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Wow~ it's been a long time since I've updated this thing. Managed to finish a short piece, always trying to finish longer ones. I just don't want to post something I don't think I can finish. I'm currently working on a vampire fic, but have yet to see the direction it's going to go to. So for now, I think I'll just keep throwing out the occasional one-shot.
Hmm, I think this takes place somewhere in the future. Past all the Akatsuki and Orichimaru stuff. I guess it's AU? XD
I hope you're all doing well. ^^
Title: Frayed edges
Author: BeccaAmon
Pairings: Naruto x Sasuke x Naruto, Team 7-ish (not pairing, just issues)
Disclaimer: Standard disclaimers apply.
AN: Just a short piece that came to me. Un-beta’d.
~*~
~*~
“I can’t make it today. Maybe another time.”
She acknowledged his words with a nod, pink hair brushing her shoulders. “Maybe next time then, Sasuke-kun.”
“I have to go.” He didn’t wait for her reply. He closed his locker door and left.
The mission had been tough on both of them. Three months in close quarters with only Sakura for company was more than enough. Their time was used mainly for executing plans or healing from the latest encounter with the enemy. The mission didn’t leave much room for bonding. Despite her efforts, their relationship remained strained. He garnered it had been due to those years ago when he had left her passed out on a cold bench as he ran to chase after his ambition. Or perhaps, it wasn’t that at all. The event may have started it, but he had had plenty of opportunities to reconcile those loosened ties, he just never bothered to. She had tried and was still trying. Just like earlier. She had invited him for dinner. A celebration of sorts, for surviving another mission.
He left the main building, passing by his peers. A few were walking out, mission scrolls clutched in their hands. Others were walking in, the stitches and bandages wrapped around them seeming like the only things keeping them from completely falling apart.
Everywhere he looked, there were fraying edges. His reality was fading at the ends. He felt aged and often diminished.
Walking the streets of Konoha had never felt the same. It hadn’t felt like home in years. His home was the abandoned division of land that used to be occupied by his clan. He wondered briefly how the village functioned with a vital part of it gone. By compensation, he guessed. Or perhaps the clan hadn’t been that vital at all. Perhaps, it had been a useless appendix the village can do with or without.
Sasuke shook his head, scattering his thoughts away. It never helped to entertain useless thoughts. He walked the streets of Konoha, drifted past bodies, aware of everything and everyone, and yet, not.
Arriving at his destination, he fished for his keys. The door to his apartment creaked and got stuck midway through. He kicked with a bit of force and the slab of wood swung loose. Dropping a bag of grocery on the front landing, he shrugged off his vest and stepped out of his shoes. He noticed a thin sheet of dust had collected over his apartment’s furnishings during his absence. Other than that, things were as he left them. Nothing was disturbed as far as he could tell. Even a glass he had last drunk from still sat on the kitchen table.
He stepped into his living room and pinched the bridge of his nose. The sudden wave of weariness he had been waiting for had finally hit. The collective exhaustion of sleepless nights and the strain of battle crashed against him. He was sprawled on his couch before he knew it, and his lids closed over his eyes on their own volition. The last thing he saw was the solitary moon seeming imprisoned by his window frames.
His sleep was deep and undisturbed. He was surprised it had been absent of the sound of falling bodies, the familiar sight of blood on the sharp edge of a sword and of the accusing eyes of the dead.
The next thing he heard was the clatter of plates—it woke him, and the soft patter of feet on his wood floor. His eyes opened and quickly shut because of the slant of sunlight filtering through the glass pane. A murmur of protest escaped his lips as he threw a hand over his eyes; the sunlight still a red wash of light behind his lids.
“You’re awake.” his visitor greeted. He recognized Naruto’s distinct voice immediately. Sasuke realized he had missed the sound of it.
“I hope I wasn’t though.” he groaned as he sat up. He rubbed at his eyes, pressing the heel of his hands on them. Breathing deeply, he peered past his fingers to see Naruto standing over him. The shinobi wasn’t dressed in his uniform. Instead, he wore a plain blue shirt and dark pants. His hair was the usual messy, shock of blond, but no forehead-protector.
It seemed like in the three months he had been away, Naruto had changed. But Naruto always changed, constantly evolved. He was always learning something new, and they always showed in his eyes, in how he carried himself, in the grin permanently plastered on his face.
Sasuke was often envious of this fact, always had a momentary sinking feeling that he was getting left behind.
He let the moment pass and got up. He stripped off his shirt as he made his way to the bathroom for a much needed shower. When he got out and was feeling more human, he slipped into a pair of pants and joined Naruto in the kitchen.
“I made some breakfast, eat up.”
Sasuke nodded and attacked his plate with vigor. His hunger surprised him. That the food was edible surprised him even more.
Naruto watched him the entire time. Tilting his head from side to side, gaze sliding over Sasuke with an expression he couldn’t quite read.
“What?” Sasuke asked as he placed his fork down, finished with his meal.
“Hmm? Oh, nothing,” Naruto stood to take his plate away and placed it in the sink. The sound of running water filled the silence as Sasuke watched his friend clean up.
“I ran into Sakura earlier. She looked tired. More than tired, she looked…” Naruto paused. Maybe he couldn’t quite describe how she had looked. Sasuke would have said like a worn bag, but he didn’t think either Naruto or Sakura had wanted to hear that. “Anyways, I told her to rest, but you know how she is. I heard the mission went well though.” The blond chatted idly.
“No mission goes well.” Sasuke murmured already weary of the conversation.
Naruto placed a clean plate on the rack with more force than necessary. “You know what I mean.”
Somehow Naruto’s tone of voice rubbed him the wrong way and Sasuke found himself pursuing the subject he hadn’t wanted to discuss. “No, I don’t know what you mean.”
“You and Sakura are alive,” Naruto stressed through gritted teeth, “For me that means the mission went well.” Sasuke caught the anger in his friend’s tone, along with the worry that always came and the tell-tale signs that he hadn’t been well until he knew they were safe. Sasuke thought, Naruto always forgot they were capable of taking care of themselves. Naruto always forgot he couldn’t save everyone.
They stared at each other, eyes swirling with a thousand thoughts and unspoken words. Lowering his gaze, he realized the futility of their argument. Sasuke sagged against the chair and reached out his hand to Naruto in silent apology. After a short eternity of waiting, wet fingertips touched his, and in an instant he was enveloped in Naruto’s embrace.
Sasuke breathed deeply and tightened his grip around Naruto’s torso. He felt Naruto’s breath against his ear, heard their hearts beat in tandem. He felt the tension he had carted around for the last three months ease out of him like a raindrop off a leaf.
He felt Naruto’s fingers brush his chest, softly examining the dark bruise coloring his skin. Sasuke inhaled quickly and grit his teeth. As if given permission, all the injury he had received from the mission started to throb and flare with pain. The cuts pinched together by stitches started to sting, his body felt suddenly worn, his head pulsed from the abuse it had received during a battle. All his injuries seemed to sing to Naruto and asked to be noticed.
Naruto moved out of their embrace and leaned over him. He allowed Naruto to trace careful fingers over his cuts, savored the butterfly kisses over his bruised skin. Sasuke closed his eyes as warm hands caressed every inch of him. Only when Naruto was satisfied did he return to their previous embrace.
“That you came back in one piece, to me, meant the mission went well.” Naruto breathed into his ear.
Sasuke could only nod and bury his face into Naruto’s neck.
It was easy to ignore the pain, easy to ignore the frayed edges when no one reminded him of it. That was why he needed Naruto; to remind him, to heal him. Maybe Naruto couldn’t save everyone, but he sure as hell tried, and was still trying. He inhaled deep and strengthened their embrace despite the sharp pain it caused him. And maybe he should take Sakura up on her offer, tie those loose ends. Because she was there for him too, to remind him that he wasn’t alone and he had a home in their embrace.
~End
~BA
Hmm, I think this takes place somewhere in the future. Past all the Akatsuki and Orichimaru stuff. I guess it's AU? XD
I hope you're all doing well. ^^
Title: Frayed edges
Author: BeccaAmon
Pairings: Naruto x Sasuke x Naruto, Team 7-ish (not pairing, just issues)
Disclaimer: Standard disclaimers apply.
AN: Just a short piece that came to me. Un-beta’d.
~*~
~*~
“I can’t make it today. Maybe another time.”
She acknowledged his words with a nod, pink hair brushing her shoulders. “Maybe next time then, Sasuke-kun.”
“I have to go.” He didn’t wait for her reply. He closed his locker door and left.
The mission had been tough on both of them. Three months in close quarters with only Sakura for company was more than enough. Their time was used mainly for executing plans or healing from the latest encounter with the enemy. The mission didn’t leave much room for bonding. Despite her efforts, their relationship remained strained. He garnered it had been due to those years ago when he had left her passed out on a cold bench as he ran to chase after his ambition. Or perhaps, it wasn’t that at all. The event may have started it, but he had had plenty of opportunities to reconcile those loosened ties, he just never bothered to. She had tried and was still trying. Just like earlier. She had invited him for dinner. A celebration of sorts, for surviving another mission.
He left the main building, passing by his peers. A few were walking out, mission scrolls clutched in their hands. Others were walking in, the stitches and bandages wrapped around them seeming like the only things keeping them from completely falling apart.
Everywhere he looked, there were fraying edges. His reality was fading at the ends. He felt aged and often diminished.
Walking the streets of Konoha had never felt the same. It hadn’t felt like home in years. His home was the abandoned division of land that used to be occupied by his clan. He wondered briefly how the village functioned with a vital part of it gone. By compensation, he guessed. Or perhaps the clan hadn’t been that vital at all. Perhaps, it had been a useless appendix the village can do with or without.
Sasuke shook his head, scattering his thoughts away. It never helped to entertain useless thoughts. He walked the streets of Konoha, drifted past bodies, aware of everything and everyone, and yet, not.
Arriving at his destination, he fished for his keys. The door to his apartment creaked and got stuck midway through. He kicked with a bit of force and the slab of wood swung loose. Dropping a bag of grocery on the front landing, he shrugged off his vest and stepped out of his shoes. He noticed a thin sheet of dust had collected over his apartment’s furnishings during his absence. Other than that, things were as he left them. Nothing was disturbed as far as he could tell. Even a glass he had last drunk from still sat on the kitchen table.
He stepped into his living room and pinched the bridge of his nose. The sudden wave of weariness he had been waiting for had finally hit. The collective exhaustion of sleepless nights and the strain of battle crashed against him. He was sprawled on his couch before he knew it, and his lids closed over his eyes on their own volition. The last thing he saw was the solitary moon seeming imprisoned by his window frames.
His sleep was deep and undisturbed. He was surprised it had been absent of the sound of falling bodies, the familiar sight of blood on the sharp edge of a sword and of the accusing eyes of the dead.
The next thing he heard was the clatter of plates—it woke him, and the soft patter of feet on his wood floor. His eyes opened and quickly shut because of the slant of sunlight filtering through the glass pane. A murmur of protest escaped his lips as he threw a hand over his eyes; the sunlight still a red wash of light behind his lids.
“You’re awake.” his visitor greeted. He recognized Naruto’s distinct voice immediately. Sasuke realized he had missed the sound of it.
“I hope I wasn’t though.” he groaned as he sat up. He rubbed at his eyes, pressing the heel of his hands on them. Breathing deeply, he peered past his fingers to see Naruto standing over him. The shinobi wasn’t dressed in his uniform. Instead, he wore a plain blue shirt and dark pants. His hair was the usual messy, shock of blond, but no forehead-protector.
It seemed like in the three months he had been away, Naruto had changed. But Naruto always changed, constantly evolved. He was always learning something new, and they always showed in his eyes, in how he carried himself, in the grin permanently plastered on his face.
Sasuke was often envious of this fact, always had a momentary sinking feeling that he was getting left behind.
He let the moment pass and got up. He stripped off his shirt as he made his way to the bathroom for a much needed shower. When he got out and was feeling more human, he slipped into a pair of pants and joined Naruto in the kitchen.
“I made some breakfast, eat up.”
Sasuke nodded and attacked his plate with vigor. His hunger surprised him. That the food was edible surprised him even more.
Naruto watched him the entire time. Tilting his head from side to side, gaze sliding over Sasuke with an expression he couldn’t quite read.
“What?” Sasuke asked as he placed his fork down, finished with his meal.
“Hmm? Oh, nothing,” Naruto stood to take his plate away and placed it in the sink. The sound of running water filled the silence as Sasuke watched his friend clean up.
“I ran into Sakura earlier. She looked tired. More than tired, she looked…” Naruto paused. Maybe he couldn’t quite describe how she had looked. Sasuke would have said like a worn bag, but he didn’t think either Naruto or Sakura had wanted to hear that. “Anyways, I told her to rest, but you know how she is. I heard the mission went well though.” The blond chatted idly.
“No mission goes well.” Sasuke murmured already weary of the conversation.
Naruto placed a clean plate on the rack with more force than necessary. “You know what I mean.”
Somehow Naruto’s tone of voice rubbed him the wrong way and Sasuke found himself pursuing the subject he hadn’t wanted to discuss. “No, I don’t know what you mean.”
“You and Sakura are alive,” Naruto stressed through gritted teeth, “For me that means the mission went well.” Sasuke caught the anger in his friend’s tone, along with the worry that always came and the tell-tale signs that he hadn’t been well until he knew they were safe. Sasuke thought, Naruto always forgot they were capable of taking care of themselves. Naruto always forgot he couldn’t save everyone.
They stared at each other, eyes swirling with a thousand thoughts and unspoken words. Lowering his gaze, he realized the futility of their argument. Sasuke sagged against the chair and reached out his hand to Naruto in silent apology. After a short eternity of waiting, wet fingertips touched his, and in an instant he was enveloped in Naruto’s embrace.
Sasuke breathed deeply and tightened his grip around Naruto’s torso. He felt Naruto’s breath against his ear, heard their hearts beat in tandem. He felt the tension he had carted around for the last three months ease out of him like a raindrop off a leaf.
He felt Naruto’s fingers brush his chest, softly examining the dark bruise coloring his skin. Sasuke inhaled quickly and grit his teeth. As if given permission, all the injury he had received from the mission started to throb and flare with pain. The cuts pinched together by stitches started to sting, his body felt suddenly worn, his head pulsed from the abuse it had received during a battle. All his injuries seemed to sing to Naruto and asked to be noticed.
Naruto moved out of their embrace and leaned over him. He allowed Naruto to trace careful fingers over his cuts, savored the butterfly kisses over his bruised skin. Sasuke closed his eyes as warm hands caressed every inch of him. Only when Naruto was satisfied did he return to their previous embrace.
“That you came back in one piece, to me, meant the mission went well.” Naruto breathed into his ear.
Sasuke could only nod and bury his face into Naruto’s neck.
It was easy to ignore the pain, easy to ignore the frayed edges when no one reminded him of it. That was why he needed Naruto; to remind him, to heal him. Maybe Naruto couldn’t save everyone, but he sure as hell tried, and was still trying. He inhaled deep and strengthened their embrace despite the sharp pain it caused him. And maybe he should take Sakura up on her offer, tie those loose ends. Because she was there for him too, to remind him that he wasn’t alone and he had a home in their embrace.
~End
~BA
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