed and enjoyed the way Itachi recoiled from the window and rolled his eyes so hard that they disappeared in the back of his head before he moved out of the room all together to worry about his little brother somewhere else.

He stopped short between two rooms and glanced back at him over his shoulder.

“…did you hear from him?”

“Who?”

Itachi glared harshly. “Sasuke.”

“Oh! Your moody teenager of a brother, sure I’ve seen him.”

Itachi only stared in that same position.

“If you’re wondering if he was serious or just trying to gain your attention, rest assured….your attention is the last thing he wants.”

Chapter Text

Chapter 24

The problem with raising a little puppy was that until the time the tiny fur ball got used to you; you were fucked in all of your holes and no, there would be no exception. Naruto was this close to losing his shit for two reasons: A) Tobi was becoming a bit restless because he missed Sasuke. B) the little dog couldn’t stop peeing on every single surface in the fucking house.

It was normal, Naruto knew what he had signed up for but what he just couldn’t help but be frustrated for was that the said little creature kept giving him those round, brown eyes for everything and Naruto couldn’t even glare at the thing.

At least Tobi was happy..

Kind of.

“Do you think Suke would let me play with him a lot?”

Naruto pushed on his knees to get up from the third section of his floor that the unnamed puppy had so lovingly garnished with pee before turning around to Tobi. The kid was cradling the source of Naruto’s knee and back pain in his chest as the said source kept chewing on his fingers, with a focused expression that used to weird him out but now, it seemed almost normal..

Just like Tobi. As familiar as the frown that was always on Sasuke’s face.

“How about we name him first before thinking about your uncle?” He asked nicely as he put the washcloth away in the sink to be washed later, when he felt less like he was about to fall over.

“Oh! I already have a name!”

“Oh, yeah? What is it?”

Tobi giggled and whispered something in the dog’s fallen ear like it was a top class secret before gazing at the animal’s eyes and glancing back at Naruto’s frowning but amused face.

“We settled on Kurama.” He said as a matter of factly like he was letting a bunch of peasants know that they were going to die. “ is that okay?” He asked a second later with a smile voice so unlike what he had used just a second ago.

Naruto, ever the idiot, decided to ignore the fact that the name kind of reminded him of “karma” and smiled widely in defeat.

Besides, Kurama seemed all too happy to be named that judging by the way he kept wagging his tail and licking Tobi’s face.

-/

There was a bottom line in everything. A little turmoil at the end of the long road and a turbulence at the ship which easily crossed the waves. Sasuke had come to the conclusion a long time ago that when the universe sent one of those turbulences your way, you just accepted it and past it like a ship on the waves. Either you’d survive, or you’d die and there was no way in between so, when the head doctor finally told him that he was quite fascinated by Sasuke’s beauty, he already knew what the next line would be.

“How about a dinner at my place?”

The right answer would’ve been a sly smile that he had seen on Itachi’s face on numerous occasions and a offhanded ‘ no, I could literally be your child.’ But what left his mouth was quite the opposite even if the way he mentioned the issue was likely obvious.

“Uh…I don’t think, I’m free tonight.” He said cooly as if not to let Orochimaru know of his nervousness even if the yellow eyes followed the shaking movement of his hands and were probably already calculating their next step in the grand plan of getting into his pants.

Sasuke wasn’t stupid, he knew a pervert when he saw one and the only reason why he hadn’t dealt with the doctor yet was because: A) no one would believe him, B) he needed the job and rejecting this guy might result in him being fired.

Would Orochimaru fire him?

Maybe. And Sasuke was seriously not in the mood of finding another job when all he wanted to do was to leave the whole place behind so, that left him with even less options.

“It doesn’t have to be tonight.” The full grown man who might just be older than his father if the man was still alive said as he rounded the desk and came in front of him to( the audacity) hold his hands in a tight grip like he wanted Sasuke to know that he loved him-

So many people claimed love these days, first Naruto and now his boss.

Although, Naruto was…

Sasuke frowned and it probably made his situation more awkward because Orochimaru was literally right in front of him and would assume that Sasuke was getting uncomfortable with the close contact and the hands gripping his own which was a red flag to Sasuke’s nerves but he just couldn’t help it.

Did Naruto actually love someone like him?

A part of Sasuke that was deep down and buried under piles of ashes of his soul was screaming to be loved just a fraction but the other side of him was denying every fact of closure.

Why would someone like Naruto like him anyways?

“Sasuke.”

He looked up to the expecting face of his boss, the way the brows of the man were creased as bad as they were like literal bridges had been crashed vehemently and decided to take the chances.

Naruto deserved someone better, Orochimaru wanted a quick fuck and Sasuke was leaving anyways so what if he gave in just this once?

“I’ll see if I’m free some other tim-

“Tomorrow?”

He frowned a bit harder. Truth or not, the man was playing way too eagerly and sure, Sasuke wanted his job secure but this extreme case of horniness was starting to bother him.

So he played dumb, like he didn’t know what the man was really after.

“Is it about work?”

The taller smirked and shook his head. “Oh, no. Just..you know..Well, I had hoped that we’d be able to talk about this at my place.”

Sasuke made sure to roll his eyes mentally because “this” was actually Orochimaru’s desire of fucking him and trapping him in his house so Sasuke would have no means of escape.

He wasn’t stupid, he knew what creeps did and found amusing these days especially if one of their victims was someone as desperate as Sasuke.

“Maybe some other time, then.”

“Could you give me an exact date?”

“I’m afraid no.” He said passively before turning to the door only for the grip on his hands to tighten ten folds and squeeze-

“You’re hurting me.” He stated warningly with that hint of anger that he was trying not to show before he twisted his hand and was about to slap some senses into his boss, had the cold lips not have attacked his own.

Now, Orochimaru was both taller and stronger than him and so Sasuke didn’t stand a chance against the massiveness that pushed him towards the wall, grabbed both of his struggling wrists in iron grip and pulled them over his head as teeth pulled at the sensitive skin of his throat-

They sank-

Sasuke screamed against the hand around his mouth.

Fuck, that hurt like a bitch and by the feels of the hotness, he was definitely bleeding hence: time to fight back.

He twisted, pulled, bit, and pushed his body although, Orochimaru just did not seem to budge a single amount and only flushed himself more against his much smaller body-

Sasuke bit the hand that was around his mouth and screamed for help the second the limb was away from his face before he pushed against Orochimaru’s shoulders, didn’t succeed and was about to scream again before the bitten hand came forward again just as a knee separated his kicking legs to press uncomfortably to his crutch-

“Hey! Leave him alone!”

Never had Suigetsu ever sounded so fucking lovely before.

The doctor’s body was pulled off of him a few seconds later by other employees and coworkers and by the time that Sasuke could breathe again, he was on the floor, pulling his knees to his chest and heaving. Maybe, it was a bad idea to come to work today.

Definitely a terrible one to actually show a green light to someone who creeped him out as much as Orochimaru.

The thing was, his mind was too busy running with ideas, half finished plans, and the new result to the additions of his life that he didn’t really think the whole process through, all he could see was just an old man who did not seem that old being drastically dramatic about his intentions with him and seeing no problem dating a person who could literally be his son.

Except the fact that Sasuke was better off being nobody’s anything.

He genuinely didn’t think that he’d go as far as assaulting him-

Was it an assault? He didn’t think so.

Bringing a shaking hand- why the fuck was he shaking?!- to his rapidly bruising neck, he swallowing and winced as the saliva touched the back of his throat.

Great, now he was going to have to deal with a sore throat as well.

But..was it an assault? It wasn’t too bad, all Sasuke had gotten from the experience was a bruise in shape of a hand around his neck and a throat that burnt when he swallowed too hard. Nothing major. Nothing too bad.

He could deal with it…right?

The sudden urge to run to the Addictin Center and cry his eyes out to his older brother was so severe that it knocked the breath out of his lungs bad by the time he finally understood what was happening around him, tears had already formed firmly around his eyes but were clinging stubbornly and refusing to fall-

Probably because Sasuke was feeling the dead presence of his father again who would squeeze his throat harder and stare directly into his soul, if a single tear dropped.

“Are you okay?!” Suigetsu asked as soon as he was crouching down in front of him right after rushing the doctor out, leaving the room with only the two of them inside and a few nurses in the doorway with what seemed to be a pitying look on their faces, Sasuke hated it. Despised it and wanted to die rather than to see it directed towards himself.

He just wanted to disappear into the ground, somewhere no one would find him.

And Sasuke wanted to leave..huh. It wasn’t something so horrendous and he already wanted Itachi to care so badly it hurt..have his brother back, abhor the feel of a touch but yearning it the same, feel comforted as soon as his older brother held him-

Was it too much to ask for?

He wanted to go back home and tell Naruto everything, have someone to protect him because he missed the feeling of safety.

Tell the blond that you know, what? Fuck it, I love you too!, but shit was way too dark to consider healthy and he just needed to lay down somewhere for only a few minutes and know that by the time he woke up, he was whole again.

Was it too much to ask for?

He heaved for more breath but didn’t find it and only managed to scramble away when Suigetsu’s hand touched his shaking shoulders, making both of them flinch and move out of reach.

“Sorry, I forgot you hated that…” Suigetsu stated calmly as he kept a himself lowered to the ground,both of his hands firmly next to his body and thankfully nowhere near Sasuke and asking him if he needed to be moved-

“I’m fine..I’m okay..” he replied after a while of constant silence before he rubbed his hand on his face to keep the tears away- he wasn’t a child, it wasn’t the first time that he needed to break down but couldn’t, he should be able to handle it…

He needed to handle it.

“Alright..can you stand?” Suigetsu asked in that calm manner that he only used when he was speaking to a patient that was a young child-

As if Sasuke was some sort of a child.

Funny because Sasuke genuinely felt like one right now even if the mere thought of it disgusted him and he wanted to strongly fight back the urge to hiss at Suigetsu that he wasn’t a kid, or a breakable object, he could handle the truth..

And yes…he could stand. He just needed some time to get the shaking of his knees under control.

That was it.

“Is there anyone I can call for you?”

Those stupid tears gathered behind his eyelids again and still refused to fall. Who did he have to call?

There was absolutely no one who cared enough to drop everything for him..

The fact that he was all alone in an enormous world was too much to handle most of the time but especially unbearable now and only because what…someone had grabbed his throat and bit his neck?

It wasn’t too bad, nothing major happened, he was nineteen and not some kid, he should’ve been able to handle it..

Except the fact that he couldn’t handle it. The bruises on his skin felt foreign, almost too big and suffocating, the bite mark was aching in a way that it probably shouldn’t and Sasuke only wanted to sleep, not worry about anything.

Who to call…?

The idea was way too bizarre but his fucking mind was too quick with bringing the image of the sunny smile and ocean eyes that his mouth couldn’t help but whisper the name.

“Who?” Suigetsu asked hopefully with a raised pitch in his voice that made Sasuke a little itchy in the inside, a bit more annoyed in his head even if his eyes were slowly dropping-

“Naruto..” he managed to say before his eyes actually fell closed. He didn’t know why he suddenly felt so sleepy and exhausted but all he knew before he lost conscious was the sheer emotion of being lonely, the rush of adrenaline that finally left his body in a hallow coma and the fact that was falling forward only for two hands to grab his shoulder-

Sasuke wanted the hands gone but was unconscious before he could say anything else.

Chapter Text

Chapter 25

Tobi fell asleep fairly easily after playing around with Kurama for as long as his energy supply possibly could before collapsing on the couch along with the tiny dog and dozing off, leaving him alone in the coldness of his apartment and the demonic thoughts that refused to give him a peace of mind.

Naruto was tired.

It had been a long day, first the groceries, the way Sasuke had looked more murderous than before that particular morning as if Naruto’s mere presence was annoying him, trying to gain Tobi’s forgiveness for making him cry by literally adopting a puppy for him to having the said puppy ruin his carpet, couch and his bed.

It had been a long day. And it sure as hell wasn’t how he wanted to spend his evening but shit happened the way they wanted, plus…

The recent activities did things to fuck up his existence lately so it was a good thing that these things had clouded his mind lately.

Except when the concept was Sasuke, shit went so wrong when that pure evil force was the center of his mind.

“What a chaotic mess. I hope you’re surviving.” Said Sakura behind the couch that Naruto had spent the last fourteen minutes cleaning due to the little puppy who had peed the shit out of itself on top of it.

“What do you want?” He replied rudely because he was still kind of annoyed with her for a few days ago where he had lovingly gotten fucked up by the punks, got to see Sasuke’s other side that was calm-

Smooth, without a single edge that was usually all over him, sleepy, as beautiful and lonely as the moon-

God, he missed him already.

And got into a fight with Sakura.

She had been his childhood best friend but things had probably fucked up along the way because she had done some shit judging by her guilty expression upon seeing him crestfallen when he returned from his yet another argument with Sasuke.

What he was anxious about was what she had done.

Sakura didn’t usually feel guilty but when she actually did..

“Sak?” He asked irritably when he received no answer. Chewing on his bottom lip, he waited some more before deciding to fish some snacks out of the fridge.

“…can we talk?” She asked after he had opened the door and was already placing a package of unopened cheese and a jar of diced tomatoes on the counter.

“Uh..are we not right now?”

“Naruto.” She said in that voice she only used when she thought that he had done something beyond stupid by her standards. In this case, it was the shitty sense of relief that made him think about all sort of problems that had recorded lately. Topically, he was still constipating to just go to the Health care Center and fish Sasuke out, try to talk to the asshole to finally find common ground and hopefully, not end up kissing those soft looking lips.

Because unfortunately, Sasuke did have those plum, pink and soft shits that Naruto had only recently found out about in that night where he also figured out that smooth side of the bastard.

“What?” He asked before turning around and slamming the door of the fridge shut.

“I think we need to have a conversation about a few nights ago.”

“About the fact that you gaslighted Sasuke? Or the one where you did some other shit-

“I told him.” She blurred out with that guilty expression that was starting to annoy the fucking daylights out of him.

Told him what?

What was there to be told anyways?

He frowned darkly, sparkling heartbeats ripping against his bones and breaking his chain of thoughts because just what the fuck was that supposed to mean?!

He wasn’t one of those individuals that got angry at everything at any given time, and he hated being that way but he knew Sakura and he knew her way too good.

The face she was making was never a good sign.

“Told him what?” He asked carefully as he placed the loaf of bread on the counter before glancing at her with something that he probably would’ve scolded himself for but at that moment, he couldn’t really care. Not when the matter of the conversation was that spooky bitch that had roasted him that morning.

“I…I..” she stuttered a couple of times before silencing and glancing down until her chin was touching her collarbone beneath her red shirt that Naruto had gotten her for her birthday.

A special one that had a picture of both of them when they were only ten.

She always loathed it but wore it anyways and now…

He already knew.

“Sakura, you didn’t.”

But she had done and the way she sobbed against her chest was a big give away.

“Oh, you did…you fucking did.”

“Naru-

He took a deep breath to keep whatever had woken inside of him under control as he glanced at Tobi’s sleeping form from behind Sakura’s shoulder and he knew that he couldn’t let it pop.

He had seen Sasuke come close to absolutely going feral but never letting the beast out because of that little dot of a human being.

He needed to be calm.

Like the moon.

Like Sasuke.

“Sak…” he started as he balled his fists, aching to smash them across the nearest wall but-

Keep. It. Under. Fucking. Control.

“Get out.” He forced out through his gritted teeth with a low tone, kept his head down because he couldn’t stand to look at her, someone who had been his friend ever since he found a home with Kakashi, someone who he told his everything and anything-

She betrayed him.

Just like that. That fucking easily.

“Naruto…please.”

“I just don’t wanna hear it…” he pointed towards the door. “ just fucking leave.” He said in one deep breath before turning away from her.

Perhaps, he was exaggerating it but it hurt and he just couldn’t get Sasuke’s disappointed face out of his vision.

…or the knowledge that he knew that Naruto was head over heels in love.

Was it why he was over him? So done and yet so furious because Naruto had dared to grow feelings?

But..Sasuke wouldn’t be as merciless as to cut ties with him, right?

His heart stopped beating the moment the thought entered his brain.

Just what would he do without that endless stare?

He was lost at nights and he needed that moon more than he needed himself.

-/

“This is the last time I’m bringing Takeout for your ass.” He stated quite dramatically and the way Kakashi smiled underneath his mask was enough indication that the man was annoyed as well.

Well, Naruto was absolutely done with shits that surrounded life and Kakashi’s annoyance with him was way too much.

“The times that I used to hand feed your blond ass when you were sick…children are so ungrateful.” The masked man replied as he leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms across his chest.

Great. He was pouting.

He had placed Tobi and Kurama under his old neighbor’s care and he had to literally get out of his house to cool off because of Sakura’s spectacular disaster of loyalty when Kakashi decided to call him and ask for Shit ton of burgers and hash browns that Naruto, like the idiot that he was, ended up purchasing at the nearest Macdonald’s.

And to make matters worse, he had come almost face to face with none other than Sasuke’s literal copy who happened to be his older brother. The guy had stared at him for approximately of three long seconds before glaring( just like fucking Sasuke) and stalking off towards the furthest seat and staring out of the window.

Naruto had to debate with himself for nearly six whole minutes not to move towards that poor excuse of a brother and smack him upside the head because he was a bitch and Sasuke deserved so much better.

“Is he making any progress at all?” He asked after pointing a thumb over his shoulder to where he thought Itachi was situated which was basically the place he had been occupying ever since Naruto entered the place, near the window and sitting on a uncomfortable looking chair.

“I can’t share my patients issues with someone other than their family.”

“…seriously?”

The son of a bitch had the nerve to smirk before shrugging and managing to chew on fries without taking that stupid mask off.

It was mildly irritating but no more than his cellphone that rang with that annoying sound that had gone on his nerves these days-

“Hello?” He asked upon answering and ignored the curios look on Kakashi’s face before the woman from behind the line said the last thing he had expected. It made his heart pound against his chest and by the time he was aware of the whole thing, he was already running out of the room with his father yelling after him.

Naruto couldn’t stop, he refused to-

Not when..

Oh, god.

No, please,no.

Unluckily, he bumped into Itachi of all people and strutted back before a ball of fury and pain developed in his chest like a massive fire because this man in front of him was responsible for so,so many shits and was still way too prideful and egoistic to see the hurt he was causing to someone who deserved literally none of it.

“You…”he mumbled angrily as frustrated tears pooled into his eyes and even if Kakashi reached him, he was useless to stop his fist from connecting to the raven’s cheek.

“Are you happy now?! Are you proud?!” He screamed, probably distressed so many of the patients as well but he couldn’t possibly care any less about his surroundings or the guards trying to push him away, or Kakashi who was between him and the fallen raven that was staring at him with something like blankness-

Naruto abhorred how similar of a expression it was to the one Sasuke wore all the fucking time.

“He’s hurt! He’s always hurt! All because of you!” He kept screaming even if the men pushed him all the way down, his eyes stung with tears as they ran down his scarred cheeks because Sasuke didn’t deserve that kind of pain.

He was way too innocent for that-

He was too precious.

He was way too broken and Naruto hated himself because he wasn’t there to break that man’s hands when they tried to selfishly touch and prod at that sensitive, pale skin when Sasuke flinched by the most harmless touches of Tobi and that son of a bitch had..

Pushed him?

Pulled at Sasuke’s too bony wrists when Naruto didn’t even dare allow the wind to touch because it’d blow the raven away?

Frustration and so much rage was suffocating him-

“Hurt?…what do you mean hurt?”

He stopped in his sobs and stared bewilderingly at the man on the floor who had clumsily propped himself on his elbows before getting up,or more accurately they all did. Although, Kakashi’s stare was more sympathetic than Naruto’s or the guards.

Naruto stubbornly kept his mouth shut.

Apparently, Itachi despised that gesture. “What. Do. You. Mean?” He asked slowly in a threatening tone and sure, it did sound intimidating but Sasuke was pained and Naruto hadn’t been able to stop it so he was pretty fucking sure that nothing had the power of scaring him.

Even if Itachi genuinely looked ready to murder someone.

“What do you mean hurt?” He asked again and a undertone of madness had creeped into his voice, a glassy note to his eyes and a noticeable tremor to his entire body.

Kakashi took a step between him in case the raven became violent but before he could do much, Itachi sidestepped him and stared at Naruto with something close to sadness, so much pain that the blond suddenly thought that it was Sasuke staring at him instead of his older brother whose cheek was bleeding crimson-

“What do you mean hurt?!” He suddenly screamed, the sound so loud that Naruto’s ears popped and Itachi probably had burned his own throat with that rough treatment as the polluted noise bounced off the walls in a tight echo.

More tears ran down Naruto’s face because this man in front of him was responsible for Sasuke’s exhaustion, hunger, near fucking heart attack-

Only five fucking minutes.

The nights he spent hungry because he was being ripped apart by working three jobs at once, standing for hours, being overworked until he dropped unconscious on the tough couch that he refused to let Tobi sleep on, selling that car because he couldn’t afford shit when his brother was too prideful to get better-

When his brother didn’t even want to acknowledge his existence-

“You don’t deserve to know.” He spat with all of the hatred he could muster and was genuinely surprised when Sasuke’s brother sobbed-

Literally sobbed and turned his face away as it scrunched in raw pain, lips pierced together as fat tears ran down his gaunt face-

Did Sasuke look like that if he cried too?

“I’m a piece of a fucking shit, I know that and I also know that I don’t deserve it but please, I’m begging you…please,tell me.” He asked with that unused, haggard voice of his, broken face and crying eyes and..

Fuck Itachi for looking too much like Sasuke.

“Naruto.” Kakashi warned lowly from behind Itachi.

Naruto pursed his lips together as tears ran down even quicker-

He wanted to know?

Fine.

Naruto was going to tell him every. Single. Shit.

“Did you know that if I hadn’t managed to take him to hospital in only five fucking minutes, he would’ve died? He shouldn’t even be at work right now, he shouldn’t be standing, and you know why? Because his heart failed. Because he doesn’t eat, doesn’t have anything to eat. Works three hours at once, gets out at four in the damn morning and return at two at night, takes care of both you and a little kid, keeps everyone safe and sound except himself, is constantly hungry but gives his own food to Tobi, run on pure stubbornness alone and now…now, he was raped and the staff didn’t know who to call because his only kin is his older brother who wants nothing to do with him.” He finished.

The pure agony that he saw on Itachi’s face did not settle his heart one bit.

“And now, if you’ll excuse me. I have to check on him.”

Chapter Text

Chapter 26

The tomato soup that he had forgotten to get for Sasuke was going to be the cause of his death.

…or the way Sasuke was so mercilessly going to bury his body in their backyard.

When he was going to work that morning, Sasuke had risked their father’s wrath by stepping out of his room and climbing down the stairs to the kitchen where both Itachi himself and their father had been to ask for tomato soup for dinner and Itachi had( obviously) accepted it.

Not getting it was out of question mainly, because Sasuke would glare and whine and not talk to him for a couple of hours before making his way to the his room at an ungodly hour at night to ask for forgiveness and sleep in his room.

Itachi was a sadist sometimes and Sasuke was growing fast so, for getting Sasuke’s vapid attention once in a while, he’d occasionally pretend to forget to buy or get something that his little brother wanted just to get the younger raven to react in some sort of way.

Still…

Today wasn’t one of those days and Itachi wasn’t going to ruin the night by being an asshole, so he pulled up to the nearest food station and ordered a salad for himself and a tomato soup for his brother. He didn’t get anything for their dad because the man would refuse to eat and glare at him for hours before retreating to bed.

Sighing, he turned the wheel, pressed on the gas and tried( failed) to shut his brain of the day’s events especially since four different courtrooms had erupted with people screaming at each other and he himself barely holding onto control as the Judge rammed the hammer on the desk-

It had been a long day.

Looking at the horrific traffic, it was also going to be a long night.

Surprisingly, Sasuke hadn’t called him yet; it was pretty common for the raven to buzz his phone down when Itachi was only slightly late and it was already way past the time for him to get home. Worry caught one of his heartbeats in a tight grip as he took a deep breath to calm down. A headache was knocking at the side of his head and the concern wasn’t doing it a favor at all-

“Should I call?” He asked himself in a low voice as he stirred the car to move forward. Glancing at his phone, he caught his own reflection that was staring back at him with a pale, hauntingly concerned look.

He should call.

No harm done, right?

Biting his bottom lip, he glanced at the mirror to check before twisting the wheel to a different direction, it would take longer to get home but at least he was moving and not alone in the darkness of his car with his own darker thoughts.

He could call Sasuke, and there would be nothing wrong with that except the fact that their father could hear and make a spectacle of the situation, especially if Sasuke didn’t have his phone on silent. It was rare for the younger raven not to have his phone on that mood but the chance could be there since the exams season had started and Sasuke was studying hours on end…

He had started to forget simple things lately..

Like sleeping.

Or eating.

Worrisome.

Concerning even, but it wasn’t the first time Sasuke had turned to ruining himself when he was frustrated or stressed. The exams weren’t helping the matter either..

At all in fact.

Should he risk it all and call?

What was the worse thing that could happen? Their father was going to get mad and maybe rant about timing and stuff but it wouldn’t go any further than that..

Not like before..never like before.

Itachi would much rather die than allow that to happen.

He was about to press the call button, in fact his finger even pressed it but immediately after that, he closed it.

Itachi could easily take on Fugaku Uchiha, he could yell back even louder than the man, glare harsher, ignore longer but Sasuke was still too young to do any of that.

He still flinched when their dad stepped too near him, didn’t stare at him in the eye, haunched his shoulder up to his ears when he was yelled at-

He was only sixteen.

Only a kid.

Still jumped at the thought of going on car rides, it was dull but there was still fire in his eyes and Itachi would be damned if he allowed their father to dim that light.

So he closed the phone and bit his bottom lip until the large gates of the mansion started to come to his view which made him press harder on the gas to speed up and make it to the house where he parked the car, took a deep breath and grabbed the food.

Stepping out, he clicked his phone to check the time and turned out it was already way past midnight- two in the morning-

Goddamn.

How long had he been out?

He glanced up to the Sasuke’s room where the window was open but the lights out-

He frowned.

Sasuke would’ve been awake studying right now and would’ve only gone to sleep if Itachi was dragging him to bed. Even if he was asleep, the window would never be open and besides, Sasuke was scared of the dark. He would leave at least one light on.

Maybe Fugaku decided to turn off the lights, if Sasuke had fallen asleep on top of his desk-

Unlikely. Would probably never happen.

Fugaku despised his brother to a level no father should ever feel.

So why was it off?

What was wrong?

He felt his heart speed up, his breath along with it before he fished his keys out of his pocket and turned the knob down to step in only to stop midway when his eyes fell on the dim light of the kitchen that was on and was in fact, the only light which was on in the entire house.

It wasn’t very uncommon for all the lights to be off but lately, things had started to appear weird in all sort of ways so he wanted to be prepared if he were to find his little brother beaten to the inch of his life in the kitchen, mending his broken ribs again like the last time their father had gotten way to drunk to care about the way his leg kicked at the way too weak bones of a seven years old-

He swallowed heavily with his heart in his throat before stepping in and warily making his way to the kitchen. The plastic bag made rustling sounds as he approached which annoyed him to some extent yet, he couldn’t find enough power to care about as his headache was getting worse along with the shaking of his hands-

He just wanted to find his little brother sitting on the table, safe and sound whilst studying for tomorrow’s exam and explain why his room was off, the window open and the kitchen on-

When had the universe been kind to him?

Fugaku was sitting behind the circular table, nursing a cup of coffee that both he and Sasuke avoided when they wanted something to drink, a blank look on his face as he stared at the pistol which was resting innocently on the table like the star of the show.

Itachi literally felt his heart stop.

Not for the first time did he silently call out of his mother to watch over him, just feeling her presence one more time because he didn’t want to deal with anything that could possibly be the aftermath of whatever could come from that gun.

He did not want to deal with that.

With anything.

Please.

For the love of god.

Mom, please help.

“…dad?” He found himself asking the man who was still staring at that damn thing like his life depended on it.

The man finally glanced up with bloodshed eyes-

He had been crying.

…what?

They stared at each other for a couple more seconds before Itachi couldn’t hold it anymore and placed the plastic bag on the counter. He just had to check on his little brother right now, he turned around to leave and was halfway out of the room-

“Itachi.” The man called and Itachi felt his heart skip a beat before his body froze as his neck turned to look at his father.

“Yeah?” He called wearily.

“Sit. Down.”

He frowned before swallowing. “ let me check-

“Sasuke?” His dad asked mockingly and Itachi’s heart was just beating faster and faster like it was about to burst out of his chest.

“Yeah…I’m gonna check on him.” He answered with his shaking voice and exploding heart because his brother was not home and Itachi fucking knew it.

It was probably stupid but he could feel Sasuke. He knew when the kid was lying, hurting, hiding something, not eating, or sleeping-

He could tell everything about him.

His friends liked to say that it was because Itachi had raised Sasuke himself and more or less, he was his parent; perhaps not his father or mother but he was his brother and that was apparently more than enough.

Itachi himself agreed to a whole new level of agreement as he felt sorry squeeze his heart harshly, claw at his sides and down his stomach in a motion that was worse than anything he had ever felt before-

The look on his father’s face was not helping the situation, the innocent looking pistol was no better.

Itachi took a step back and upon receiving no reaction, he dashed up the stairs, taking them two at a time before reaching his brother’s open door( Sasuke’s room was always locked) and stepping in, panting but not giving a fuck as he turned on the lights only to witness an empty room-

“Sasuke?” He called and got no answer. His heart was going to stop.

He moved to the closet and opened it but his little brother wasn’t there, checked the bathroom-

Where was that kid?!

“Sasuke?!” He just did not care about their father’s nerves anymore, he would literally severe the guy’s head, if anything had happened to his brother.

Just where the fuck was he?!

His own room.

Of fucking course.

He ran to the upper floor and slammed the door to his room open, turned the lights on and the disappointment he felt clawing at his sides came back ten times worse.

The room was empty.

There were very few places in the house that Sasuke felt safe enough to hide in and it was basically only his own room and Itachi’s.

Both locations did not have the kid.

Itachi felt bile raise to the back of his throat, burning it and staining and he felt weak in the knees.

Except that he was starting to feel a hot, coiling anger at the pit of his stomach.

Turning around and moving downstairs, he bit his bottom lip hard enough to taste blood because the man was still behind that table with the fucking pistol staring back at him mockingly.

His father despised Sasuke and that weapon didn’t look promising at all.

Damn it all to hell.

“Where the fuck is he?!” He screamed at the man who stared blankly before blinking slowly.

“Lower your voice.”

Itachi was way over it.

“I’ll lower it when you tell me!”

The man glared before sighing as if he was defeated. Fugaku leaned back on his chair and looked up at him before smiling-

Probably the most fatherly smile he had ever seen on the man’s lips.

“He’s safe. You look near heart attack.” He stated the obvious to his face making Itachi’s heart give in to a sudden warmth that surrounded his entire being.

He sagged so hard that he leaned forward, grabbed the nearest surface that happened to be the counter before sighing in pure relief. He missed the soft look on his father’s face before the man pushed the pistol in his view-

He frowned before looking up at his father who was still smiling like when mom was still alive the corner with a round stomach promising a baby that would’ve changed everybody’s lives.

“Dad,where is he?” He asked, ignoring the glaring pistol before Fugaku raised an eyebrow.

“Safe…now, sit down. We’ve got to talk.”

“Tell me where he is.”

“Itachi…sit. Down.”

The voice was serious enough that he knew he wouldn’t be getting anything, if he didn’t start obeying.

He sat down but made sure to display his displeasure with the whole ordeal.

“What do want?” He asked forcefully.

Fugaku licked his lips and sighed heavily before leaning forward and grabbing the pistol. Toying with the handle, adjusting his grip and looking at it before turning his gaze up towards him.

“You do realize that he was the reason your mother is dead?”

The same argument again.

“I don’t want to have this talk again. He is not the reason, mom knew all the risks and she took them. He had nothing to do with it, he didn’t ask to be born!”

Fugaku glared. “He’s a parasite.”

Itachi only shook his head. He was sick and tired of this shit, done with the ordeal, over all of it because his father would never change his mind, and Itachi had stopped trying to mend relationships-

He was only going to protect his brother long enough that the kid could stand up for himself before leaving all together. The second he was financially stable enough, he was getting an apartment for himself and Sasuke and moving out. He was only just starting to get some grip on his life right now but soon-

Fugaku would be alone in his mansion.

The man turned the pistol up towards him and Itachi felt his heart drop.

The hole of the gun stared at him mercilessly.

…was he going to kill him?

The man chuckled before lowering the weapon.

“You really think that I would kill you?…my own son?” He asked in that smooth voice that Itachi had forgot about.

“You beat your son to near death once.” He stated that one time where Sasuke was only six and Itachi hadn’t been around to protect him, shield him with his own body and their father had taken the chance.

“He’s not my son. Only a tiny murderer.”

Itachi ignored the comment like all the other ones.

“Then, why the gun?”

His father smiled again…

Lovingly, parental, so,so like before mom passed away.

He turned the pointer of the gun underneath his own chin.

There were tears in his eyes.

“Sasuke’s in an orphanage near downtown. The address will be texted to you in an hour.”

Orphanage?!

“Dad?…”

“You’re an amazing person,son. Your mother loves you so much.” He said as he cocked the gun with its point still pressed underneath his chin-

Itachi felt his heart drop again.

He wasn’t going to…right?

“Dad, stop. Think about it.”

This man had ruined everything about his life but no way was he going to watch his own father commit suicide.

“I miss her so much.I’m sorry I can’t hold on.” He smiled. “ I’m proud of you.”

The gun fired.

-/

He splashed the cold water on his face and scrubbed it so much that he drowned himself in the sound to keep it off the fact that a bullet had pierced through his father’s skull that night, damaging nerves and tendons, creating a gape where flesh was supposed to be in tact before killing the body.

He didn’t want to hear it.

The way he had tried to stop the bleeding as he called the ambulance and then the doctors telling him that the man was long since dead.

His little brother was at the orphanage but before he got the chance to even grab the keys to get him out of there, police was pulling up and shoving him in prison because his father had been smart enough to place illegal amounts of drugs in his car only for him to be knocked into the world of things that Itachi wasn’t even aware of.

Self doubt clouded his mind, blinded his eyes and Itachi no longer believed himself worthy of taking care of his sibling. He hated himself.

He should’ve taken the gun the moment he saw it.

He blamed himself and during his misery, he didn’t see the suffering he was causing.

The way Sasuke was losing weight, digging a deeper hole for himself, taking care of a child and also a brother who should’ve been there for him.

A brother who didn’t even need to be taken care of.

Itachi stared at himself in the mirror, at the sad looking reflection of who he used to be before his father decided to kill another piece of himself. Way too pale, skinny and gaunt.

Pretending to be sick when the thought of drugs disgusted him.

Placing himself far away and being stuck when his little brother didn’t have anyone else.

It was still stupid.

But he did raise that kid.

He was kind of, sort of his parent.

And as idiotic as it was, Itachi could feel that pain.

He could feel and literally hear his brother’s cries even if he knew that Sasuke never cried.

At least not physically.

He was done being stupid and pathetic.

He had promised his mom that he’d be there for his little brother and he’d been slacking long enough.

Besides, he still had to get a tomato soup for Sasuke.

Right?

Chapter Text

Chapter 27

Blood had gushed to his ears, making it hard to hear anything beyond the sound of his rapid heartbeat as he ran through the corridors. His legs were aching in a sort of way one would only feel when they had been running for hours-

He,had, been running for the past thirty minutes.

Panting for lost breath, Naruto stopped( barely) at the last door and didn’t even bother knocking before shoving the thing open and stepping in only to feel his legs give in because the bastard who had been the source of many of his worries lately was sitting on the white bed with his legs hanging on one side as his dark gaze followed the doctor’s hands which were preparing something that looked like a needle-

Fuck.

“Sir! You can’t just barge in here!”

He felt his skin crawl;the last time he was called “sir” was when he had stepped into Kakashi’s work building and some of the guards had tried to be polite. He still shuddered at the memory-

Shaking his head, he quickly turned to explain himself before Sasuke took pity on him and said that he was..

A friend.

A part of Naruto shone with that statement, mainly because at least Sasuke was acknowledging him as a friend rather than a foe.

Although…a friend who he had kissed but the details didn’t matter at the moment.

The doctor(nurse?) finally turned back to the stitches that she had prepared to apply on Sasuke’s neck where a dark blue bruise had formed and some dry blood clogged the porcelain skin. It looked quite painful, in fact Naruto was certain that Sasuke was holding back a hiss of pure agony as the needle inserted the smooth skin-

Naruto flinched in sympathy before strutting forward where Sasuke was sitting and currently avoiding all eye contact as sweat built on his forehead. He wanted to break the said needle that the woman was stitching a thread into that porcelain skin that Naruto had never, ever even dared to touch in case Sasuke hurt in any way imaginable-

And that piece of shit had not only touched it, but he had also bruised and broken it.

Naruto was seeing pure red.

He swallowed heavily and decided to only focus on control and feeling contained as he stood beside Sasuke who was still not looking at him which was fine, Naruto was only willing to take in the picture of the broken boy that Sasuke had become.

Where was the forceful fire behind those dark eyes?

Naruto was ready to murder a specific person and he was going to enjoy it.

“All done. Would you like some painkillers?” The nurse asked Sasuke nicely as if he was some sort of a glass that was ready to be broken. It was horrible to watch, Naruto remembered the boy as a strong being who didn’t cry, bit his lip hard enough not to make a sound of pain-

Naruto was going to kill that bastard.

“No, thank you.” He replied, voice choked in a way like he was holding back tears in his shiny eyes, trembling and shaking, way too quiet for comfort.

The nurse nodded anyways before taking the tray, eyeing Naruto like she wanted him to know that Sasuke wasn’t in the best mental condition to deal with anger before taking her leave.

The door closed and whatever had held Naruto together shattered along with it.

He breathed harshly through his nose and looked at the brunette who was touching the edge of the bandage wrapped around his neck, eyes downcast and mouth a firm line of white-

He looked small in that hospital bed.

Just like the last time that Naruto had seen him laying on it, whiter than the sheets and with five minutes to spare before death consumed him.

Only five minutes before Naruto never got to see that beautiful face again.

It was already too much.

Pain replaced anger in his being before he slowly brought his hands in Sasuke’s view for the raven to see before placing them on both of Sasuke’s cheeks before bringing the lowered head up only to see tearful eyes and trembling lips.

Naruto was so going to fucking kill the fucker.

They stared at each other for approximately of only two seconds before something seemed to have broken in Sasuke as the raven blinked once-

Twice.

His face scrunched up.

Tears fell and a tiny voice escaped through his lips.

Naruto’s heart broke into millions of pieces and every single one of them belonged to the crying boy in front of him.

Sasuke didn’t sob, nor did he make any other sound other than trembling as fat tears fell over his cheeks that were under Naruto’s much bigger hands, rolling over them and successfully making Naruto want to die right then and there.

He only trembled.

Naruto bit his bottom lip before rubbing his thumbs under those dark, crying pools of black before Sasuke no longer held back and surged forward so slowly as if he was afraid that Naruto would accept the touch. He placed his forehead on Naruto’s collarbone and for the first time since Naruto had met this stubborn idiot-

He heard him sob.

Cry.

Whimper and Naruto could do nothing but wrap his arms tightly around the trembling, thin shoulders for the first time ever as he kissed the side of the raven’s hair, pressed him to his own chest and rocked him back and forth.

“It’s okay, I’m sorry…I love you so much.” He whispered to his ear and tried to ignore the hot, coiling anger at the pit of his stomach when Sasuke shook under his touch and sobbed louder, fisting his hands in Naruto’s shirts and breaking down completely like the walls that he had built for himself had come tumbling down around him-

But, Naruto was here and he wasn’t going to allow this Angel of a human to be alone ever again.

“You’re not alone..even if you don’t want me there, I’ll be and I won’t let you go. I love you so much.” He said again.

“You shouldn’t.” Sasuke answered brokenly as he pressed firmer to his chest.

Naruto held him more securely. “Well, I do. You can’t do anything about it. I love you and I love you so fucking much, it hurts.”

“Maybe, you don’t feel the same but I can’t not love you. You’re important to me, fuck it, you’re everything to me. I don’t know what I’d do without you in my life and I don’t want to even consider not having you in my life. I love you so fucking much and you cannot do anything about it.”

There was only silence in response, but Sasuke was still in his arms and crying. The raven sniffled once before pressing himself closer, nuzzling in the space between Naruto’s neck and collarbone before Naruto started rubbing his back in smooth motions.

“…why would you even love me? I’m not nice, or anything importa-

“You’re gorgeous, nice in your own disrespectful way, lovely in an angry kind of way, more important than you could even think possible, genius, caring and so much more than you could possibly think. You’re precious…I can’t lose you.”

Sasuke didn’t say anything but the silence and the way he had stopped crying was enough indication and sooner than Naruto had realized, he was pulling out of the safe heaven of Naruto’s arms, rubbing harsh circles into his red, puffy eyes and sniffling.

“You can’t mean that..”

Naruto smiled. “But, I do. I mean every single word.” He replied.

Sasuke haunched into himself, lips thinning and tears forming in his eyes again. He looked down at his hands in slight shame and Naruto couldn’t possibly allow such emotion to be anywhere near the raven so, he pulled him into his chest again before kissing his forehead.

“I love you.” He said again and would keep saying it over and over again until Sasuke believed him.

-:

He had wanted to keep still, quiet and in control but he just couldn’t possibly hold on anymore than he needed to-

Naruto had been the broken piece of the puzzle.

Upon seeing the blond enter the room, whatever had been keeping him together slipped right out of his hands and Sasuke was left with nothing to protect himself against the turmoil that erupted from somewhere deep inside of him.

He cried. Sobbed.

Just..let go of everything.

Itachi didn’t care, he was still knee deep in shit and life was crushing him except when the blond wrapped his arms around him, he felt like he could breathe again.

As if the weight had been lifted from his shoulders, his head was finally light again, he could see clearer, and maybe he could hold on after all even if he doubted he’d be ready to face the world any time soon.

For once, he felt whole again.

Pressing himself further into the safety of the arms around him, he closed his tearful eyes and just breathed.

“I love you.” Naruto whispered in his ear like how his brother used to say ‘ it’s okay to cry.’ When he was still in his father’s hands and both of them had hidden in the attic to escape the man’s fists.

So Sasuke cried his eyes out. Cried like there was no fucking tomorrow because it hurt and it burnt so badly that he just wanted it all to stop.

He still felt his father’s presence as tears fell out of his eyes but for some reason it wasn’t as dominant and way less prominent to the point that his slapped cheeks, pinched skin and choked neck felt less like it was from his dad but more like it had always been there and it just felt like normal skin.

Like, it was fine that he felt like it.

As if he wasn’t fucked up and broken but whole and complete even if the stitches in his neck promised a night full of nightmares and horrors, even a worse case of fear of physical touch and terror every time he walked into his workplace.

Although at that moment…

Even if he still didn’t believe himself worthy of Naruto’s love, he felt comforted and safe..

Like he was okay..

Totally fine.

——-/

“You want to leave?”

The raven nodded, gaunt face ashen and concerned but fire in his eyes that Kakashi had been trying his best to catch.

It was finally there, alive, fierce and burning so brightly that it lit the room.

It might’ve been a long road..

But Sasuke’s older brother was finally back.

Chapter Text

Chapter 28

“Seriously, I’m fine!”

“You are not getting off that bed, you hear me?!”

Sasuke was going to tear out his own hair, bang his head against the nearest wall( which just happened to be one that he had hung the clock on) and maybe break Naruto’s skull as well.

That moron was being insufferable, intolerant and on top of it all, he had also blown him a kiss an hour or so ago so, Sasuke was kind of pissed about that too.

They weren’t together or anything, or at least not yet. Not when Sasuke was still trying wrap his head around the fact that Naruto, a person on this fucking planet, loved him.

Like, really loved him and Sasuke was sort of okay with that.

Somehow.

At least, he was accepting both Naruto’s and his own feelings for once, facing them head on and not running away.

It was…pleasant.

“Right, Suke! Don’t get out of bed or I won’t talk to you anymore!” Screeched the little gremlin of a nephew he had the unfortunate satire to have before pointing his tiny finger at him warningly like Sasuke was the five years old in the room, cradling a smaller version of a baby dragon in his arms and not him.

He sighed.

Upon returning home( after much struggle with the doctors and trying to make them understand that no, he wasn’t suicidal and only traumatized) Naruto had shoved him into his room where Tobi usually slept, fucking tucked him in like it wasn’t bad enough already and proceeded to make dinner using what little ingredients Sasuke had in his kitchen.

Ramen, it was then.

He had tried to help the blond, insisted that Naruto didn’t know where much of his stuff was and whine about how the idiot would set his kitchen on fire before apparently, Naruto had had enough and slammed the bedroom door shut to block out his noises of protest.

As a cherry on top, he had also called Sasuke a child, in front of a child.

And to make matter even worse, as if he wasn’t miserable enough already, the universe took great pleasure and decided to make him unstable on his feet so badly that he fell back down on his ass every time he tried to get up.

His legs felt like jelly, his hands shook and, he felt as if he was hollowed on the inside which made him see starts when he moved too fast or even tried to make his voice higher to match Naruto’s deafening tone.

That idiot was loud.

It was no use, the painkillers had destroyed whatever was left of him.

And he really, really wanted to move out of this fucking room.

It wasn’t as terrible as it seemed, the bed was softer than the couch, way more comfortable, the window allowed him to see the slight glow of the moon, there was cold water on the nightstand and everything called him to sleep. What managed to get under his skin, disturb his patience and get him all worked up were the damn walls with their bold color and high stands.

It made his skin crawl.

Reminded him of the same wall that he had been slammed into before cold hands grabbed his throat and refused to let go-

He shook his head and swallowed drily before extending his left hand towards the glass of water, grabbing it and bringing it to his trembling lips with shaking hands, spilling some of the droplets onto the bed and making himself feel disgusted with everything.

And anything.

He needed to get out of this fucking room.

Now.

The door was slammed open and had Sasuke not been looking at the thing for the past five minutes, he would’ve jumped a feet in the air. Tobi rushed in soon followed by a furry puppy with dark red hair and bright yellow eyes which stopped right before the bed and cocked its head as if asking him if he was allowed on the bed.

Absolutely not.

“See? He likes you!” Tobi liked talking loudly a lot, apparently.

Normally, the level of speech wouldn’t bother him and Sasuke often found it distracting as he was washing the dishes, loading the laundry machine and creating a plan for the week ahead but now that his head was in the hazard of splitting in half by the soft sound of a single butterfly, it didn’t seem all that relaxing, in fact Sasuke was struggling to not to twitch in anger and bang his head across the wall that he had been eyeing for a couple of minutes.

Also, it was good to know that a dog liked him too. Even if he preferred cats over them any day. It wasn’t as if he didn’t like dogs, he just thought that they were a bit much. Extremely energetic, hyperactive, required way too much attention and were a mess of emotions.

Cats were more independent. They knew how to take care of themselves.

“It’s adorable.” Was all he could say as he contemplated all the other things that he needed to work harder for because of the tiny creature at the bottom of the bed, starting back at him with huge eyes.

The dog would need a bag of dog food,a kind of collar and a place to sleep.

A hundred dollars.

He grimaced bitterly; now that he was probably fired from the health department, all he had was the shift at the grocery store that barely paid the rent and would never be able to even come close to the payment of the food supply or the taxes or pretty much anything else.

Tobi was going to start school in a couple of months.

After the stunt he pulled at the healthcare, they would never accept him again.

Couldn’t he have just let the guy do what he wanted and not made a fuss?!

It would’ve been just a quick fuck anyways.

He frowned more as his stomach turned at the thought of the long fingers touching, grabbing or-

Caressing-

He almost gagged.

What was he going to do?!

He needed to sign up for a new job as soon as possible, the rent was approaching faster than usual, he needed to pay for the taxes in a couple of days and he had been fucking fired, Tobi was starting school and needed school supplies, a decent place that would probably need money as well, aside from the fact that Sasuke needed to prepare lunch for the kid and take and get him to said school during his work time which would be hard, if the manger didn’t allow him to leave-

He was seriously considering the banging on the wall idea now-

“Sasuke?”

He looked up harshly at both the frowning, confused expression on Tobi and the all too knowing one on Naruto’s face.

Fuck.

“Y-yeah?”

Naruto’s frown deepened. “ are you okay?” He asked as he guided Tobi out of the room which made the dog at the bed restless and moaning before the animal ran after his little human friend.

The blond closed the door shut before strutting forward and lowering himself on the bed in front of Sasuke.

Sasuke gazed down at the mattress of the bed that he never really used. It was an old thing with holes in it, the blanket being the one that he had used since his childhood and the one that Itachi used to wrap around him before placing his head under his chin because he knew, it’d make Sasuke feel safe. The ancient thing was a mess around his legs that Sasuke was having trouble tolerating. The mere thought of looking at himself in the mirror seemed like a unachievable task, way to taxing and just outright exhausting.

He twisted his fingers around the soft material before a pair of tan ones came into his view and clumsily tried to get a hold of his moving fingers. He looked up to the blue orbs and tried not to drown in the stormy ocean inside of them.

“You think too much.” Naruto whispered as if a little tone to his voice would break whatever calmness was in the room, pacing around the tall walls and circling back into Sasuke’s almost nonexistent space.

“You don’t think enough.” He sassed as a poor attempt to lighten the mood and by the sad expression on Naruto’s face, he had failed at that too.

“Well, you think enough for both of us…why don’t you take an actual break from it all and just..sleep?” He asked lightly, as if he didn’t already know the answer to that.

Sasuke pressed his lips together in order to keep the facade together, combining the better parts of himself to make the walls a bit taller to protect himself before exhaling whatever he could possibly muster up.

He couldn’t sleep. He tried it, he did, but after everything that had happened that day, he just couldn’t keep his eyes close long enough to actually fall asleep before all graphic images came to the forefront of his mind and he just had to kiss sleep goodbye.

Naruto helped, far too much than he liked to admit.

His hands were squeezed in Naruto’s bigger, way tanned ones and he could already feel the reliving, soothing calmness wash all over him before the blond pulled him forward to rest his forehead on his tanned collarbone.

It was the way they both contracted each other that made Sasuke wonder why the blond had fallen for him. Because Sasuke was the absolute opposite of Naruto.

He wasn’t bright, energetic, enthusiastic about everything, sunny or even remotely warm to touch..

Yet, the sun had chosen him and he didn’t know if he should feel glad or be scared.

“Can’t, huh?” Naruto asked and all Sasuke could do was nod against the soft skin of the man.

Naruto sighed, the force of it moving Sasuke’s head up and down before the blond brought his right hand to run through the raven hair soothingly.

It reminded him of when Itachi used to do it and somehow, however reluctant it was, he found tears caressing the back of his eyelids.

Fuck, he missed his brother.

“I can’t fucking believe I miss him.” He whispered against the skin, Naruto’s chin had created a sort of shadow, the sharp edge of it shielding his face from the bright light of the room, a halo was already forming inside his mind and behind his closed eyelids-

Sleep was coming fast.

“Miss who?” Naruto asked dumbly as if he didn’t already know and no matter how much Sasuke didn’t want to admit it, even utter the name anymore, he couldn’t help it.

“Itachi.” He said after a beat of silence.

Naruto sighed again.

Silence.

“I was seven when Kakashi got me from orphanage, a little kid with no family and a massive attitude. I wanted nothing to do with that bastard and no matter what happened, I just didn’t want to deal with anything so I refused to go with him.” He stopped from a couple of seconds before running his hand through his hair again.

“He just smirked that day and told me that I didn’t get to decide those things. Needless to say, I was brought to his house.”

“I was angry, mad and just overly annoyed at the whole ordeal but for some reason, I never really felt any creepy vibes from him. Kakashi didn’t even try to hide shit from me, he drank and smoked, cursed right in front of my face and never, ever told me what to do. He’d just look like a creepy kind of way that would stunt me in my place and I just wouldn’t do the shit again.”

“Somehow, I got used to him, however hard it had been. At first I threw his clothes in trashes just to anger him enough to send me back, didn’t eat and tried everything in my power to get him to let me go..he never did .”

“Then, a few months past and by the time I had to start school, I was starting to adjust to him. I don’t even remember when I started to see him as my father but I did and younger me was so stupid to ever doubt that man.”

Sasuke nuzzled closer to him, his eyes impossibly heavy and the hallow between Naruto’s throat and collarbone was softly warm in the darkness of the shadow created by Naruto’s chin, his childhood blanket that somehow, still smelt like Itachi was around him…

He felt at peace..as if he was safe and the screaming ghost of his father was no where to be seen.

“You and Kakashi are really good people…like, really, really good.” He finally said sleepily, his warm breath probably tickled Naruto’s throat but he just didn’t care about that at the moment.

The door creaked open for a second before a tiny figure, cradling a small animal came inside to gaze at both of him cuddled into each other before the boy yawned loudly, the dog doing the same a second after that.

Sasuke smiled as Naruto motioned for the pair to come over before making room for the child.

Sasuke didn’t find it in him to kick the dog out of the bed when the small creature cuddled up in between his crossed legs, resting his small muzzle on top of his knee as Tobi found a comfortable place in between both him and Naruto by resting his head on Sasuke’s chest and throwin his legs on either side of Naruto, the blanket still wrapped around all of them.

It felt way too cozy.

And sleep was still heavy on his eyes.

“I made ramen but I don’t think any of us would be able to eat any of it. It’s filled with noodles, vegetables broth and I boiled some eggs to garnish it. I think I caramelized the onions too much because it smelt wrong, and it also looked a bit wrong too…

Naruto continued on with talking nonsense and by the time Sasuke realized what the blond had been doing, he was already sleep.

-/

“Are you ready?” He asked as he eyed the steaming cup of tomato soup in the man’s trembling hands, just barely holding onto dear life in between the shaking.

Itachi had chewed his nails off on the way to his brother’s apartment and no matter how much Kakashi tried to calm him down, it just didn’t work in any way. The only thing it seemed to have done was making the raven even more nervous.

“I..maybe I’m being too rash, maybe I should just stay behind- he’s been living his life perfectly so far and by interfering, I’ll destroy it. I mean, my dad died right in front of my face and I couldn’t do anything to stop it, what if I fuck up with Sasuke too?! What am I go-

“Itachi!” He yelled to grab the rambling man’s attention, seemingly it worked judging by how the man shut his mouth with a click of his teeth before sighing as if he was carrying the weight of the world on his too thin shoulders.

“Calm down. It’s gonna be okay. Nothing is going to happen, you already prepared yourself for it, but if you want to go back, we can. I can make a phone call with him tomorrow or something.” He informed and watched a mix of emotions ran through the raven’s face before it settled on neutral, blank.

“…I’m going.” He said after a few beats of silence that seemed to have stretched for hours.

“It’s gonna be okay.” Kakashi said and didn’t mention how Sasuke, that poor boy, had always been waiting for this to happen.

For his brother to care again, be there, listen and become who he used to be.

Except the fact that it was one in the morning.

Kakashi had once called the younger Uchiha at that certain hour and the tone, the voice and the attitude he had received had been so impossibly terrifying that he chose never, ever to call Sasuke when he was asleep.

Kakashi peaked a look to the window where Sasuke’s balcony was and the only light that he could see was the one in the kitchen.

He bit back a grimace, Naruto had to be awake. He’d never sleep in this time at night anyways.

“Okay, let’s go.” He said before twisting to open the door just to stop when a hand shot out to grab his forearm, ceasing his motions as he craned his neck to look at the raven questionably.

Itachi looked dazed, anxious and breathing heavily and just on the edge of a panic attack. “ I don’t think he’d want me back in his life.” He finally said.

Kakashi frowned.

He’d had enough.

He got out of the car and moved around it to open the door to Itachi’s side before kneeling down before the man and grabbing his hands that were still holding the too hot container of the tomato soup.

“He wants you so badly, you have no idea.” He said as he pulled the man out of the car on his shaky legs before holding him up by grabbing his arms to steady him.

“We need to go and you need to make this right,okay?”

Itachi looked at him passively before sliding his gaze to the building behind him, probably noticing the cracks, the smoke clouding the cold air of the winter, and making everything appear so much worse, probably also realizing just how terrible of a place his brother was living in.

“Okay.” He said.

Nodding, Kakashi guided the raven who was still clutching the hot tomato soup container towards the doorsteps before opening it and cringing at the amount of stairs they had to climb.

“Let’s go.” He said before forcing Itachi to move his legs to climb the merciless stairs that would definitely become the death of them both, even if Itachi was way too anxious to notice it.

After approximately of five minutes of climbing and silently cursing whoever decided to make the stairs this insufferable, they arrived at the door, stood right behind it and Kakashi could practically hear Itachi’s frantic heartbeat from behind him.

“Calm down.” He reminded before raising his hand to knock-

“Wait!” Itachi hesitated with a trembling voice, making Kakashi frown and turn to look at him only to see the man barely hanging on.

“Are you sure, you want to go?” He asked one more time as Itachi gazed at the closed door with something close to mild horror before he closed his eyes, took a deep breath and when it seemed like a decision had been made, he opened them again.

“Yeah…it’s fine, let’s go.”

Kakashi knocked once, twice and waited for the door to open.

It didn’t.

He couldn’t tell if Sasuke was asleep or not and he was contemplating for a solid minute to call Naruto before the door opened to reveal one drowsy blond with tousled hair and bags under his eyes along with a cheek full of pattern of his pillow that he had been sleeping on.

Naruto blinked.

“Uh…hi?” He said, voice clouded with sleep as he yawned and blinked again as if he still couldn’t really comprehend what he was seeing.

“Well, hello. Can’t believe you’re sleeping.” He couldn’t help but state the elephant in the room before Naruto squinted a couple of times, rolled his blue eyes and moved away from the door as a poor attempt at invitation.

Kakashi checked on Itachi to see him staring blankly at everything before they moved inside the apartment and closed the door behind them.

-/42

The apartment was…quite vacant, in fact, it was almost empty.

Through the opening of the walls, he could see an old looking couch with a thin blanket on top of it, dusted over probably, did no one sleep there?

The window was tightly closed as to not allow the winter air enter the otherwise cold house, a curtain draped over it to shield the moonlight, a somewhat large coffee table, one broken looking television and a rundown rug that was probably from a thrift shop or something.

There were smoke and burnt scars all over it.

The kitchen could be seen from the island as well, not that it had anything to offer, in fact, the only thing indicating that someone lived there was a small pot resting on the stove.

Nothing else.

Was this the condition his brother was living?

“Oh, my god. Itachi?” The blond asked suddenly as if just seeing him.

He had probably just seen him as well because upon opening the door, Naruto had barely kept his eyes open and it was only after he had turned the lights on and squinting a couple of times, did he fully take in the picture which just happened to be Itachi standing not far behind Kakashi’s crossed figure.

“Hello.” He answered back after a beat of silence; it amazed him how his voice seemed to echo through the air, smashing into the walls and circling back all the way to his ears. It made his skin crawl.

“You..I…how…” the blond mumbled before Kakashi took enough pity on his son and ruffled his sunny locks, offering a kind smile and stepping around to get into the kitchen.

“I sincerely hope that Sasuke has some sort of caffeine in here.” He said before opening one of the cabinets and grinning upon seeing one of the bags filled with coffee beans.

Itachi cringed at how empty it actually was.

Naruto blinked, looked between his father and him one more time before sighing and moving to the couch, sitting down as quietly as he could manage.

“At least be quiet, the both of you. Tobi is a nightmare when woken up and Sasuke just fell asleep.” Naruto stated before swinging his legs on the couch, leaning his back on the armchair and throwing a hand over his eyes.

Itachi fidgeted on his feet, feeling ridiculously unsure of the whole ordeal before he felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning, he saw Kakashi smiling at him.

The man throw a glance to his son. “ why don’t you get Tobi and we move to your apartment? I wanted to talk to you about something.”

Naruto raised his hand along with a single blond brow and rolled his eyes before getting up.

“You better fix this shit.” He said right before moving past him harshly and walking into the hallway, disappearing into the bedroom at the end that Itachi had just noticed it’s existence.

A minute later, the blond walked out carrying a child with a tiny puppy holding onto dear life between the kid’s arms right before standing between Kakashi and the door, glaring at Itachi and regarding him up and down like Itachi was some sort of criminal that had done him the worst thing ever-

He had hurt Sasuke. So..

Swallowing, he nodded to show the blond his approval and promising silently that he’d fix the issue between him and his brother.

He had to, even if Sasuke never wanted to speak with him again, even if he’d reject any type of relation with him, deny him everything-

It was okay. Itachi deserved them all, all the hatred, all he bitter looks, the frowns, the glares-

Everything.

But he had to, needed to apologize, just to make Sasuke see that he was sorry beyond his wildest dream, and that he was willing to do anything to make Sasuke have some sort of normal life.

Alone in the middle of his brother’s living room, he swallowed heavily and sat on the couch among the hidden moonlight-

Waiting for Sasuke to wake up.

Chapter Text

Chapter 29

-would you not come home with me?

There was coil in his mouth, closing his lips so no sound would escape leaving him drained, scared-

So, so fucking scared.

Sasuke only shook his head violently.

-but I like you.

He thrashed harder but for some reason he also couldn’t move a single muscle, as if rope was tightly wrapped around his figure before Sasuke realized that bunch of pale, long fingers were pulling at his limbs, ripping his clothes and pushing him to his knees on something soft-

A bed.

He felt tears prickle at the corner of his eyes but no matter his struggles, his body refused to obey and only bent to the unknown force of the pale hands, the pink tongue that was licking at the side of his neck and one of hands slowly travelled all the way down to the bottom of his naked body-

No!

-/

His blinked his eyes open as soon as he felt consciousness return to his body and throw him upright on his bed.

It took him approximately of two seconds before tears started running down his eyes, rounding his cheeks and disappearing underneath his chin. He wasn’t sobbing yet but by the warmth and the invisible fist wrapped around his throat, sooner than later he was going to become a sobbing mess on his bed-

A bed where Tobi and his puppy were also sleeping on, sprawled on the sheets, quietly snoring on top of the pillow where his tiny, dark head was buried in.

Sasuke swallowed heavily against the lump in his throat before detangling himself from the blanket and standing on his wobbly legs, quickly gripping the bed frame when he felt his head sway and swallowing again when the lump grew harder, squeezing the side of his throat like the unforgiving fingers that had only pressured harder, the more Sasuke struggled against that damn wall-

The first sob broke past his tightly clenched lips, the sound harsh and unimaginably loud in the silent room, making Tobi shift and Sasuke nervous and guilty before he decided to just go to the bedroom across the room and pull himself together.

He could feel Fugaku’s disapproving stare as he limped to the door, opening it and immediately closing it behind him to rest his back against its solidness.

“Stop crying, damn it.” He whispered to himself as much as he could to cease the tears that only poured more when he tried to stop them-

It was as if Fugaku was glaring, shouting, yelling, screaming and raising his fist to throw it in his face.

Sasuke didn’t have his brother to protect him anymore.

A part of him wondered where the fuck Naruto was, the blond soothed that empty hole in his heart, warmed him when he was too cold to touch and caressed that broken piece of him that Sasuke had never refused to heal up.

He had fallen asleep in the tan arms last night and woken in a hollowness of the sheets-

Did Naruto grow sick of him as well?

It wasn’t unlikely, not when Sasuke was such a mess, broken and tattered and on top of it all, he had also been stained by someone who he had been terrified the entire time of his stay-

Another sob ripped his throat, and his father glared harder against the coldness of the bathroom.

He slid down to the floor and pulled his knees to his chest, quickly wrapping his shaking arms around himself and placing his head on the top of his knees-

He wouldn’t cry.

He couldn’t cry.

He couldn’t break again. There was nothing left.

He took a few deep breaths to compose himself before slowly starting to count to ten-

1-
He was fine.
2-
It was okay.
3-
Nothing too severe.
4-
He had only been kissed and bitten and that was it.
5-
It could’ve been so much worse.
6-
He wasn’t going to break.
7-
Okay.
8-
Fine.
9-
Alright.
10-
He was okay.

Taking another deep, stuttering breath, he pulled his legs away and pulled himself up to stand.

Okay.

Alright.

Everything was fine. Okay.

Alright.

Fine.

Fine.

So fine.

He exhaled and pressed his lips together before limping towards the sink, turning the faucet on and as soon as the first drop of the cold water ran, he was splashing it to his face.

It made his hair rise and goosebumps appear all over his skin but he kept splashing it until his arms felt too tired to move, his head too heavy and skin burning from the cold. Leaning on the sink, he swallowed once before opening his eyes and almost cringing at the dead reflection in the mirror.

His skin looked ashen, dark rings under his eyes, his lips were tinted a dangerous blue and his hair was a mess on top of his head, he looked beyond sweaty-

His shirt was sticking to him in what seemed to be the more uncomfortable manner, and with paying more attention to it, he could quite literally feel as a drop of sweat rolled down his spine-

He needed a shower.

Disposing his shirt and pants in the basket near the sink, he got into the shower and turned the water on on high heat, just to feel something other than the numbness that was threatening to overcome his entire body.

It was already starting to overwhelm him again.

He rubbed furiously all over his skin and tried to breathe through the tremor that was alarming the state of his buckling knees-

He counted to ten.

Taking the shower took approximately of ,maybe, five minutes before he was out and drying with the old towel that he had somehow inherited from the orphanage.

One of Naruto’s hoodies were still in his basket of clean clothes that he had avoided folding, he sighed before wearing it along with some oversized pants with dots on it that Sasuke didn’t know was because of coffee stain or the original pattern of the old garment.

It was comfortable besides, the mere thought of anything sticking to him was nauseating.

Turning the knob down, he exited the bathroom, making sure not to look at himself in the mirror before glancing over to the bed where the picture was adorable enough to melt his heart right off.

Tobi was twisted into the sheets, Kurama lost somewhere underneath the blanket with only his fluffy tail exposed to the eyes-

He smiled without even knowing it. It was nice to have the little kid around even if the cost was too high, he endured it. Sasuke had no idea how he’d managed to live that long without Tobi around to bring some light into his life.

Along with the idiot that was nowhere to be seen which made sense because Naruto had his own place and perhaps he needed to check on it, wash something, clean or cook-

Anything.

He ignored the pang in his already broken heart, avoided the white walls before moving towards the door to get to the kitchen-

He needed coffee more than anything in his life.

He glanced at the wall where the clock was hung before getting out, grimacing when he realized that he would’ve been late for work if he still had it before sighing and immediately thinking of all the alternatives that he had to endure in order to get into a new job.

Closing the door as quietly as he could, he moved towards the hallway. Perhaps, he could get a job as a secretary ,or maybe a dish washer at a restaurant, a Garson, cashier-

Something.

Anxiety was bubbling inside of him and after the episode of that stupid mental breakdown a few minutes ago where the ghost of his father had become too apparent, he just wanted to feel rested and get his life together again.

He couldn’t let something as trivial as a bad mental day or shit stop him from committing to his work.

He wasn’t raped.

He wasn’t.

He needed a new job, he was the only guardian of a kid that was starting school in two months, had to prepare lunch, dinner, and breakfast for the kid and he probably had nothing in the fridge, therefore he needed to do grocery shopping, get Naruto or the friendly neighbor to watch Tobi while he was gone-

He stopped midway and pressed his palm to his forehead, taking a deep breath as another pulse of pain raged through his temples, disappearing somewhere behind his left eyeball.

Great.

Another migraine.

Just what he needed.

Sighing, he proceeded to walk again only to stop as soon as he entered the living room-

Was he hallucinating?

Probably. He had to be.

His eyes were fucking with him, his head hurt too bad and this was the result because there was no fucking way that his older brother would be sitting on his broken couch in the middle of the living room with one of Sasuke’s old books in his hands, collectively reading and seemingly unaware of Sasuke’s presence-

Sasuke gaped, stood frozen on his spot before reflexively pinching the side of his elbow to make sure he was awake.

Confirmed.

He was awake.

And Itachi was still on his couch, deeply concentrated on the text and completely oblivious to the storm he was causing inside his brother-

“…Itachi?” He found himself asking despite his disbelief before he noticed his brother jump and snap his gaze up to him, face a shade paler than usual and hands trembling.

Equal dark eyes locked into his own and Sasuke could see terror take over his brother’s entire body before Itachi slowly placed the book aside and stood up-

He was taller than he remembered, not towering over him anymore since Sasuke had also grown, but still a few inches on top of him.

Still the same older brother.

His eyes were sunken, face a gaunt skeleton of what he used to be, and worry lines all over him. He still had that same silky hair tied lowly at his nape, still the three moles on the side of his collarbone that they both had inherited from their mother, wearing an oversized shirt that looked to belong to someone else and dark pants that Sasuke didn’t remember his brother owning.

You’re here. He longed to say.

I can’t believe you’re here. He wished to just say but what came out of his mouth was completely different.

“What’re you doing here?” He asked with a voice that suggested he was disgusted with his brother’s mere presence even if on the inside, all he wanted to do, longed to do was race across the room, wrap his arms around his brother and just beg him to please, please tell me what I did wrong so I can fix it-

I just want my brother back.

But he swallowed heavily against the sting of his eyes and only decided to shun the devastated look on Itachi’s face.

“I…” he started, looking unsure of himself before thinning his lips and shaking his head; probably dismissing a pervious idea of some sort as he licked his lips and tried again.

“I was dismissed from the Center.” He said instead of whatever he had planned on.

Sasuke nodded, not daring to question and ask his brother how he had gotten his address, what exactly he wanted from him because the last thing he remembered from his older brother was how the man wanted nothing to do with him, never see Sasuke again, preferably ever in fact so Sasuke genuinely thought he had the right to wonder just what the fuck his brother was doing in his house at crass ass of the morning, five, to be exact.

He was also trying desperately to hold the urges down and not start sobbing, beg his brother because he fucking missed him way too much for tolerance before licking his own lips in a poor attempt at calming himself down.

“Can we talk?” Itachi asked after a beat of silence, still appearing as if he was shaking from nervousness, playing with his fingers anxiously and no matter how much he had been hurt, damaged, neglected and forgotten about-

Sasuke could never turn his brother down..

Especially when he wanted to talk, finally after all that time.

“Sure..” he replied after a second, not knowing how to exactly act around Itachi when the mere thought of talking to each other a month ago was only consisting of his brother yelling insults at him and how he shouldn’t have been born and him just silently absorbing all the horrible words.

Did he want to cut all ties with him?

He had to have been declared healthy for the Center to let him leave and knowing the fortune that their father had left for his older brother, he knew that Itachi already had his own house, a multimillionaire company to his name along with multiple states-

He didn’t need to come here to see his stupid, foolish little brother who couldn’t even take care of himself enough not to get raped.

At least he hadn’t. Not really.

Thankfully, Sasuke could convince his brother to take the guardianship of Tobi from him and finally, the kid would get a decent person as his parent, besides, it’d make leaving a lot easier.

Sasuke hadn’t forgotten about his ultimate goal.

Naruto might have been a great distraction but Sasuke was still set strong in leaving it all behind.

He’d probably let Naruto know where he was going but he..

There was nothing to keep him there, he thought he’d stay to take care of Tobi as there was no one else but Itachi was..

Well. Here.

He sat down on the coffee table just as his brother did the same apposite him on the couch before folding his hands together to probably hide their shakiness-

Why was he shaking so hard?

Was it cold?

He looked at his brother’s thin shirt and noticed the closed window. He had asked Naruto to place the heater all the way up as he had been freezing upon returning home but maybe the blond had forgotten?

He had no idea and he wasn’t cold at all. Probably because of the hot shower.

He slid his gaze to the wall next to the kitchen door and noticed the heater that was on and working perfectly fine-

Maybe a blanket?

“Do you want a blanket?” He asked despite the odds, feeling slightly surreal that he was talking to his brother somewhere like his own house instead of a square table where all the doctors kept eyeing them-

The distance between them was an arm length.

He could touch his brother if he wanted.

He could have him back…and yet, underneath Itachi’s dark orbs he could see the words clearly.

A dismissal. Rejection.

He was going to only be asking him to take Tobi under his care.

That was all.

Sasuke could barely afford shit. No matter how much he’d miss the kid around the house, probably cry his eyes out every night, cling to Naruto and sob his throat raw and become even more depressed, he was going to be the adult and leave the child in better hands.

Itachi looked up, startled and twitching before he glanced back down at his still shaking hands, swallowed and shook his head.

“It’s fine, I’m not cold.”

“You’re shaking.”

“Yeah…I know.” He replied before clenching both of his hands into fists and placing them on his knees.

They were silent again. And his hands were still shaking.

Sasuke had no idea what to say, what to do and to make matters worse, he could only stare at the titled floor for only so long before he glanced towards the balcony where the sun was just starting to rise, showing the dawn and breaking the night of the sky.

Sasuke wanted to go back to bed and forget about his entire struggles just to get a peaceful sleep-

“Your neck is bruised.”

He froze.

…what?

Instinctively, he reached for the spot where he knew the creep had bitten him and rubbed at the healing wound smoothly before grimacing and shrugging one shoulder.

No need for Itachi to know. In fact, he probably wouldn’t even care.

“I burnt myself.” He replied as a matter of factly, hopefully with enough confidence to take his brother’s restless mind and keen eyes off of the matter-

“Sasuke. That is not a burn.”

He frowned, still avoided looking at his brother and only stared at the floor trying to figure out why Itachi suddenly changed personalities and was acting like before he threw him out of his life.

Before dad died. Before he went to the orphanage. Before Tobi came, before he had to work three jobs at once, before the center, before his literal heart attack-

Five minutes had been enough,after all and now-

“Why do you care?” He asked out of nowhere, definitely should’ve thought more about the question too because Itachi blinked, thinned his lips again and swallowed drily-

“I always did.” He finally said, took a deep breath and held up a hand when Sasuke opened his mouth to show the strong protest at the tip of his tongue because Itachi didn’t fucking care at all-

“ listen,I know it may sound ridiculous but I..Sasuke, I fucked up.”

He blinked.

Yeah,big time. He wanted to say but the lump in his throat was too large and Sasuke didn’t want to cry again.

He wasn’t going to break especially, since he could feel his dad’s eyes on him again. And he did a great job at handling himself until the moment Itachi decided to tell him that he was-

Sorry.

He apologized. For what, Sasuke wasn’t sure but he kept his emotions at bay, controlled himself right until his brother told him all of whatever that had been going on.

Every. Single. Thing.

Probably the first ever time that he had been this truthful and Sasuke had no idea how to take it all, how to swallow each word, absorb all the pain and let it not show on his face-

The anger. How could this piece of shit of a human being ever think of committing suicide right in front of his son. Itachi was sensitive to certain aspects, he couldn’t handle too much tragedy without breaking down, he cried when he accidentally killed a bug and that man had genuinely decided to die in front of his son that had sacrificed everything, raised his other son himself and thrown himself in front of the fire and he had done the one thing that he could’ve not.

Many, many times Sasuke had felt atrocious because he was never in his father’s eyes, he’d always be a murderer, a parasite that had taken his wife from him but in that moment, knowing what the man had done-

Ruining a young adult’s life completely, placing fucking drugs in his car, making him depressed, wrecking his entire progress and reputation-

Sasuke was furious. It wasn’t often that he felt anger and remorse this badly and he could often keep it under his thumb but damn it, no one, not a single fucking person on this planet, was ever allowed to make Itachi sound this guilty, this terrible, like he didn’t know if he belonged to the world anymore, as if he was unwelcome everywhere he went-

No one was allowed to make his brother feel like that.

No one.

Not their father. Not their mother, Sasuke , or even Itachi himself.

Sasuke might be a wreck of a human, destroyed and utterly damaged but he wouldn’t take it when his brother looked down at the floor with his eyes glistening dangerously, hands shaking from fucking nervousness instead of cold, shoulders trembling, thin and rundown-

He looked aged.

And maybe Itachi still wouldn’t want him in his life because he was done being the protector and needed a safe place to rest but Sasuke was going to make a wreck out of that shitty man’s grave right after he had settled the matters with his brother.

Fugaku deserved nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

But then Itachi said he wanted to be in his life again.

Like, as a brother, like before, like before the roof finally went down on both of their heads-

Fugaku’s ghost was still glaring at him but he couldn’t care any less about it when his eyes welled up for the infinite time that day.

“…you could’ve said that from the start.” He said, willing himself to stand strong and stop acting like the child that had relied so much on his brother.

He wasn’t a kid anymore, he might still be scared of the dark but he wasn’t a child anymore.

Not any longer.

“I know, nothing I say will fix my mistake. All I can ask for is forgiveness.”

Itachi was still not meeting his eyes, because of shame?

He didn’t need to ask for forgiveness. Sasuke had missed it so much, he couldn’t possibly hold any kind of grudge against this man.

For the very first time in years, stupidly not even Naruto had been able to melt that skittish part of him, he actually chose to touch someone.

Chose to.

Not because he was forced to.

He bit his bottom lip when it trembled before slowly leaning forward and wrapping his arms around his brother neck, pulling him close and finally-

God, he’d missed it.

Finally, resting his head where he used to do so as a kid, right where Itachi’s shoulder met his neck, hair still that soft texture that Sasuke used to play with and he still smelt the same, a cinnamon coffee smell-

Sasuke missed it so fucking much it was stupid.

“I got you tomato soup.” Itachi mumbled in his hair, voice muffled and arms tightening around him like he never wanted to let him go-

Sasuke sobbed.

Loudly.

And then, did it again and again, fisting his hands in his brother’s thin shirt and not caring if he suddenly woke someone, if Fugaku was glaring because Itachi was there.

Finally.

Finally there and no matter how hard he glared, their dad wouldn’t dare lift a hand against him.

Chapter Text

Chapter 30

How was Naruto ever able to punch Itachi was still the biggest mystery to ever probably exist.

The guy was fucking horrifying.

It had taken something akin to furious kind of level headedness when Orochimaru was brought forth in the court and somehow, Itachi hadn’t thrown the guy to the ground, beating the shit out of him but had only glanced at him cooly before raining down hell with only words.

They had won the case in a single shot.

Orochimaru was sentenced to a life in prison.

They all celebrated it the night after, getting drunk and happy and overly okay with everything.

Kakashi had literally danced and it had been a huge heads up for Naruto because he never, ever wanted to see his father drunk ever again.

Sasuke moved in with his older brother, had so much protest but finally got into University again, Tobi got into school and Itachi was back in business.

It took a whole year before things started working out and by the time Naruto actually managed to ask Sasuke for a real date, everyone was at least, in a better place.

“What?” The raven asked from his brother’s bed where he was currently sitting on and flipping through one of Itachi’s large collection of blue pens.

“Tonight, at eight. We need to go to dinner because I need to actually ask you out.”

“Naruto, it’s been a whole year since we’ve been together.”

“Yeah, and we’ve been busy the entire time. Let’s go on a date.”

Sasuke looked ready to burst out laughing and his demain and almost did so before he shrugged. “ I’m not gonna say no to a juicy burger.”

Naruto only smiled boastfully, but, he had worked his ass off in Macdonald in the past four months and that night, he brought his boyfriend not to a fast food place but to a Japanese restaurant.

Sasuke’s mouth was open. “Wow.” Was all he managed to say when they finally sat down behind the table.

“You didn’t think I’d bring a lovely dove like you into a fast food place for our first ever date, right?”

The lovely color that dusted on Sasuke’s pale cheeks was becoming something that Naruto couldn’t get enough of.

“How did you know I liked Onigiri?” He asked after the waitress had brought forth a plate full of sushi along with a bigger one full of Onigiri.

“I asked Itachi.” He replied simply, they got along so well and Itachi was one hell of a video gamer and he was vicious in assassin creed.

Fuck him.

Sasuke only smiled and a part of Naruto melted.