We're A Wreck

24

Finals were stressing Naruto out. After a week of prepping, they were here. Naruto did not feel prepared in the least, but Sasuke seemed just fine.

The day before their last exam, Naruto was practically falling apart.

"Ugh!" Naruto groaned, slamming his head onto the coffee table his study material laid on.

Sasuke sighed, coming to sit behind Naruto. His legs rested on either side of the blonde, making the latter flush.

"Sasuke?" Naruto asked, leaning against his chest hesitantly. "What's up?"

No response. Instead, Sasuke wrapped his arms around Naruto's waist, pulling him close and resting his head on Naruto's shoulder. Their cheeks pressed together.

Naruto's heart beat hard against his ribs, his breath becoming slower. He relaxed into the warmth surrounding him, a small smile sliding across his face. Sasuke's heartbeat thumped against Naruto's back, a steady rhythm that put Naruto at ease.

"Hmmmmm, this is nice," Naruto whispered, closing his eyes. His body was filled with a warm, soft feeling, like a golden light shining down on his heart. "You should hold me more often," he joked, chuckling.

"Maybe I will."

"I—" Naruto flushed. His eyes opened wide for a second. Then, he laughed and relaxed again. "Alright. I'll hold you to that. Get it? Hold?" He giggled again, feeling giddy and stupid. His head was light and his body was lit with a beautiful fire that grazed his veins and sought to drive him to near madness with a craving for it.

They sat there in silence for a while, comfortable and quiet.

Sasuke buried his face against the nape of Naruto's neck, his breath tickingling Naruto's skin.

"Hey! Quit, that tickles!" Naruto laughed, pulling away slightly and turning to look at Sasuke, whose eyes were shaded slightly with an unreadable emotion. "Sasuke?"

"Can....can I kiss you?"

Naruto's breath hitched, his mouth falling agape. It felt as if his whole body were blushing. "I—you want to...to kiss me?"

"Yes." Sasuke didn't take his eyes off Naruto's, his gaze intense, making Naruto's stomach squirm. "Please?" Sasuke's face softened slightly as Naruto bit his lip.

Should he say yes? Naruto wasn't sure what exactly he felt for Sasuke. He wasn't sure he would enjoy it. And yet, the idea of kissing Sasuke made him excited. But wouldn't this mess up what they already had? He couldn't lose another person, not after becoming so distant with Sakura, and Sasuke was the most important person in his life. He couldn't handle letting the man go. But if he didn't say yes, would that mess things up even more?

Sasuke seemed to see the inner turmoil on Naruto's eyes, because he sighed, looking away. "Sorry," he whispered, his arms falling back to his sides as he pushed away from Naruto. As he stood, Naruto saw tears welling in Sasuke's eyes. "Sorry. Forget it."

Naruto stood as well. Sasuke rushed to leave the room, heading towards the kitchen. Immediately, Naruto followed him.

"Wait!" Naruto called out, shaking. Sasuke was crying. And because of him.

Sasuke was out the door before Naruto could reach him.

Defeated and in shock, Naruto slumped to the ground, leaning against the door. "Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!" He slammed his fist down on his thigh repeatedly, relishing in the pain it brought. Maybe if he punished himself it would make up for hurting Sasuke.

Or maybe he would never be able to make up for it.

But why had Sasuke been hurt in the first place? And why woul he want to kiss Naruto? Did he like Naruto? No, that was stupid, there was no way anyone as talented and smart as Sasuke could like Naruto. Just look at Sakura, she didn't like him.

So why had they been together for so long?

She had said she loved him.

Did she?

Was Naruto even lovable to begin with?

•••

Sasuke ran as fast and hard as possible, eyes stinging.

Fuck. He was so stupid. Stupid stupid stupid stupid.

"Fuck!" He shouted, coming to a stop at a clearing in the woods. It was small and filled with tall grass. Sasuke walked directly into the weeds and flowers and grass and fell to the ground, his knees collapsing beneath him.

Slowly, he laid himself down, stretching his legs out in front of him.

"Why? God! Ugh!"

Sasuke had just wanted to help Naruto, to ease his stress, but he'd gotten too brave, too cocky, and pushed the man too hard. Now, he had been rejected.

But hadn't Naruto said he liked Sasuke the same way Sasuke liked him? Didn't he practically confess? And didn't he saw he liked being held by Sasuke? Doesn't that indicate that Sasuke's love was reciprocated?

Then why was he rejected? Or was he rejected at all? Naruto had looked slightly frightened, confused, and not interested him, but he never said no. Be never said he didn't want to kiss Sasuke as well.

Did Sasuke rush off and lose his only opportunity to kiss his long-time crush, or did he get rejected by the love of his life?

Or both?

Naruto had followed after him. Was he going to apologize? But it wasn't his fault. It was Sasuke who had been stupid enough to believe he could get what he wanted. It was his fault, not Naruto's.

But what was he to do now? He couldn't face Naruto after that.

Sasuke didn't know how long he stayed out there, but soon the dew began to fall and he pushed himself off the ground, stars glittering gently above his head.

He made his way back, depressed and empty.

When he got back inside, he noticed a freshly-showered Naruto sitting on the couch, his knees pulled to his chest. His head snapped up, eyes wide, as Sasuke stepped inside.

"Sasuke! Come here!" He demanded.

Taken aback, Sasuke did as he said. He sat in the floor, in front of Naruto.

"Yes?"

Naruto puffed out his cheeks, face red and eyes puffy. "Listen, I'm sorry for making you ups—"

"No, don't apologize, it's not your fault."

"Listen. Don't interrupt me."

Sasuke shut up, eyes downcast.

"Now, look at me."

When he didn't do as Naruto said, Naruto cupped Sasuke's face, forcing him to make eye contact with Naruto. "Look at me."

Sasuke nodded, gulping. He could smell Naruto's soap, feel the warmth left over from the shower coming from his palms. Naruto was so close, his face scrunched up.

Shakily, Sasuke scooted closer, his gaze latched onto Naruto's. They were inches apart.

"Now, where was I? Ah, yes. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry." Sasuke opened his mouth to say something but Naruto shook his head. "Also, i never gave you my answer...." Sasuke's heart felt as if it were going to burst from his chest. Naruto looked away momentarily, his face completely red now. "I— fuck it." He pulled Sasuke towards him, pressing his lips against Sasuke's.

It took Sasuke a second to process what was happening, but when he did, he closed his eyes and kissed back.

Astonished, Sasuke realized that Naruto was a fantastic kisser.