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Like a bull in one of those old Spanish movies, Sasuke loathes the colour red. Not the colour on its own though but red hair. Red hair on pale skin framed with dark eye bags and seemingly shaved eyebrows.
He hates the way Naruto—his only true friend watches the red, full of awe and love. He hates it.
He hates Gaara.
I.
Naruto twirls around in his chair and groaned for the whole library to hear before slumping down on the oak table. He chewed on the end of his orange pencil before closing his eyes.
“I think chemistry has to be the worst thing the devil snuck onto earth—atoms and fucking ions—I could be sleeping right now!” He complained. Sasuke took a sip of his piping hot black coffee and looked at Naruto’s worksheet. Naruto’s not dumb by any means, just easily distracted. Although, if he were to focus the energy he spends doing everything he could to procrastinate into studying, he could become valedictorian. Sasuke flipped the worksheet for it to face him and snatched his pencil from in between his lips.
“You balanced these ionic compounds wrong. Look at the back of your periodic table, dumbass don’t just make up numbers.” Sasuke said as he erased Naruto’s previous answers. He scribbled on the correct responses as Naruto mumbled something incoherent and pushed his hair out of his face.
“Don’t make fun of me asshole.” Naruto whispered as he lowered himself into his crossed arms which were folded on the table. Sasuke doesn’t feel much—romantically speaking. He’s had his fair share of confessions from other people, hookups with god knows who, ogling looks and blushes whenever he’s around but he’s never reciprocated them.
Until him. Naruto.
It had always been there, he knows. Holy fuck does he know, but lately it’s been indescribably unbearable. Even now, he watches as Naruto’s eyes flutter closed with his cheeks dusted with pink as his peach fuzz becomes accentuated by the warm afternoon light. He gazes as his chapped pink lips form into a scowl and how his eyes burst open revealing the brightest blue gems.
They stay that way for a moment, eyes joined in silence, before he looks down at Naruto’s paper.
“Don’t expect me to fix it for you next time.” Sasuke whispered.
Naruto smiled and scratched his chin. “You’re too good to me Sas’.”
Sasuke shrugged and it took everything to not blush. Naruto packed up his paper and stretched with a smile plastered on his face.
“You know,” he began. “I think I might like you a little too much. Maybe it’s bordering on love.” He joked. Sasuke knitted his brows at his teasing words. Naruto likes to joke, that’s his whole thing. He probably doesn’t even know what he’s saying right now. Sasuke knows Naruto is popular, with an infinite pool of guys and girls just waiting for him. He’s seen it before.
When they go out, all sorts of people stare at him while he talks like no one else is there or when he laughs as if Sasuke became the best comedian the world has ever known. He sees them watch his friend and an evil sense of possessiveness claws its way into his mind. Naruto can have anyone, that’s the type of person he is. He fits with anyone. Not cold, brooding Sasuke. Just the thought of it makes him furious.
“Ew.” He replied angrily. Naruto’s smile dimmed and he clasped his hands together.
“What? You don’t think I’m a catch?” Naruto laughed.
“Shut up Naruto.” He replied. And for once Naruto did stop talking. He watched as Naruto opened his mouth to say something but closed his lips and shook his head.
“Oh. Well—uh—nevermind—I just thought— oh hey Gaara!” Naruto laughed loudly and flailed his arms to catch the redhead’s attention. Gaara walked over to the table and flickered his eyes between Sasuke and the idiot across from him.
“Hello Naruto. Good afternoon Sasuke.” Gaara greeted. Naruto grinned and grabbed his arm so he would sit beside him. “I was just going to study alone.” Gaara stated, rubbing a finger to his chin.
“Well, now you have us!” Naruto said. “Sasuke’s being so boring as usual so you can keep me occupied.”
Gaara smiled softly at Naruto’s invitation and sat down beside him, taking off his bag. He pulled out a small white takeout container with some wrapped cutlery and placed his iced coffee on this desk. “The cashier at the shop was giving out some day old toffee cakes. I was just going to give them to Temari but…”
Naruto gasped dramatically and snatched the fork from his hand. He sighed as he shoved a piece in his mouth.
“Oh my gosh. I love you Gaara.”
Sasuke clenched his jaw as he watched his Naruto throw himself on Gaara with a hug. Of course. Of fucking course. This guy? Really? Gaara’s nice, sure, and him and Naruto have been friends for ages but…
Sasuke dug his fingers into his hand, leaving crescent shapes and inwardly scoffed as Naruto fed a piece to Gaara with a giggle and watched the blush grow on the redheads cheeks.
He stood up swiftly and grabbed his backpack.
“Itachi wants me home.” Sasuke seethed. “Emergency.”
Naruto paused and dropped his fork in concern. “Oh no. Is everything okay? I can drive you home or—“
“I can walk. I just need to go.”
Naruto nodded and offered to walk him to the front door but Sasuke shut him down and grabbed his bag and left.
“What the hell does he have that I don’t?” Sasuke grumbled and threw his bag on the floor, almost forgetting to slip off his shoes. “Oh Gaara! Just woo me with you day old fucking cake!”
He stomped to the living room and plopped on the couch. Itachi gave Sasuke a look as he snatched his open beer and took a swig.
“Hello to you too, little brother.”
“Oh shut up.”
Itachi smiled and took his beer back. “Want to tell me what’s bothering you? Or keep drinking my beer that you are barely legal to consume?”
“The latter.”
“Nice try.” Itachi laughed. “You come home and start grumbling about a specific someone…Naruto perhaps?”
Sasuke bit his lip and looked away. He shut down Itachi’s questioning but of course he could see right through him.
“You rejected him?” Itachi asked suprised. “I thought you two were hopelessly devoted—“
“No. He likes someone else—he—I. I’m not his type, I guess.”
Itachi face morphed into a smile, accompanied by a snicker before full blown laughter. He shoved his brother’s shoulder and covered his mouth when he saw Sasuke’s eyes narrow and a blush begin to rise.
“You asshole!” Sasuke yelled and got up to stomp to the kitchen. Itachi followed behind him, laughing apologizies but wasn’t at all apologetic. Sasuke pulled out an energy drink from the mini-fridge and flicked it open while his brother wiped his eyes.
“Sorry, sorry.” Itachi chuckled. Sasuke rolled his eyes. Itachi sighed and squinted his eyes as his red faced brother. “You are serious? Naruto really doesn’t like you?”
Sasuke scoffed. “I’m aware.”
“Are you sure?”
“Is this something I would lie about? He bascially spoon fed his little boyfriend.” Sasuke scowled. Itachi looked taken aback as he grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl.
“No way he’s dating someone!” Itachi exclaimed while chewing. “You two are so disgusting with eachother, though…”
Sasuke shrugged and chugged the rest of his can, before throwing it in the recycling.
“He doesn’t like me.” He grumbled through gritted teeth, clenching them hard enough so he wouldn’t cry.
II.
Sasuke was there for their first kiss. All of their friends were but he was the only one who noticed—the only one who watched. It was a bonfire party in the middle of the towns beach to celebrate the end of summer, all organized by Sakura who really enjoys sentimental bullshit.
He didn’t care what the party was for, he just wanted to get drunk and blitzed and as soon as a drink was in his hands he did just that. He stumbled and drank until he couldn’t, staring as Naruto walked to the logs around the fire with Gaara pressed into his shoulder. The duo turned to face eachother, talking and laughing as if they were the only people in the world. Sasuke’s head was getting heavier by the second and suddenly the sandy beach started looking a lot more comfortable.
He staggered toward the small group of friends, to Suigetsu and Karin, who were sitting on the shore of the dark sea. As soon as he got close to them, he tripped on his own feet and fell flat on his face. With a grunt, he flipped to his back and chugged the rest of the Palm Bay in his hand.
“Woah.” Karin said, “How drunk are you?”
“Hn.”
Suigetsu laughed and pushed the joint he was smoking into Sasuke’s fingers. Sasuke took a long hit and coughed. Karin smacked him on his head.
“Stop it, idiot!” Karin said to Suigetsu. “You need to know your limits, Sasuke. We literally have school tomorrow. Suigetsu, take him to the campfire and sober him up, I need to talk to Sakura.”
Sasuke groaned as Suigetsu picked him up from the sand and dusted him off. He hulled him to a log across from where Naruto and Gaara sat in friendly conversation. Sasuke and Naruto locked eyes between the fluttering embers of heat as his ass hit the sand and he leaned back against the log with a thump.
“Let me grab you a water bottle from the cooler. Don’t die.” Suigetsu said as he stood up. Sasuke watched as his friend left him warm and high. He still had the lit joint in his hand (score!) and was about to put it to his lips when Naruto stood up and sat down beside him on the dry sand.
Gaara stood up to walk to his siblings who were talking to someone else. He stared at him and wondered what set him apart, what Naruto found in Gaara. Was it his tattoos? Or the way he never fought with Naruto? Just always silently observed. Was he easier than Sasuke? Was Sasuke ever a contender for Naruto’s heart?
He wanted to throw up. Instead he inhaled the lit joint and blew the smoke in Naruto’s face who waved a hand infront of his face and laughed.
“Asshole.” Naruto said with a smile, eyes crinkling in the corners. So beautiful. His smile faded and he looked at his hands. “I miss you.” He whispered.
“Huh?”
Naruto looked to the side nervously and scratched the back of his neck. “We haven’t hung out since you left the library.”
“It’s only been a week and a half—“
“A terrible week and a half! Sasuke!” Naruto yelled and wrapped his arms around him. Sasuke inhaled his scent—miso and dirt. It’s not fair. How can Naruto be so cruel? How could he not know? How can he touch him and look at him and know him and not love him?
Why is the pain of longing eating him away—how could he desire so violently when all his friend does is look at someone else? It’s not fair.
So he pushed Naruto off him.
Those blue eyes, conceled by the night looked hurt.
“Sasuke—“
“Why? Why don’t you lov—“
“I’m back!” Suigetsu interrupted. Sasuke mentally thanked him for interrupting before he could embarrass himself. Suigetsu let Sasuke take one last long drag while Naruto stood up and went back to his red haired friend. The jealousy ate away at him like a plague as he watched Naruto smile and place his hand on his shoulder.
“Ooo…Naruto and Gaara.” Suigetsu said. “Kinda weird—I thought he was in love with you.”
Sasuke whipped his head to the side causing him to get woozy and hold his head in his hand. “Stop talking like that.”
Suigetsu shrugged in defeat and held Sasuke’s head back and waterfalled a stream of water into his mouth.
“There you go. Sober up.”
Sasuke wiped away stray droplet of water from his chin and turned his head to look at Naruto. He was off to the side with Gaara, covered by some dead trees. He probably thought they were hidden from everyone. Naruto snaked his fingers up Gaara’s arm and stopped at his shoulder. They got really close, talking onto eachother’s lips and he could faintly read their conversation.
“Can I?” Naruto whispered. Gaara nodded.
They closed the space.
Sasuke’s heart shattered like a vase on a concrete floor. He stared at the way Naruto’s hands cupped the redheads cheeks as they swayed and kissed eachother deeply. Do not cry. Do not cry.
He darted his eyes down to stare at his hands. Suigetsu shoved another can of alcohol in his hands and rubbed his back. Sasuke could tell he was talking but he couldn’t hear with the ringing in his ears.
“Don’t…over…under…else.” Suigetsu’s voice faded in and out as he flicked open the can and undid all the sobering up he tried to do.
“What?” Sasuke slurred.
“Get under someone else.” Suigetsu said, taking the can from him. “So you can get over him.”
Sasuke bit his lip. “Okay.”
Suigetsu raised his eyebrows in shock, “I was mostly kidding.”
The rest of his friends started to come around the bonfire to watch as Sakura was about to deliver a speech probably about love or life or some other corny shit like that but the was far from sober—far from making good decisions. His mind was hazy and fuzzy as he let his hand wander up Suigetsu’s thigh.
Sasuke poured a good amount of alcohol into his mouth and kneeled up to be higher than his friend. He use his thumb to part Suigetsu’s lips and spat the drink into his mouth, pressing their lips together. The pineapple flavoured vodka tasted sweet as their tongues intertwined in eachothers mouths. Sasuke’s hands roamed under the other’s hoodie as they made out. They were gulping and sighing and—
Were people watching? Ah who cares.
They pulled apart and Sasuke watched as Suigetsu panted and his already red face deepened. He was so intoxicated—too intoxicated but he didn’t care. He licked Suigetsu’s chin, loving the tropical taste that touched his mouth before he swelled up and kissed him again.
He needed this.
He imagined it was Naruto whose hands slid up his spine, he imagined it was Naruto whose lips tasted like pineapple. He longed and wanted and needed.
Sasuke finally pushed off and he heard people whistle in the back.
“I need another drink.” He muttered and stood up. He tripped on his feet as he walked to the cooler by the parking lot. It was pitch black now, only the moon illuminating his view on the sand. He stumbled and staggered, muttering nonsense to himself.
He got to the cooler and flopped down to his knees. He groaned as he ignored the bottles of water about to pick up another small bottle of hard liquor as he heard footsteps behind him.
“You were kissing Suigetsu.” He turned around and saw Naruto standing above him, eyes narrowed. He stood up and swayed before he found his footing.
“I’m aware—“
“You’re drunk.”
Sasuke shrugged and opened the mini bottle. Naruto snatched it before he could take chug it.
“What’s your fucking problem?” Sasuke yelled as he reached to grab it. Naruto pulled the bottle back.
“You don’t even like him.” Naruto spat.
“Who says?”
“You never talk about him! You’ve barely hung out with him, now I see you swapping saliva and mouth-to-mouthing alcohol with him.” Naruto clenched his fists as he yelled at Sasuke. He inwardly laughed. Now he cares about who he likes and who he doesn’t like?
“So you frenching Gaara is different?”
Naruto opened his mouth then released his fists. Instead of getting even more angry than he already was, Sasuke just took another mini bottle from the cooler and pushed past Naruto.
“You’re just gonna suck the first dick you can then?” Naruto yelled as Sasuke downed the bottle.
“It’s nothing to you!” He yelled back, tossing the empty plastic on the floor. Naruto followed after him, stumbling through the sand.
“It’s everything to me! You’re my friend, you’re my—“ Sasuke swung his fist at Naruto cheek and watched as he fell back on the sand. He jumped down, crashing his fist into the blond’s face.
Is being called his friend fist fight worthy? To Sasuke it was. Naruto is so oblivious—so stupid to be so blind. Naruto dodged another punch and grabbed his shoulders, pushing him down to the sand with an oomph.
They clawed and bit and punched eachother for no good reason. Sasuke felt his eyes sting with tears as Naruto pounded his face back. People started flooding them, laughing and yelling as they fought like children until someone pulled them off each other.
He doesn’t remember much after that except for throwing up on his lawn.
III.
A hangover is one thing, a hangover on a weekday is something else. Usually at parties on Sundays, Sasuke refrains from drinking to avoid this exact thing. He can still have fun without alcohol but when he woke up the next morning to see the rain beating at his window, he thought the beating headache was the rain pouring outside.
It wasn’t.
He stood up from his bed and immediately sat back down as he was overcome by dizziness.
“Shit.” He whispered.
He stood up as slowly as he could and moved to his washroom. He flicked on the lights and winced in pain then yelped when he saw his face. His left eye black and blue from something and his right cheek swollen.
“What the fuck?” He said as he touched his cheek. His memory was foggy but there was no recollection of anything that he could’ve caused this. Did he walk into a pole? No. Did he trip on his face? He’s not that clumsy but he was stupidly drunk.
He looked down at his knuckles to see them raw and red. Did he fight someone? God how much did he drink? The light were absolutely destroying his head so he turned them off, using his phone flashlight to illuminate his washroom as he brushed his teeth and took his shower.
His body felt bruised and broken. His ribs, painful to the touch. He cursed past Sasuke.
Entering the hallways of his highschool was also agonizing. The lights, LED and bright killed his head as he popped two Advils. He clenched his backpack as people stared at him and whispered, some people laughing and cheering.
What were they so chipper about? He made his way to the common area of the school where Sakura and Karin sat together. He looked around for Naruto, wondering why he wasn’t here first. He dropped his back down and immediately regretted it as the headache came back again.
“Holy shit your face.” Sakura said, reaching out to his eye. Sasuke pulled back.
“I woke up like this.” He sighed. Sakura and Karin looked at eachother with a strange expression. Karin pulled out her phone and pressed play on a video. The flash was on and he could see him overtop of someone else.
Blond hair peeked out from beneath the Sasuke in the video as he saw his fist punch him. He was punching Naruto. The video progressed into them reversing positions and Naruto beating his face in. They yelled at eachother, cursing and pulling eachothers hair as finally Sakura and Suigetsu pulled them off.
Sasuke’s jaw dropped. Why did he do that? Is that why everyone was cheering? He looked up and saw Naruto walk towards them. His eye was swollen and black, his lip cut with a red scab. Sasuke’s eyes widened.
“Oh my God.” He whispered. He stood up and blocked Naruto’s way. He gasped to himself as Naruto shoved his backpack on higher and his own knuckles were red and bruised.
“I—I don’t.” Sasuke whispered. He watched as Gaara walked up beside him and Naruto planted a kiss on his cheek. He shook his head to avoid the jealousy eating away at him.
“I’m so sorry—“
“Look. I gotta go.” Naruto interrupted not meeting his eyes. He watched as the couple moved past him and walked away. His eyebrows knitted together in sadness as he sat back down.
“What was that about? We’ve fought before.” He muttered. Karin and Sakura looked at eachother again. Karin sighed and opened another video. This time it was Sasuke and Suigetsu. Sasuke watched as video Sasuke spat a liquid in the other man’s mouth and kissed him.
He was making out with Suigetsu after mouth to mouthing alcohol.
“Oh my God!” He yelled. He looked away from the phone and felt nauseous. What was he doing? Oh my gosh…did they go any farther? Did they…
“Who has seen those?” He asked, whisper yelling.
Sakura shrugged. “Bascially everyone. People were posting both videos on their Instagram stories so…”
He heard as someone sat down beside him. His head turned around slowly as Suigetsu looked at him.
“What?” Suigestsu asked. He saw Sasuke’s petrified face looking back at him and laughed. “Oh yeah. That kiss was hot, I mean I totally had a boner right after.”
“Gross.” Sakura and Karin said in unison.
“But…it was strictly get over Naruto make out sesh.” He shrugged. “Nothing to worry about.”
Sasuke grabbed his bag and stood up sharply. “No.”
“It was only physical!” Suigetsu yelled as Sasuke stomped away.
“No!”
“If you ever need full on sex, I have condoms and martinis!”
“Die!”
-
He drove home and just skipped school. Everyone’s bullshit irritated him. The lights were off and he spent the day watching Naruto’s posts and stories with Gaara. The way the touched eachother—the way Naruto had his arm around him.
He’s so stupid. How could he not see before? Emptiness consumed him as he was too weak to fight the envy inside him. He needed something to fill this strange hole so he dialled Suigetsu’s number.
“Sasuke?” He asked surprised. “It’s 6pm—“
“Do you want to come over?” He whispered shyly. There was a long pause on the other end accompanied by some shuffling.
“You don’t wanna save your virginity for Naruto?”
Sasuke rolled his eyes. “Just come over asshole. No one’s home also I’m not a fucking virgin you halfwit moron.”
Suigetsu sighed and cut the call. Sasuke stepped downstairs and unlocked the door waiting for him to arrive. His hangover was slowly fading away but he knew sex was the best remedy. He sat in the foyer, scrolling through various social media pages. After what felt like years, the door finally opened.
“You should lock your front door.” He said, purple eyes leering at him. Sasuke stood up and grabbed his wrist to take him upstairs. Once he got to their bedroom, he pushed him back to his bed and kissed him.
Suigetsu happily kissed back and they flopped down on Sasuke’s mattress, keeping their mouths together. He watched as Sasuke pulled of his shirt and climbed on top of him.
“I guess you’re not so disgusted anymore.” He smiled.
“Shut up.” He whispered, pulling his friends own shirt. Sasuke won’t go into detail about what transpired that night mostly because he’s ashamed. The way Suigetsu was below him, sucking and biting. The way he was in him and panting in his ear.
And the whole time he was imagining it was Naruto. When Suigetsu’s lips were around his cock, he imagined it was Naruto’s pink lips around it. He came to the thought of that. To the thought of a taken boy.
He imagined Naruto was the one thrusting inside him, leaned over him face flushed and panted—that it was his hands around his dick. He finished to that too.
Did it even matter? He turned over to see Suigetsu tapping on his phone, sat up against his headboard. With a sigh, he stretched up and looked out the window, watching the stars twinkle.
“You thinking about him?” Suigetsu asked.
“At this point, always.” He replied.
Suigetsu smiled and placed his phone down. “I’m always here. Amongst other things too—“
“Sasuke, I brought ramen!” A voice yelled as the door swung open and slammed into the wall. The two naked boys scrambled off eachother with a yelp in shock as Naruto’s breath hitched.
This was the absolute worst way thing could unfold. The blond flung the door shut and raced down the stairs, hot meal in hands while Sasuke searched for his clothes only to find his sweats and no shirt. He raced to pull them up and bolted after Naruto, following him down the stairs.
“You two are having sex!” Naruto yelled not looking back.
“Wait—“
“Sakura told me you were just drunk and—and the kissing at the party didn’t mean anything! So why are you having sex with that guy?” He slammed the bag of takeout on the counter with a thud and pointed at the fully clothed Suigetsu who looked more than amused at this soap opera performance.
Sasuke felt something dark stir up inside of him. The way the rubbed him and Gaara in his face on his stupid Instagram posts, the way his fake compassion at his hangover was probably just a ploy to brag about his boyfriend too. He stepped to his chuckling boys side and intertwined their fingers.
“Because we are dating and are in love.”
Naruto’s face fell as Suigetsu’s face morphed in confusion. He watched as Suigetsu shrugged as nodded in agreement, obviously wanting to add more fuel to the already a blaze situation.
“Uh…okay.” Suigetsu said.
“And because we are in love, we have tons of great sex!” Sasuke yelled at Naruto.
“You asshole!” Naruto replied. “Tons? You two just got together.”
Sasuke stop for a second. He forgot about that detail. Well he was already knee deep in his lies, why not get a little deeper? Sasuke yelled about all the previous great sex he had with his fake boyfriend and how he never told Naruto to spare his feelings. Naruto’s fists clenched and he bit his lip roughly.
What happened next was what made Sasuke feel worse. Naruto’s eyes welled up with tears and unclenched his hands.
“So you really meant it? Back then?” He whispered to the floor.
“Meant what?” He replied but to no answer. Instead Naruto grabbed his car keys, turned around and walked out of his house, closing the door behind him.
He let go of Suigetsu’s hand and felt a wash of shame pour over him.
“What the hell was that?” Suigetsu said. Sasuke didn’t have a reply. Suigetsu shook his head with a groan. “You are the most dense idiot I’ve ever met. This “make Naruto jealous” scheme is not going to work and will only make you feel worse.” He pulled his phone out and checked the time.
“I’m going home, Uchiha.”
The table exploded with laughter as Sasuke explained last nights events. Obviously he had to talk about it as his blabber mouth fake boyfriend decided to tell everyone they were dating. Sakura slapped the table, tears in the corner of her eyes.
“This is absolutely rich! Making Naruto jealous by being with him.” She howled and everyone screamed in laughter again.
Sasuke groaned in self loathing as Suigetsu blushed. Karin wipped her eyes and gasped for air.
“So! So you two are just gonna kiss and fuck until what? Naruto and Gaara break up? Or—or they get married!” She yelled. Another round of cackling.
“I didn’t think that far.” Sasuke grumbled.
“At this point, you didn’t think at all!” Sakura laughed.
A deep blush flourished over Sasuke’s cheeks. Sure, he’s not the most romantic or extroverted person in the world but he thought he and Naruto were different—that they got eachother in a way no one else did.
There had been times when the two friends had been close, laying face to face and there was nothing Sasuke wanted more than to close the gap, to touch him in a way that made Naruto his. And like always he messed it up. He ran away from his feelings.
IV.
And so began the war, because neither of them wanted to go down without a fight. Any time Sasuke and Naruto were near each other with their respective partners, it was an endless game of "who could make the other more jealous?" Extravagant gifts, lingering touches, and dramatic kisses became their battleground. The animosity in the air was palpable, drawing eyes and whispered commentary from friends and onlookers alike. But while it might have been entertaining at first, the spectacle soon grew exhausting for everyone else.
They had been at it for a month and a half, fueling each other’s frustration with precision and pettiness. But Sasuke knew he was losing—not in public, but in private, where it mattered most. He cared too much. He could see how genuinely in love Naruto and Gaara appeared to be, and despite all his efforts, Suigetsu was a poor substitute. Sure, Suigetsu was an incredible distraction in the bedroom, but every post-climax moment left Sasuke hollow, ashamed, and unsatisfied. Each fleeting pleasure only reminded him of how deeply unfulfilled he felt.
Eventually, Sasuke gave up. He stopped fighting the war entirely, avoiding Naruto’s gaze, ignoring his texts, and turning down invites to hang out as friends. Friends. The word felt like acid on his tongue. It hurt too much to pretend.
Sasuke’s house was enormous—a sprawling testament to generational wealth, complete with marble floors, vaulted ceilings, and a backyard pool he hardly used. It had become the default hangout spot for his friend group. This time was no exception.
He opened the door reluctantly, already dreading whatever chaos Sakura had planned. She stood there grinning, a pack of spiked soda in one hand and a bottle of vodka in the other. Behind her, their friends filed in, chattering excitedly and carrying snacks and drinks.
“You’re kidding,” Sasuke muttered as the group moved past him into the house.
“It’s time to let loose!” Sakura said with a laugh, patting his shoulder as if she were doing him a favor.
“I’d rather—” Sasuke stopped mid-sentence when Naruto walked through the door. And, god, he looked good.
Really good.
Sasuke had always been drawn to Naruto; there was no point in denying it. But maybe it was the high of missing him, or maybe it was the way the tight fabric of Naruto’s shirt clung to his chest, accentuating his toned arms. His sweatpants hinted at… well, Sasuke forced himself to look away before his thoughts spiraled.
“What are you doing here?” Sasuke snapped, trying to keep his blush from betraying him. His scowl deepened when Gaara followed Naruto inside, his arm brushing against Naruto’s casually. Of course, his stupid boyfriend had to come too.
Then Suigetsu showed up, grinning nervously as he stepped in. He gave Sasuke a quick peck on the cheek, oblivious to the tension in the air, and waved at Naruto. Sasuke barely responded, too focused on the way Naruto’s eyes lingered on him before glancing at Suigetsu with… was that irritation?
Naruto crossed his arms, smirking. “What a cute reaction to your boyfriend kissing you,” he said.
Sasuke rolled his eyes. “Whatever,” he muttered, turning on his heel and walking inside. He heard Naruto scoff behind him before the door clicked shut.
By midnight, the house was quiet except for the soft hum of the TV. Most of their friends had fallen asleep on the floor or couches, surrounded by empty bottles and snack wrappers. Sasuke lay on the carpet, Suigetsu’s arm draped haphazardly over his chest. He stared at the ceiling, his mind racing. Naruto was taken. That was the truth. No amount of jealousy-fueled fighting would change that.
Carefully, Sasuke slipped out from under Suigetsu’s arm. He grabbed his weed pen from his desk drawer and crept out of the room, heading down the hall to the guest room balcony. He doesn’t smoke it often, the pure potency keeps him on edge for hours. The cold night air hit him as he opened the door and stepped outside, leaning against the railing. He screwed on the cart and clicked the pen on, taking a long, deep inhale. The smoke burned his lungs and made his head feel light. Exhaling slowly, he watched the plume dissipate into the starry sky. He took another hit. And another.
“One… two… four…?” he mumbled, trying to count the stars. His mind felt sluggish, and he chuckled softly at his own intoxication.
“I think you missed three,” came a familiar voice behind him.
Sasuke turned sharply to see Naruto stepping onto the balcony. His golden hair glinted in the moonlight, and his smile was soft, almost teasing. Sasuke opened his mouth to say something, but Naruto pressed a finger to his lips, silencing him.
“No more fighting,” Naruto whispered. “Even if it’s just for tonight. Okay?”
Sasuke hesitated before shrugging. Naruto plucked the pen from Sasuke’s fingers and leaned on the railing beside him, taking a long drag. Sasuke scowled.
“I never said you could hit it,” he said.
Naruto held up a finger, wagging it playfully. “No fighting,” he repeated, grinning.
Sasuke sighed, giving up. They stood in comfortable silence for a while, passing the pen back and forth, watching the sky. For the first time in weeks, the tension between them seemed to melt away, replaced by something softer.
He was definitely high, there was no doubt but he was already feeling a swirl of annoying emotions. Loose lipped and head heavy, all his inhibitions melted away.
Finally, Sasuke broke the silence. “Did I… did I ever have a chance with you?” he asked quietly, staring down at his hands. His voice was barely above a whisper, but it carried the weight of everything he’d been holding back.
Naruto turned to him, his eyes wide with surprise. “What?”
Sasuke swallowed hard and forced himself to look up. “I know I’m not the nicest person, but… was there something I could’ve done to make you like me back?”
Naruto stared at him, his face a mix of confusion and something else Sasuke couldn’t quite place. Then, suddenly, he laughed. It wasn’t mocking—it was warm, almost relieved.
“Sasuke,” he said, stepping closer. “I confessed to you. In the library. Remember? I basically told you I was in love with you, and you shut me down.”
Sasuke’s eyes widened. “Weren’t you joking?”
Naruto shook his head, a soft smile tugging at his lips. “I don’t joke about things like that. I’ve been in love with you for so long it hurts and all you’ve been doing is falling in love with your own boyfriend.”
“But… Gaara…?” Sasuke asked, his voice breaking.
“A distraction,” Naruto admitted, looking away briefly. “I thought I could move on, but it was always you.”
Something in Sasuke snapped. The next thing he knew, Naruto’s lips were on his, their movements frantic and hungry. They stumbled into the guest room, their kisses deepening, hands exploring. For once, nothing else mattered—not Suigetsu, not Gaara, not the mess they’d made of things. It was just them, as it always should have been.
By morning, when they broke up with their boyfriends, no one was surprised. And when they started dating, it was as if the world had finally fallen into place.
1
“Do I look okay? Your dad scares me.” It had been a month since they had started officially dating and Sasuke, even though he would never admit it, was the best month of his life. It felt like he was walking on clouds. They were practically joined at the hip, doing everything like before but now with kissing and fucking.
And they were awfully good at both.
So when Itachi finally caught on to their relationship, he suggested a friendly dinner with his parents. Clean and simple. But of course when Naruto FaceTimed him at 6 in the morning, panicking and yelling about what to wear, Sasuke knew it would be nothing but simple.
He talked his boyfriend down from his anxious high and helped him go back to sleep, whispering sweet words into the phone as Naruto tucked himself under the sheets.
Oh how he was full of love.
Naruto stood at his front door, bouquet of flowers in hand. His hair was slicked back but still messy as whatever gel he was using could never tame his hair. A white collared shirt was tucked into baggy black jeans. He looked good. Like always.
Sasuke smiled and kissed him. “You look great.”
“Okay but…” Naruto started as he stepped inside. “Your dad already thinks I’m some sort of delinquent and these are the least baggiest jeans I could find! And your mom! She’s so nice but I know she’s judging me—Sasuke! Sasuke, is she gonna judge me because I can go home and change or—or I can return these lilies and buy roses instead—God! Why did I even think lilies were a good idea! I’m so—“
“Stop spiralling, idiot.” He interrupted. “You look good, the flowers are good, everything is good.”
Naruto’s eyes widened and a blush creeped up on his face. “Good!” He squeaked. “Only? Not amazing or spectacular? Holy fuck I’m done—“
“Naruto’s here!” Mikoto exclaimed clapping her hands in joy. Naruto gulped in terror and his hands shook.
“Hi…Hi! I brought you flowers but I still have the receipt if you don’t like them.”
The raven shook her long hair in disagreement and grabbed the flowers happily. She smiled as she took a deep inhale. “They’re perfect, sweetheart. Come! Fugaku and I prepared a lovely meal for you.”
She twirled back and walked away while Naruto slipped off his shoes. “Did you hear that Sasuke? She called me sweetheart!” He said softly.
He shook his head in amusement. Of course Naruto got along with everyone in Sasukes family, that’s just the type of person he is. The way he smiles and laughs, the way he blushes at everything.
And finally no more Gaara.