Archive of Our Own

So high school – Taylor Swift

It was a beautiful ceremony, a beach wedding right at sunset with the waves crashing behind the just as beautiful couple on the boardwalk. Their vows were loud and proud as they declared their love and holy matrimony in front of all of their friends and family.

Sasuke was almost envious of them, being able to be so happy and in love with one another. He watched their first dance and the dance with their parents.

He watched Shisui dance with Sasuke’s mother, Mikoto for the mother and son dance, both joyful and emotional while Sasuke sat there desperately wanting to be in that spot. To be surrounded by his loved ones, dancing with his mother to celebrate marrying the love of his life.

But, he was starting to give up hope on that dream. Maybe he just wasn’t meant for all of that. Maybe his life was meant to be boring and just focus on his career. It was a career he loved, a thing he wouldn’t trade for the world.

That’s how Shisui had met his now wife, Lily. Sasuke and her were coworkers, the two were what he’d call friends and he had very few at work. He’d introduced them by chance on one of those teacher outings that ended in a bar. Lily and Sasuke had gotten so drunk that Shisui had to pick them up then Shisui sent her flowers the next day asking her if she was okay and after that it was blah blah blah they were in love.

It actually had been a cute love story but Sasuke was too jealous to even think of it. He was really happy for the couple even if he was slightly bitter. They were truly happy and even just a little too perfect.

Perfect with Shisui’s expensive designer white button up with khaki shorts and Lily’s poofy white dress that made her look like a marshmallow. Truth be told, she did look gorgeous with her brunette hair down and wavy, the way she’d never worn it at school. Even if she looked like a damn marshmallow.

Sasuke sat at his assigned table as he watched all the happy guests dance with one another on the deck that faced the ocean. It was lit up with fairy lights and candles on every table. Carnations and roses were scattered around the deck where their reception was held. It was a dream wedding with dream guests and the dream couple.

Too dreamy and too perfect for the bitter Sasuke. Sasuke rubbed the back of his neck, feeling the sweat drip down the back of his neck. How were the two not sweating to death in this Florida weather?

He watched them smile widely at one another as they danced to the poppy music. They were just too happy and focused on one another to pay attention to this humid weather.

At least they weren’t wearing tuxes in the middle of the Florida summer heat, he couldn’t imagine sweating to death in that. Instead, Sasuke wore the same white button up and khaki shorts the groom and all the groomsmen wore. “Something we could wear again!” Shisui said the day he pitched it to them.

There was nothing that screamed Florida like khakis and a beach wedding.

He had a whiskey sour in hand, taking advantage of the open bar his cousin had paid for. There was no way he could get through this reception sober and he definitely didn't want to. He knew he needed to straighten up his act and at least pretend to have fun.

He was a groomsman and he was sitting there brooding, swirling around the whiskey in his glass, the ice clinking its sides while he watched his brother dance with his wife with wide grins on both of their faces as if they were the ones who just got married. He was surrounded by happy couples while he was destined to spend the rest of his life alone.

He knew he was being dramatic but it definitely felt like it.

He’d been searching his whole life to feel the kind of chemistry they showed in books and movies. Sasuke’s standards were too high and too demanding, his ideas of love were quite literally from the Hallmark movies he’d been subjected to watching as a child.

Even if he kinda liked and appreciated them now.

Plus, he’d had the happiest of couples around him that helped skew that narrative in his mind that no one could be that perfect match for him. His parents, Itachi and Izumi, Lily and Shisui and the list could go on and on.

Sasuke had given up, he was doomed to a life of solitude.

“Hey!” Sasuke was ripped from his thoughts as he looked to his left, seeing a blonde man with cerulean blue eyes looking down at him. “I’m Naruto.” In one hand he held a martini and the other hand was held out for Sasuke to shake.

“Sasuke.” His tone came out a little more reserved than he meant to as he took the blonde's hand.

“Is this seat taken?”

Sasuke looked down at the seat next to him and then back up to his brother who was busy dancing. “Nope, it’s free.”

Naruto grinned at him and quickly sat down next to him. “How come you’re sitting and not dancing?”

“Why are you sitting next to me and not dancing?” Sasuke retorted, earning a chuckle from the man next to him.

“You were sitting here alone and looked like you needed company.”

“I’m just drinking until I feel like dancing.” Sasuke shrugged, he was lying. He didn’t plan on dancing at all and honestly, he wasn’t expecting to conversate unless it was with his brother or his parents.

Well, he didn’t want to conversate with anyone that wasn’t them.

“Fair.” Naruto looked Sasuke up and down, eying the khaki shorts a little too long for Sasuke’s comfort. He hated wearing shorts in public but there was no way he was going to tell his cousin no when it came to his wedding. “How do you know the happy couple? I mean you must know them well since you were a groomsman.”

“Shisui is my cousin.” Sasuke told him as Naruto’s eyes came back to his own. “You?”

“I’m friends with her brother. Konohamaru didn’t want to go alone to this wedding and invited me.” Naruto sighed, “Probably a pity invite.”

Sasuke frowned, “Pity invite?”

“Yeah,” Naruto didn’t explain, “but hey! We’re here now so let's have some fun!” Naruto smiled before taking a sip of his martini. Sasuke's eyes scanned Naruto, noticing the way his biceps showed without even flexing. Hell, he was an attractive man and Sasuke thought, fuck it. What were weddings for if not drunken hook ups?

“Are you a firefighter?” Sasuke asked, Lily’s brother worked at the local fire station. Surely, he would have noticed Naruto if he came along during career week where Konohamaru and his team would bring the firetruck and answer the questions students had and how to sign up to be one after high school.

“Used to be.” Naruto shrugged, also not explaining and Sasuke didn’t blame him. This was probably the only time he’d see this stranger and they didn’t need one another's life stories.

The two sat and talked with one another for a while, continuing to slam back their drinks as it got later into the night. The two occasionally bumping arms and throwing their heads back in laughter from flirty jokes, jumping from topic to topic.

“Come on guys!” Lily yelled, getting the guests' attention. “Let’s all take a shot together!” The servers had gone around holding trays of small shots of tequila and handed them to people who were willing. Naruto looked at Sasuke, a small smirk crawling onto his lips as he tilted his head in the direction of the tray the server held. Sasuke sucked in a sharp breath before grabbing the little glass along with his blonde counterpart.

The tequila burned going down his throat and heat rose to his ears. The impulsive decision was something he was going to regret in the morning when his head would pound and his stomach would attack him from the inside out. He wasn’t in his twenties anymore, he knew he shouldn’t mix liquor but that wasn’t important right now.

The blonde next to him was the only thing that mattered.

“Come on, let's dance!” Naruto was lively, something Sasuke wasn’t entirely used to. It was like the tequila shot didn’t even affect him. He stood up and held his hand out toward Sasuke, a smirk on his lips. “Surely you’ve had enough to drink now.” Sasuke let out a soft sigh and nodded.

“Fuck it, why not?” Sasuke stood up as well, taking Naruto’s hand.

The blonde stranger led Sasuke to the dance floor, hands intertwined as he pulled him in the center. Naruto had a wide toothy grin as he shimmied his shoulders, rocking his body back and forth while Sasuke just chuckled and watched Naruto dance like no one was watching. It was like he didn’t care about anyone's opinions.

Sasuke respected it.

Naruto practically pulled his arm back and forth, in an effort to make Sasuke loosen up. He tired his best not to be stiff but all of this was so out of his comfort zone. “This is my song!” Naruto yelled loudly, earning a few laughs around the two men. ‘Bed Chem’ by Sabrina Carpenter had been playing and Naruto was swaying his hips to the beat of the song which made Sasuke move a little bit more, swaying himself closer to the blonde.

His own small smile creeped onto his lips, while blue eyes gazed longingly into his own.

Sasuke wasn’t the biggest fan of pop music, he’d preferred alternative or maybe folk but watching Naruto dance and look into his eyes like they were the only two on the dance floor maybe he’d change his opinion.

Sasuke's nerves had slightly faded as Naruto pulled him even closer with fingers still interlocked. Naruto sang along loudly as the two danced with a few feet of distance still between them. Sasuke shut his eyes as he finally let the music take over, his head and body both rocked to the music along with the blonde.

He didn’t expect to have this much fun going to this wedding. Shisui had booked him a hotel room so he could drink and not worry about taking an uber home but he planned to just go back to his apartment as soon as this thing was over with no matter what. Everything was out of character for Sasuke but maybe he should just keep that trend going.

Maybe he’d be using the hotel room after all.

Sasuke’s eyes opened to the blonde watching him, desire was etched into his eyes as he smirked at Sasuke as he pulled him closer, their bodies officially touching, grinding against one another as others danced around them, not paying attention to the two men.

The feeling of Naruto pressed so close to him, their bodies practically tangled into one another as they looked into one another's eyes. Sasuke swore he could see the entire universe in the blondes eyes and he needed to study every inch of it.

Or he was just drunk.

“I have a hotel room.” Sasuke leaned in and whispered, close to his ear so only the two of them could hear over the loud music. It was bold and out of character for Sasuke, which was the trend for him tonight. He wasn’t one for one night stands but if he’d already given up on love, why wouldn’t he?

“Yeah?” Naruto raised a brow at him, a smirk creeped onto his lips. “Show me the way.”

It wasn’t long after ditching the wedding the two made their way into that hotel room.

“Damn, this place is nice.” Naruto said as he walked into the center and looked around the suite. The room was big with a king size bed and a view of Tampa Bay’s city night lights, sparkling different colors onto the bay and into his hotel room. The ensuite bathroom was bigger than Sasuke’s bedroom in his apartment. Hell, the hotel room was probably bigger than his apartment altogether.

Shisui was a rich lawyer and would only pay for the best of the best. Sasuke could never afford this himself on a high school teacher salary, especially in Florida.

“I know something nicer.” Sasuke had a smirk on his lips as he took Naruto’s hand in his and led him toward the bed. Naruto had a sinful smirk of his own as he eyed Sasuke up and down following him with no hesitation whatsoever, stopping right as the back of Sasuke’s legs hit bed. All of his interest in the scenery of the city was gone and his focus was entirely on Sasuke.

Naruto pushed Sasuke down, making him gasp as his back hit the soft comforter. He wasn’t expecting this from the blonde but he wasn’t complaining. He wasn’t sure what he thought would come of the night but his hazy brain loved wherever this was going.

He climbed on top of Sasuke, straddling him as his lips ghosted above Sasuke’s lips. The smell of gin and sandalwood cologne whiffed off him as Naruto leaned in, the scents so strong that it would sear itself into Sasuke’s brain forever. Their lips clashed into one another with urgency, allowing all of the desire they’d felt to consume them.

Naruto disconnected their lips only to sit up and quickly throw off his shirt. Sasuke leaned up, his shirt being thrown in another direction before throwing his arms around Naruto’s neck to pull him back down in a bruising kiss. Naruto’s tongue swiped across Sasuke’s bottom lip, asking for entrance and Sasuke quickly obliged, parting his lips and allowing his own tongue to press against the blondes.

Their tongues intertwined as Naruto’s hands trailed down Sasuke’s body making Sasuke shudder, each little brush of Naruto’s fingers sent electric sensations through his spine as they made their way to the buttons of Sasuke’s shorts.

Naruto disconnected their lips once again and looked down at Sasuke with lustful eyes that made Sasuke feel the remnants of whatever decency he had left slip through his fingers. Sasuke bit his lip, searching the universe –that was also known as the blonde’s eyes. Naruto had done his own searching as he kept a steady hold in eye contact as he slid down, both his hands gripping onto Sasuke’s shorts and boxer waistband. His pants were effortlessly slid down and tossed to the side and Sasuke shivered at the cool air that hit him.

All of him.

In front of a man he’d met that night.

Naruto looked even more attractive in this position, his muscles and tan skin with his flushed cheeks. Naruto’s hazy eyes looked up at him as he took Sasuke’s hard cock into his hands and teasingly stroked him. His movements weren’t rushed, like he had all the time in the world to do nothing but pleasure Sasuke.

Sasuke’s breath hitched, feeling his man move up and down, his thumb circling his tip before sliding it back down. Each teasing stroke felt as if they were getting intentionally dragged out, like he was studying each micromovement Sasuke made.

“Fuck…” Sasuke closed his eyes as Naruto quickened his pace, still just as intentional as before. He felt Naruto’s knees sink more into the bed as he leaned down and breathed softly above Sasuke’s length. His tongue stuck out, pressing softly into the sensitive spot of Sasuke’s shaft while Naruto’s now free hand cupped his balls. He dragged his tongue, from the base of his shaft and up to that sensitive spot once again before twirling it around the tip of his cock.

Everything was so overwhelming, the sound of Naruto’s breathing with Sasuke’s breaths that were getting deeper. The idea of this was surreal, like whoever this was, it couldn’t have been Sasuke. It had to be some kind of doppelganger that got into bed with the hottest man he’d ever seen in his life.

Naruto took him fully into his mouth, bobbing his head up and down faster. Sasuke let out a loud gasp and arched his back up, intense heat encased his body, his cheeks were a deep shade of red as he moaned out curses and gripped the white sheet on his sides as if he was holding on for dear life, as if he was going to fall any moment.

He was never this vocal but the alcohol had definitely loosened him up a lot more than he thought.

Naruto lifted his head up, catching his breath. “I wish we had lube…” Naruto whispered, his breath hit Sasuke’s length which made Sasuke let out a shaky breath.

“Check the drawer.” Sasuke said as he propped himself up on his elbows, looking down at the man between his legs. “This is a bougie ass hotel. I'm sure they have lubes and condoms in the night stand.”

Naruto raised a brow and shrugged as he stood up and bent over to check the drawer, Sasuke’s eyes watched every movement, scanning every inch of the man's body. He still had on those blue slacks he’d worn to the wedding and they were doing nothing to hide the bulge of his hard cock. He was practically drooling, waiting to finally feel him. “Don’t these cost like a shit ton of money?” He asked as he looked down at the two boxes of lube and condoms. “I’m pretty sure they’re on sensors.”

“It’s on Shisui’s card.” They both looked at one another with an amused face and chuckled. “Grab them.”

Naruto quickly grabbed them and went back to his place on the bed between Sasuke’s legs. “You’re a bottom right?” Naruto paused, earning an unexpected loud laugh from Sasuke.

“Yes.” Sasuke felt his face flush. It would have been really awkward if they had gotten this far and were both tops. “Go ahead.” Sasuke gave him the approval Naruto needed to hear as Naruto popped open the bottle and squirted some out onto his fingers.

Naruto’s fingers traced Sasuke’s entrance as he felt the cool liquid drip down him. He could feel the blondes eyes on him while his own had been tightly shut as Naruto stuck a finger inside him, giving him that burning feeling of his entrance being stretched. Sasuke let out a sharp breath as he felt Naruto slowly move his finger around.

When he felt another finger slide inside him he gasped, closing his eyes tightly while his body visibly shuddered. He heard a small chuckle from the blonde that made Sasuke’s cheeks redden once again. “That feels so good…” Sasuke whispered as Naruto slid them in and out, looking for that bundle of nerves.

Unexpectedly, Naruto’s mouth wrapped around Sasuke’s length once again. His tongue traced down his length, bobbing his head slowly. Each time he made his way up he felt Naruto’s tongue lick around the sensitive part near the head of his cock, taking in every drip of Sasuke’s precum. His hands went to Naruto’s hair, gripping it softly which earned a gasp from the blonde that vibrated around him. His fingers brushed against that bundle of nerves making Sasuke arch his back and grip tighter.

“Keep doing that holy fuck…” Sasuke was getting addicted. He didn’t know what it was if it was the thrill of hooking up with a stranger or just how good Naruto was at this. Naruto kept that steady rhythm of simultaneously sucking him and curling his fingers against the spot that made Sasuke see colors.

The room was filled with gasps and moans and the desperate pleas from Sasuke. Never once had he pleaded for a man before but something about the blonde man between his legs. The muscles on his back scrunched up as he moved his arms and head up and down.

Sasuke didn’t know what spiritual being made this man but he was willing to kneel and thank them for creating this beautiful man in front of him.

Then the thought crossed his mind, this was a stranger and a one night stand. This wasn’t real and he’d never seen the man again. This godlike beauty that felt as if he was a mythical being. No one could be this attractive, not one real person.

How was he supposed to never feel this way again? This is why he didn’t do one night stands. He wasn’t good at them. He was almost regretting the hook up, he couldn’t fall for a man he’d met only a few hours ago.

Almost.

Naruto slid his fingers out of Sasuke which earned a small (and embarrassing) whine from him, completely taking him out of the pragmatic thoughts he was having. As Naruto took Sasuke out of his mouth with a pop, Naruto caught a glimpse of Sasuke’s pout and shook his head with a small smirk on his lips.

“Don’t worry,” Naruto said as he leaned over to the night stand and pulled out a condom. “I’m just getting started.” Naruto’s sultry voice was ringing in Sasuke’s ears.

Sasuke let out a sigh before leaning up to grab the condom from Naruto’s hand. Placing the small tin-like material on his lips before biting the corner, ripping open the little wrapper with his teeth and taking the condom out. Naruto raised a brow as the two of them made eye contact studying him as Sasuke placed it on Naruto, his hand slowly rolling it onto him.

“Holy fuck…” Naruto blinked and his mouth let out a soft gasp, watching the little show Sasuke was putting on. Sasuke smirked as he grabbed Naruto’s wrist and pulled him back down the bed next to him. He crawled on top of him, straddling his hips, never breaking eye contact. “Where the hell have you been all my life?” Naruto whispered, his eyes like flying saucers from another planet filled with lust.

Sasuke was asking himself the same question but he wasn’t gonna voice it like his counterpart did.

Sasuke just smirked down at him as he held Naruto’s length and slid himself onto him. Both of them gasped at the same time and Sasuke’s hands landed onto Naruto’s chest while Naruto’s hands gripped onto Sasuke’s hips.

He threw his head back in ecstasy as he began rocking his hips back and forth. Feeling as Naruto’s hands gripped onto his hips. The blonde’s fingers held on tight as he thrusted upwards into Sasuke, each thrust making his mind a blur.

He could live in this moment, stay here forever with this man he’d just met.

Sasuke’s hands slowly rubbed up Naruto’s chest to his neck before going to his cheeks. Sasuke leaned down just above his lips, gasping as Naruto thrusted harder into him. Sasuke leaned in and kissed Naruto deeply, their tongues sliding simultaneously against one another like they were made for one another.

Like Sasuke was the moon that perfectly covered the sun during a total solar eclipse that happened ever so often. Something so beautiful and like an alchemical action drawing the sun to brighten the moon but only for the sun to see.

This was a stranger but the way they touched one another felt like they knew each other all their lives. Like they knew each other in every lifetime. Every universe, on every planet that may have carried extraterrestrial life.

The way Naruto observed Sasuke and watched his reactions to certain touches and actions. It was driving him crazy, he didn’t know he could feel this way especially with someone he’s never met before.

Sasuke disconnected the kiss, gasping against the blonde's lips as he was brought closer to the edge, grinding down on Naruto and legs shaking as Naruto hit just the right spots to make Sasuke mutter incoherent mumbles. “Holy fuck…” Sasuke moaned out as he took his hands off Naruto’s cheeks and placed them on each side of his head, his fingers gripping into the white sheets beneath them.

Sasuke looked into Naruto’s eyes and watched as teeth grazed his bottom lip, making direct eye contact with one another. Sasuke’s brain was mush, he never wanted this to end… he needed it to never end. Sasuke rotated his hips, watching that blissed out look in Naruto’s eyes.

Those gorgeous eyes you could just get lost in. Sasuke definitely was getting lost. This was the kind of sex that you’d mumble “I love you’s” during just because of how good you felt. He had to bite back the words because that’s not something you’d say to a stranger.

Hell, he could easily fall in love with this man after this, based on this interaction alone.

“I’m so close…” Naruto sucked in a sharp breath. His brows furrowed and gripped onto Sasuke even tighter than he was before. Sasuke gasped as Naruto’s hips were thrusting even faster, words couldn’t even come out of Sasuke's mouth anymore. Soft curses were replaced with loud moans and sounds he didn’t know he was capable of making.

The blonde looked so gorgeous in the city lights that shined into the hotel room, watching as that wave crashed over him. Sasuke gasped, throwing his head back as he was quick to follow, every sensation that had blazed through him was almost unbearable.

The two breathed in and out heavily, looking at one another with the same surprised look. Sweat glistening, reflecting those same city lights. Naruto’s mouth still agape as they both took one another in, watching one another for a reaction.

Those swollen pink lips of Naruto’s and the way his hair laid against his forehead, the same hair had been gripping a little too harshly just minutes ago. Sasuke had seen Naruto’s entire body but he was taking the time to really cherish it.

Taking mental note of the man he was never going to see again.

The two were similar heights, his arms and hands had been bigger, maybe even slightly longer. Sasuke wasn’t as built as the firefighter beneath him but he was fit, not entirely focusing on weights and arm exercises that he was sure Naruto had been doing.

He’d noticed a few scars in places, maybe even a burn mark which made sense for his job. The idea of Naruto in a firefighter uniform sent thrills through his body. He’d do anything to see this godlike beauty wear that fitted outfit, with the turnouts.

God, just the turnout pants, those suspenders…

“What the hell are you doing to me?” Naruto broke the silence and the trance Sasuke had on him. “That little furrow you do with your brows, like you’re fixated.” Naruto’s voice was low, intoxicating.

Sasuke could get drunk on it every night for the rest of his life.

Sasuke felt his cheeks pink up once again. Naruto had been studying him just like Sasuke was.

His throat was on fire, he’d wanted to say something maybe smart or something endearing but he just couldn’t bring himself to do it. He’d done the next best thing, leaning down and connecting his lips once again. He took Naruto’s lip between his teeth, sucking softly on the lip earning a groan from the man beneath him.

Pride soared through his body as he felt the man grow hard once again beneath him. Sasuke leaned up once again, taking in the blonde beauty once more before smirking down at him.

They went two more times that night, each one better than the last.

————————————————————————

After Lily’s wedding and the amazing one night stand that Sasuke couldn’t seem to forget. His life had gone back to normal. Back to his normal and lonely life, which he didn’t entirely hate. He loved his job and being a part of his student’s lives. Sure, he felt as if he was lacking something but it was something he could look over and just forget about.

Even if he found himself still fantasizing about that buff blonde.

Those eyes.

The arms.

Sasuke let out a sigh and shook his in an attempt to break those damn thoughts.

He needed his focus here in the present. Not that night where he’d quite literally had the best night of his life.

It was three weeks before the beginning of the school year where all the teachers got to come in and decorate their classrooms. Lily was sitting in one of the rickety student desks as Sasuke stood on a blue student chair stapling a blue border onto one of the big corkboards.

“You know? Marriage sex is great.” Lily started as she placed her elbows on the desk, her eyes staring off toward the side with that dreamy look Sasuke had done a lot these days. “I mean like everyday on the honeymoon we were all over one another.”

Sasuke cringed, “Oh come on…” He groaned as he grabbed another paper to staple on the corkboard. “I really don’t want to hear about my cousin's sex life.”

“I mean it was a whole new experience!" Lily ignored him, “Like it was that kind of life changing sex that makes you see everything in a new light.”

Sasuke understood that from personal experience.

“Lily, this is not a safe for work conversation.” He sighed as he stepped down from his chair, looking up at his work.

It wasn’t much but it was enough for Sasuke to make this dull classroom with supposed white walls–that had greyed over the years even though maintenance had promised to paint them over the summer– and had a couple corkboards with an older whiteboard. The whiteboard had stains of the cheap dry erase markers that teachers who had his classroom years before he’d taken it over.

Each corkboard had black papers with the dark blue borders he’d been stapling. He planned to put up a few posters about lab safety and maybe other chemistry papers. Sasuke hadn’t entirely decided yet.

He’d need help putting up the only colorful thing in his classroom: his periodic table. Lily wasn’t tall enough and the last time she stood on a chair it involved himself launching off his own chair to catch her, which ended with them both on the ground laughing.

Itachi would help him but he really didn’t want to hear about his lack of color. He always had to justify himself, saying things like “Brother, I am an AP Chemistry teacher, not a kindergarten class” or “I don’t need flashy, just professional.”

He looked toward the desks, eyes purposely avoiding Lily. The majority of his students' desks were wobbly and honestly, as old as him.

Florida’s governor was just too busy banning books and making teachers worry about their jobs about having said books in their classroom instead of using his words and budgets to help fix up and support older schools. Only making new schools look flashy and big to appeal to tourists to move to their already overpopulated state.

“It was great before like really but it’s something about those rings on your fingers and the vows.” She said dreamily, she really wasn’t paying attention to Sasuke. Sasuke looked back at her, a glare on his face while she still looked off, her chin in her palms as she rested her elbow on the desk.

“I could go to HR.”

“I would get married over and over again to him.” Lily smiled widely, dropping her arm down and pushing her chair back, a loud scrape on Sasuke’s classroom floor. Sasuke cringed and turned his glare toward the floor as he saw a small scuff mark on the floor. Another thing Maintenance was supposed to do was put those protective caps on the bottoms of each chair and desk.

“They better wax these fucking floors during fall break.” Sasuke muttered, turning his back toward Lily as he once again looked at the bare corkboard. He already knew, maintenance was more than definitely not going to that.

“I want coffee.” Lily said a little too chippy for the bitter and annoyed Sasuke, she never cared about his attitude and smart remarks he’d given her through the last few years he’d known her. Lily had forced her way into his life, no matter what Sasuke did to write her off and reject the teacher outings, she was always persistent.

Sasuke gave in which he learned he actually appreciated her friendship, even if he was annoyed with her at this moment. She was his best friend but he’d never tell her that.

“Then go get it.” Sasuke was studying his wall. He was at a road block with what else he could do with his classroom. It was coming together slowly but he felt as if something was lacking.

“Come on!” Lily huffed and tapped her foot with crossed arms. “You could use a break and then we can come back and work on your classroom.”

“We?” Sasuke side eyed her. “You’ve been sitting here the whole time just talking about your honeymoon.”

“It was a great honeymoon.”

“Don’t you have a classroom to work on?” Sasuke muttered, he was getting tired already of hearing about the wedding. It was a lame attempt to get her to leave him alone.

“Nope, Shisui and I finished this morning.” Sasuke rolled his eyes, of course it couldn’t be that easy to get rid of her. “He’d taken a few days off to help me.”

“Why didn’t he help me? I work at the same school, hell you’re in the next hallway over.” Sasuke pouted slightly.

“He’s my husband, I get priority.” Lily giggled as she looked down at her rings. Her engagement ring was a silver band with a vintage marquise diamond that Shisui definitely spent at least five grand on. Her wedding band was just as fancy with diamonds encrusted all through it. “My husband, doesn’t that sound amazing?”

“For sure.” Sasuke rolled his eyes, he knew his tone came off sarcastic but Lily was too ecstatic to notice. “Fine, let's get coffee.” Lily clapped her hands and smiled widely as Sasuke walked out with her into the hallway.

The hallways were bare and empty too, other than a few cheesy inspirational posters above the lockers that had definitely been older than Sasuke. They were supposedly a bright shade of blue once upon a time but they really looked like some dark muddy blue color with peeled stickers from previous years and missing number plates on them.

The floors were a shiny speckled white, so shiny you could see your reflection in it. At least maintenance found the time to wax the hallways.

Over the course of the year, the hallway will fill up with posters for clubs and fundraisers. It was actually something Sasuke liked to see. He liked seeing students come together and make this old school have a cheery environment.

They just needed to keep all that color out of Sasuke’s classroom.

Of course if he had a student he favored, sometimes he’d allow them to put up a sign for donations for whatever sport or club they were a part of.

Sometimes.

Lily continued to tell Sasuke all about her honeymoon in a more appropriate way that he could handle. As they walked, he looked in some of the classrooms as other teachers' doors were open and doing the same thing he’d been doing.

Some were colorful and some going for the same professional look he strived for.

“We got to swim with nurse sharks and honestly it was so cool.” Lily continued rambling as they stepped closer to the teachers lounge. “I mean Shisui was so scared of them and I was like-“

Sasuke’s eyes widened and face was drained of all color as he looked into the teachers lounge. The back of that blonde man from his cousin's wedding stood just a few feet away from the door. The man he was supposed to never see again that wasn’t supposed to exist in his real world.

Naruto.

All the memories of that night flooded back into Sasuke’s head, his gasps and moans as the two held onto one another. The touches and lustful kisses that he’d chastised himself for still reminiscing on.

That he reprimanded himself for believing the man was so beautiful and referred to him as a godlike being. Sure, he never voiced it and never will but it had just been so embarrassing to even think that way.

“Run.” Sasuke whispered, cutting her off as he quickly grabbed Lily’s wrist in an almost bone crushing grip.

“Huh?” Lily looked at him confused before being pulled away from the door. “Oh! Okay!” Lily followed as Sasuke quickly pulled her through the hallways, the only sounds heard were Lily’s heels clicking on the freshly waxed floor and Sasuke’s sneakers squeaking until his eyes landed on a janitor's closet far from the teachers lounge. “What was that?” Lily asked while Sasuke slammed the door of the closet shut.

Sasuke paced back and forth in the small area. He had to have been seeing things. Naruto couldn’t have been a teacher here? Right?

“Naruto.” Sasuke looked at Lily with narrowed eyes, his breathing was heavy like he’d just ran a marathon. “That firefighter at your wedding.”

“Oh?” Lily tilted her head as she thought about it. “Konohamaru’s friend? Yeah, his old lieutenant.”

“Why is he here?” He asked frantically as his hands went in his hair.

“He’s here?” Lily raised a brow at him. “I’m not sure, we aren’t entirely close.”

“And he was at your wedding?”

“So were a bunch of people I barely knew.”

“What?” It was Sasuke’s turn to tilt his head, giving her an incredulous look. “So you just throw another random person on your list of invitees?!”

“Konohamaru asked if he could come as his plus one! I’m not gonna tell my brother no.” Lily frowned at him. “Wait… what’s wrong with you?” Sasuke paused as he looked up at her sheepishly, once again blushing like a damn fool. A look of realization quickly dawned on her face. “Holy shit!” She gasped, “you hooked up with him.”

“I did.”

Lily covered her mouth, trying her best to hold in the laughter. “I’m sure you won’t see him often…” Lily choked back a laugh. “There’s a lot of teachers here.”

“Maybe.” Sasuke sighed as he leaned against the door. “God this is gonna be so awkward.”

“Was it a bad hook up?” Lily whispered.

“Worse.” Sasuke sighed loudly, “It was amazing.”

The two looked at one another, smiles creeping onto one another's faces then came a laugh so loud from one another that anyone passing by surely heard them.

“I want details.”

The last thing he wanted to tell Lily about was his sex life but he couldn’t help himself. He didn’t go too much in detail but it was enough to make Lily gasp in shock. Even some of the less raunchy details were enough to make both of them blush.

They were exchanging giggles and she’d ask more details, he tried his best to keep it to a minimum but Lily had a way of prying it out of him. She was always persuasive and very persistent, a blessing and a curse.

“And you wanted to never speak to this man again?” Lily couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “I’d marry the man that did that to me… oh wait I did!” Lily said with a smirk as she raised her hand and pointed to her ring. Even in the dimly lit closet that had trashcans, brooms and mops it still sparkled.

“Shut up please.” Sasuke groaned, once again having to block out the idea of her and his cousin.

“Well, it sounds like we both had a fun night on my wedding night.” Lily shrugged, making Sasuke groan once again and pinch the bridge of his nose.

“Alright, let's get out of here and finish my classroom.” Sasuke muttered as he put his hand down and turned around to open the janitor's closet.

As the two emerged from the closet, they walked right into… Naruto. Naruto looked between the two quietly as he raised a brow. Sasuke and Lily blinked at him, the three exchanging looks. Naruto opened his mouth to say something but quickly closed it.

Sasuke and Lily looked between one another, realizing exactly what it looked like.

Naruto turned his body and continued walking in the direction he’d been going without saying a word.

“And now, you get to fix that.” Lily patted his shoulder as she stepped away, leaving Sasuke staring at the wall dumfounded.

Sasuke let out a loud sigh, he knew she was right. He turned on heels and speed walked in the direction Naruto was walking and looked in every open door. When he found Naruto standing in a classroom he sucked in a deep breath and walked in.

“Hey.” Sasuke started, Naruto turned around to face him. “I just want to explain–”

“No, really it's fine.” Naruto quickly shook his head. “It’s none of my business, really.” Naruto held his hands up, waving them at him in defense. The man's cheeks had pinked up slightly, which looked odd compared to the confident and cocky man he’d met that night.

“It’s not-” Sasuke paused as he looked around. It was like annoying orange had thrown up all over the classroom. An obnoxious amount of orange and frog themed things were scattered around. He saw a few printed memes about lab safety and following rules. The periodic table was surrounded by a giant frog mouth and he’d also had a signed Tampa Bay Buccaneers poster hung up right next to his desk. “Wow.” It was obvious in tone of disapproval. This was the man he’d slept with?

He turned his body around and saw a filing cabinet that had a few alligator plushes that had little Gator’s football helmets on the very top. He hadn’t seen so much football memorabilia and orange in his life.

“Hey!” Naruto frowned at him, taking a couple steps. “You’re having an affair with the bride and then sleep with me and you come in here to judge my classroom!” Naruto crossed his arms, making Sasuke look back at him. “You don’t get to judge me.”

Sasuke let out a loud breath and closed his eyes, his hands balling into fists at his sides. He hated the room but that wasn’t why he’d shown up. He’d opened his eyes and had a pout on his face as he looked at the just as judgmental blonde. “I’m not having an affair with Lily, we were just talking.” It sounded so lame coming out of his mouth.

If he’d seen what Naruto had seen, he’d immediately assume the same.

“Sure.” Naruto eyed him up and down. “Whatever you say.”

“No seriously,” Sasuke groaned, this time crossing his own arms, looking down at the floor. He couldn’t believe he was about to admit this but the words had come out almost involuntarily. “We were in there because I saw you in the teachers lounge.” Naruto kept quiet as he let Sasuke explain himself. “I was embarrassed to see you and I took her in the closet to tell her about it.” He admitted, like he was a child who’d gotten caught stealing candy from one of those old Publix candy bars.

Which he’d done a lot in his youth before they took them away for that very reason.

“Oh.” Naruto let out what almost seemed like a sigh of relief. “Listen Sasuke, I know what that hook up was.” He shook his head with a small chuckle which made Sasuke look up to meet his eyes. “We were drunk at a wedding and we had fun. That’s all.”

“Good.” Sasuke nodded, “I’m glad we’re on the same page.” He said as he went back to looking around the classroom. “What exactly do you teach?” His eyes narrowed, once again taking in that ugly frog that had the periodic table in its mouth.

“Chemistry.” Naruto said with a small smile. Sasuke’s eyes widened as he snapped his head back to the man in front of him. Sasuke was head of the department for all of science for the school.

“You got hired and I didn’t know?” Sasuke raised a brow at him, a little irritated at the lack of communication on the administration's part.

“Are they supposed to run new hires by you?” Naruto looked at him, his mouth slowly curving into an amused smirk.

“For my department, yeah it would be nice.” Sasuke frowned at him as Naruto’s smirk turned into a full out grin. Sasuke sucked in a sharp breath, getting a glimpse of what was to be expected for this school year.

“Well, this is gonna be a fun year.”

“You’re telling me…” Sasuke muttered as he turned to exit the classroom. He took another glance at the counter near the door, seeing a fire helmet hanging on the wall. Pinellas county, Station 43. As his eyes trailed down he noticed a tank with a frog that had brown and orange tint on it. Its slimy face and bulgy eyes looked up at Sasuke. “What the hell is that?” Sasuke gasped as he jumped back.

“A spring peeper!” Naruto said with a wide grin. “His name is Gamakichi! Isn’t he cute?” The blonde walked over to the tank. “Want to hold him?”

“Hell no!” Sasuke was horrified. He hated amphibians and bugs more than anything. He shuddered at the thought, imagining the slimy frog in his hands. He could handle reptiles like snakes but frogs… they were the absolute worst.

“You’re into science but can’t handle a frog?” Naruto raised a brow.. “Kinda weird if you ask me.”

Sasuke hated that mocking tone.

Kind of.

“I-” Sasuke glared at him. “Have a good day.” Sasuke huffed as he exited the classroom hearing Naruto laugh loudly.

————————————————————————

Sasuke sat in his car outside of his parents house, looking up at the stone work that his mother had begged his father to do. When he attempted it himself, it was so poorly done he had to throw in the towel and actually pay a paver which his father was too proud to do in the first place.

But, that happened a lot where his father would attempt something then have to pay a professional to fix it.

He was a stubborn man.

Their house was right on the water and in one of those areas that was originally seen as for the poor when they had bought it but suddenly Florida decided that land was worth a ton of money and insurance prices went up and blah blah blah.

His parents weren’t rich but they were financially stable plus the gifts from Itachi and Shisui.

Sasuke didn’t accept gifts of money like that because just like his father, he was a proud and stubborn man.

His mother on the other hand… she birthed Sasuke and Itachi plus raised Shisui so she’d gladly accept anything that was given. With a wide smile and loud appreciation, she truly was grateful for anything and everything.

Sasuke let out a loud sigh, realizing he should probably step out of his car. He didn’t mind the monthly family dinners but lately his mother pressed more and more into his personal life.

It wasn’t like he’d had much of a personal life to begin with. It was work and home and then back to work the next day. He spent his free time planning lessons and grading assignments and during summer breaks he’d even thought about getting another job just to entertain himself.

“Sasuke!” His mother yelled as he stepped into the foyer of their home, he’d been the first to arrive, of course. “How have you been?”

“I’ve been good, mom.” Sasuke gave her a polite smile, pulling her into a side hug. “How have you and dad been?”

“We’re doing so good! We’ve still been dealing with all these wedding things, I swear we need to just throw away all these damn candles.”

“No!” Fugaku yelled from the back of the house. “We are not wasting them! We spent way too much money just to throw them away.” Loud stomps came through the living room followed by a pout on his father’s face.

“Would you like some candles Sasuke?” His mother let out a defeated sigh, looking up at him with pleading eyes. “Please?”

“Yes mom.” Sasuke chuckled, “I’ll take some of these candles.”

“We live in Florida! We might have a hurricane and need to light them to see if we lose electricity!” Fugaku complained, dramatically waving his hands in the air.

“We wouldn’t be home honey, we’re in an evacuation zone.”

“So what I’m hearing is we need to give them all to Sasuke because we would be evacuating to his apartment.”

“Whoa whoa whoa.” Sasuke held his hands up, biting back that smile that was trying to fall on his face at his parents' bickering. He was worried if he’d actually shown how amused he actually was his father would take it as a sign to pile his apartment with all the candles. “I said a few, not all of them.”

“Remind me why Shisui and Lily didn’t take these?”

“Because they would have thrown them away!”

It was cute how Sasuke’s parents bickered like an old married couple and still had so much love for one another. It was another thing on his too high of standards for this day of age. A lot of people in his age group looked for hook ups and short term things. Other than that night that still lingered in his mind, he really wasn’t interested in hookup culture.

It wasn’t long until the others had arrived, his parents were still bickering but quickly halted as Shisui and Itachi with their wives all walked in at the same time through the front door. Sasuke and Itachi greeted one another with a big hug.

“It’s been a minute.” Itachi said with a small frown on his lips.

“It’s been a month.”

“A month too long.” Itachi chuckled as he walked with a bottle of wine in his hand as he handed it to his mother. She placed it down on the hutch at the front door and promised to grab it before they all walked toward their living room.

Sasuke hadn’t even thought of bringing something to his parent’s house.

“Sasuke!” Shisui threw his arms at him, pulling Sasuke into an unexpected bear hug. Sasuke frowned as he looked toward Lily who was smiling just as wide as Shisui. She held a plate of homemade brownies and walked over toward Sasuke’s mother.

Was this just a married person thing? Did they just bring things wherever they go?

“You’re happy.” Sasuke said flatly, still stuck in the tight bear hug.

“Newly weds bro! It’s that newly wed glow.” Shisui released him and patted his back roughly, making Sasuke cough.

Great, another person to talk about their happy lives and happy wedding. “I’m so happy for you.” His tone was sarcastic but once again was overlooked by the happy couple.

“Come on guys! Let's eat!” Mikoto thankfully interrupted.

The family all sat around the kitchen table. All of the couples with their happy little lives sat next to one another and then there was Sasuke.

Bitter and lonely Sasuke.

At the other end of the table, being stared down by his wonderful but meddlesome mother.

“So Sasuke,” Mikoto started as she sipped on her wine. Sasuke closed his eyes and let out a quiet sigh. “When are you finally gonna bring someone home?”

This question was always how the night started. “I’m not sure.”

“Well, you’re not getting any younger.”

“Mother.” Itachi side-eyed her. It was like a script every month, always the same thing that he felt his mother rehearsed just to say at every dinner. Which was the only reason he dreaded these damn dinners.

“What?!” Mikoto held her hand up in defense, “Am I wrong?”

“So, how come Shisui and Lily didn’t take those candles?” Sasuke had gotten good at getting the conversation off of him. Shisui turned to glare at Sasuke before looking back at Fugaku who already had that frown coming across his face as he looked at his wife.

Then it was the glare off, another rehearsed part of every dinner. The script may change every so often with his father and whichever sibling Sasuke placed the target on.

“That’s what I’m asking, my garage is filled with candles, vases and lanterns.” Mikoto huffed as she turned her attention to her husband.

“Because they would throw them away!” Fugaku looked over at Shisui, returning the same glare. “So when are you paying me back for all that damn stuff?”

His family was so expressive and similar.

“Uncle Fugaku, you didn’t have to pay for them in the first place.” Shisui rolled his eyes, “I told you we could take all that stuff.”

“You’re gonna throw it away!”

“No, we won’t do that.” Shisui was deadpan, lying straight to his face as Lily covered her mouth and her shoulders bouncing slightly as a soft little muffled giggle slipped past her fingers.

“See! I told you they would!”

“Honey.”

“Seriously Lily?” Shisui groaned, turning to glare at his wife, nudging her side.

“Not all of us have a poker face, Mr. Lawyer!”

Sasuke was thankful, his family was very easy to distract and he was able to hide in the conversation as they bickered about wedding stuff. Most of these dinners were about the wedding lately and he’d assumed that maybe since it happened that wouldn’t be the case anymore. But, to his advantage his father was a stingy man and he could use it.

Just like he would every dinner.

They continued to bicker and bicker until finally Shisui had enough.

“You know, I got this very big client and I really want to make a toast,” Shisui said as he stood up from his seat, sticking his tongue out at Fugaku earning a “hmph.” Shisui turned to face Mikoto with a wide grin on his face. “Do you still have champagne, Aunt Mikoto?”

“Do I?” Mikoto dramatically gasped, placing her hand on her chest as if she was appalled by the thought of her not having it. “Of course I do!” Shisui let out a chuckle as he excused himself to the kitchen.

Sasuke watched as Itachi and Izumi exchanged looks between one another before looking down at their plates, avoiding eye contact with anyone. Sasuke raised a brow, they’d been more quiet than he was.

It was unlike them to try and hide from any conversations from the family.

“Alright!” Shisui held a bottle and champagne flutes in his hand. He poured everyone a glass as Izumi swallowed nervously, tapping her fingers against the glass table.

“Uh, actually I’m feeling a little sick tonight so I’m gonna just celebrate with some water.” Izumi spoke softly, pushing the glass away from her.

“Come on, just a few sips won’t kill you!” Shisui said, his expressive hands went up with the bottle still grasping the champagne bottle by the neck. Lily looked at her and then back at her husband. She blinked a few times then her face went pale, eyes wide. Sasuke looked between Lily and Izumi, all of them exchanging words without saying a thing. Lily cleared her throat as she tried to get Shisui’s attention but it was to no avail, he’d been too wrapped in his own world.

Izumi was pregnant and she was politely trying to decline but his big time lawyer cousin wasn’t capable of reading the room.

“Hey Itachi,” Sasuke chimed in trying his best to get the attention of Izumi. “Got any big projects lately?”

“Oh,” Itachi swallowed nervously as Shisui pouted, setting the champagne bottle down with a thud. “Yes, I have a client who wants a mural on their ceiling in their foyer.” Itachi was a freelance artist with a pretty big following. The man had the creativity that Sasuke lacked which sometimes he was envious of.

Mikoto joined the silent stare off between the two women. Suddenly, her eyes widened as she covered her mouth with both her hands. “Really!?” She said in a high pitched voice that was slightly muffled by her hands.

Izumi and Itachi both sighed before admitting the truth. “I wasn’t gonna tell you guys tonight but yes.” Izumi gave Shisui a side eye as he looked sheepishly toward her. “I’m eight weeks.”

“We’re gonna be grandparents?” Fugaku looked at them with wide eyes. “Now that’s something to toast to!”

Shisui frowned but nodded, accepting his defeat as everyone held up their glasses to toast.

While everyone was happy and celebrating the happy couple, Sasuke gave them a lame smile. He was happy for them but he was once again feeling that envy he felt at Shisui’s wedding. Everyone was moving forward with their lives and Sasuke was stuck here.

Bitter.

“Am I gonna get any grandkids from you two anytime soon?” Mikoto turned to Shisui and Lily, making Lily choke on her food.

“Oh god no.” Lily shook her head quickly, earning a chuckle from Shisui.

“Sure about that one?” Sasuke mumbled under his breath. Lily kept looking at Mikoto as she kicked Sasuke under the table, making him groan. These dinners were fun when he wasn’t the main focus.

————————————————————————

The open house was today. Sasuke was ready to get this year started so he could put all his attention toward that. Toward doing things he actually enjoyed, like his life had some kind of purpose. He genuinely believed he was put in this world to help future scientists and chemists be the best they could be.

He hoped this would be a good school year, filled with students who actually want to learn and not spoiled brats.

Plus, the blonde down the hall from him… he needed a distraction from that.

When he walked into his classroom, he saw a red round thing on his desk. He tilted his head and raised a brow as he got closer. His eyes narrowed, realizing exactly what it was.

A red frog stuffed animal.

Sasuke sighed, Naruto was a real jokester.

He definitely needed that distraction.

“What are you doing here?” Lily raised a brow as she peeked her head into his classroom, her hands held onto the doorframe as she looked at Sasuke. Her eyes wandered and noticed the ugly round thing on his desk, making herself push off the door frame and actually walk into his classroom. “What the hell is that thing?” She asked as she got a closer look at it.

“A frog.” Sasuke deadpanned. He rolled his eyes and scoffed, looking away from it.

“Yes I see that.” She turned back looking at him. “But why?”

“You asked what it was, not why.”

Lily sucked in a sharp breath before standing up straight. “Forget it.” She scoffed. “Back to my original question, what are you doing here?”

“For the open house.”

“You mostly teach juniors and seniors.” Lily let out a laugh. “You know only freshmen come to these.”

“I have a few freshmen!” Sasuke said defensively, crossing his arms like a child once again.

“Yes, because those little geniuses are gonna show up to this thing.”

“That’s rude.” Sasuke said with a small pout. She wasn’t wrong, Sasuke got very few students every year but he still liked coming to see all the fresh new faces and the terrified looks of parents.

“I’m just telling the truth.” She shrugged.

Sasuke finally processed her appearance. “What the hell are you wearing?” She was in a bright pink long dress with flower petals all over it with a bright orange sweater with her hair pinned up into two small buns on the back of her head. Her bangs rested neatly but those god awful buns that had pencils sticking through to hold them in place.

“I look cute don’t I?” Lily said as she did a little twirl, holding the skirt of her dress and then did a curtsy making Sasuke roll his eyes.

“You look like an elementary school teacher.”

“That’s rude.”

“Sorry.” Sasuke shrugged as he sat down at his desk, resting his head on the headrest and leaning his chair back. He looked up at the ceiling tiles that were just as old as all the other things in this classroom. Some of them were slightly brown, from water damage during hurricanes.

He let out a long sigh, he was in for a boring night.

“Wow.” Lily said as Naruto walked into his classroom. Sasuke quickly sat up, looking in the direction of his door and narrowed his eyes as he read Naruto’s shirt. He had a red T-shirt on with a quote that said ‘Don’t want none unless you got Bunsen.’

“What?” Naruto frowned, a small huff coming out of his mouth.

“Did I miss the memo of wearing the worst thing in our closet?” Sasuke had a plain black polo shirt with the school name and logo on it, Palm Fire High with a brown hawk on it. He also wore fitted khaki dress pants that were knock-off Lululemon's from Sam’s club because even if he could afford those with his paycheck after bills he wouldn’t get them. It was simple and professional, like they should be.

“Hey!” Naruto frowned, his tone whiny.

“Totally uncalled for.” Lily crossed her arms. “Not our fault you’re boring.”

“I’m not boring.” Sasuke huffed. “I’m just professional.”

Naruto took a few steps into his classroom and looked around. He’d had a few posters about lab safety and protocols and different studying tricks. It was nothing like the throw up of spongebob memes in Naruto’s classroom. “No, you’re pretty boring.”

It was Sasuke’s turn to frown. It was unfair for Naruto to come in and judge his room with the way Naruto’s had looked. “What would you put in here?” He looked around, yeah his room was a little dull but he liked it that way.

Well, maybe. He wasn’t entirely sure, he liked the idea of being professional but the idea of maybe a little bit more… he didn’t know what more it could be but it didn’t sound horrible trying to find it. What he did know, is he didn’t want a classroom anything like the two in front of him.

“Literally anything. Your walls are so bare.”

“First year teacher things.” Sasuke rolled his eyes before turning toward his computer, doing his best to avoid the glares of the two intruders in his classroom. Lily scoffed loudly, earning a small chuckle from Naruto. Her classroom was just as done up as Naruto’s but English teachers had an easier time getting away with all of that. “And English teacher things.”

“Lame excuse.” Naruto crossed his arm, he narrowed his eyes before speaking. “Do you have any interests? Like Sports?”

Hallmark movies but there was no way he was going to say that out loud.

That secret would die with him.

Well, as long as his mother didn’t tell a soul, it would.

“No.”

“Hobbies.”

“Not really.”

“Wow.”

“Yeah, he’s boring.” Lily shrugged.

“I have a cat.” Sasuke said with a small smile, looking down at his hands as he played with his fingers. He had a black cat named Manda who was Sasuke’s everything. He’d gotten Manda his last year of college when he interned as a teachers aid at an elementary school. As he walked to his car with a shit ton of papers pressed against him, practically spilling out of his arms, he’d heard small little meows coming from a nearby trashcan which resulted with him dropping every paper he had in a puddle and rescuing the cute little kitten.

“Okay! We can work with that!” Naruto grinned as he looked around, eying his only empty corkboard near the windows. “You could do cat themed-”

“Absoultely not,” Sasuke cut him off. “I don’t want to look like Lily’s third grade classroom.” Sasuke smirked as he insulted her, looking up to see that glare she had.

“Hey!”

“I guess I could bring a framed picture of Manda.” Sasuke looked down at his bare desk that only had that stupid frog plush with a small stack of papers.

“That’s a start.” Naruto shrugged, earning an eye roll from Sasuke.

As the three fell silent for a moment, they could hear squeaky shoes and keys jingling down the hallway right outside of the classroom. One of the assistant principals, Karin, was walking quickly with her walkie talkie in hand, ambient voices were talking but the radio had been too low to get any intelligible words.

“Karin!” Sasuke yelled, tilting his chair back as he looked out the door. “Do you have a second?”

“What?” She sighed loudly as she walked toward his door, standing right in the doorway, her hands holding onto the frame as she let the top half of her body hang in, leaving the bottom half still in the hallway. “Not really so be quick.”

“When were you gonna tell me I had a new hire in my department?” Sasuke asked her in a serious tone, narrowing his eyes as the red haired woman did the same.

“You have a new hire in your department.” She said just as flatly. “Now you know.”

“Oh he knows him very well.” Lily let out a giggle as Sasuke’s eyes widened as he turned to look at her, his cheeks flared red at the thought of their… night together getting around and becoming gossip.

Karin raised a brow as Naruto let out a laugh, his hand moving to scratch the back of his neck. Naruto had looked down, his own cheeks having that same scarlet color.

Sasuke pressed his fingers into the desk, the tips turning white. The need to explain the situation and tell her it would never happen again was bubbling up slowly.

“Oh?” Karin looked between the two and clicked her tongue. Sasuke knew her, they’d been friends too but once she got promoted, it was harder to keep up with one another as often. But still, they were friends. Friends enough for this to not have to go to Human Resources and report a relationship or whatever. “Okay, I need to go, students are gonna show up soon.” She said as she pushed off the door frame, glancing between the two men one last time before leaving, that same sound of keys jingling and squeaking shoes echoing between the lockers.

“Really Lily?” Sasuke glared at her.

“And that’s for what happened at dinner.” She crossed her arms with a loud “hmph!” as she walked out of the classroom leaving the two men by themselves.

“What happened at dinner?”

“Nothing.” Sasuke muttered as he put his head down on the desk. He could hear Naruto chuckle softly before taking his leave.

This school year was going to be the death of Sasuke.

————————————————————————

As the first month of school had gone on and the teachers were getting more organized and familiar with their students. Students were done being moved around and they’d officially had set classes so that Sasuke could actually begin to learn everyone’s names.

He actually liked the majority of his students this year but he already knew his fourth period students were gonna be rough this year. From the extra talkative friends who’d gotten lucky to be placed in the same class who’d sat next to one another to the class clowns who somehow got placed in this class.

The class clowns were actually smart according to their GPA but it was obvious they were lacking something somewhere to feel the need to act out.

Alas, Sasuke was a chemistry teacher and not a psychology teacher. However, if one of them did want to come talk, his door was always open.

The class was a little unruly with a mixture of loud personalities and people who thought they were better than the others. It was a class full of egos and just loudness, which made Sasuke consider assigned seats for the first time ever in his career.

Sasuke let out a loud sigh as he looked at the computer screen, aimlessly stabbing his fork in the salad he’d brought from home. He didn’t often go to the teachers lounge to eat his lunch because he just had so much paperwork to do. He would eat his lunch in his classroom during his planning period and grade assignments and essays.

“Hey,” Naruto stood in the doorway once again. He held a cup of coffee in both hands with a soft smile on his face. He was actually dressed normally for the first time since Sasuke had seen him. It was still a blue T-shirt but at least it said Palm Fire High on it. However, instead of dress pants Naruto wore cargo shorts which wouldn’t have been Sasuke’s first choice.

He’d give him the pass though because it was hot as hell in Florida, a high of ninety-one degrees fahrenheit.

Sasuke raised a brow at him, he didn’t expect to be interrupted. “Coffee?”

“Yeah, you look like you could use it.” Naruto took a few steps forward. He smiled down at Sasuke’s desk seeing the frog plush and the picture of Manda sitting on his desk. Sasuke looked at him, his eyes narrowing in a suspicious fashion. “It’s just coffee.”

“Okay.” Sasuke reached up and took the coffee from him. Holding it in his hands as he looked down at the white Dunkin’ cup. Naruto must have made a quick run during his planning period. Sasuke had the thought of checking what Naruto’s actual schedule was but that thought was quickly pushed out of his head as that would have been an abuse of power being the department head. “Thanks.”

“Anytime.”

As the day went on, one of his favorite students-not that he picked favorites- walked up to him as she handed her paper in. Not that Sasuke was ignoring her but he definitely wasn’t acknowledging her presence. Until she lingered a little too long which made Sasuke look to see what she was doing.

Her eyes scanned Sasuke’s desk eying the red frog. “Mr. Uchiha?” Ashleigh looked down at him. “Do you like frogs?”

Sasuke sat still for a moment, he could easily just tell her that he’d received it as a prank from another teacher. But then that would start rumors or things that could spiral out of control. “Yes.” Sasuke lied and she smiled widely at him.

Word had quickly gotten around that Sasuke liked frogs and his worst fear was happening. Students would bring him frog themed presents and drawings.

He was so doomed.

A few more weeks had passed and it was the beginning of football season. Palm Fire High took great pride in the Fire Hawks. Every game was a big deal and they always made their way into the playoffs every year.

It was the first varsity football game of the season, teenagers and parents were all over the bleachers. Sasuke somehow got roped into going with Lily and his father to one of these games. He never understood why his father liked going to these things.

“Where’s Shisui?” Sasuke turned to Lily, not entirely paying attention to the game. Fugaku had been zeroed into it and was cheering like he had a son on the team.

None of his kids were into sports. Shisui tried but hated it more than the other two so maybe that was why Fugaku liked going to these games. Like he was trying to live vicariously through other parents.

“He’s stuck in the office.” Lily shrugged, “High profile clients mean his time isn’t his own.”.

“He’s not missing out.” Sasuke sighed as he put his chin in his hand as he rested his elbow on his knee. The bleachers hurt his back and his ass while the loudness shredded his ears. He’d be more comfortable in his home as he binged hallmark movies under a blanket with his cat on his lap.

Why the hell did people go to these things if they didn’t have a child on the team?

Then he remembered the cheer squad and the band. So many people were probably suffering as much as Sasuke was.

“Don’t be a buzzkill!” Sasuke rolled his eyes at Lily. “What were you gonna do if you didn’t come?”

Watch the new Hallmark movie that comes out every Friday night.

“Maybe go out with Jugo and Suigetsu.” Sasuke lied. They worked in food service and it was hard to find the time to hangout with one another. By the time they’d got off work, Sasuke was in bed and by the time Sasuke had free time on the weekends they were working doubles.

He could hangout with Karin but she’d been busy too.

That’s adulthood for you.

“Your ex boyfriend and your weirdo friend.” Lily mockingly laughed at him, “Sounds like a lot of fun.”

“Be nice to Jugo.” Sasuke huffed. “And Sui and I are on good terms, we broke up like five years ago. I feel like he’s more my friend than my ex.”

Suigetsu was a really good friend but they both realized that’s truly all they would be. The chemistry just wasn’t there.

“Whatever you say.” Lily shrugged, turning her attention toward the field. “Isn't it kinda funny that our mascot is a giant hawk? Like making a student wear that in this weather is insane.”

“You’re telling me.” Sasuke muttered as he fanned himself with his hand as he felt sweat drip down his neck, the humidity making it even more miserable as his hair frizzed up.

If you ever come to Florida, don’t expect your hair to ever look as good as it did in your home. Even then, it probably was poofy and frizzy before you actually stepped out of the front door.

Florida was crazy, seasons just didn’t exist. However, Sasuke preferred this over the snowy weather. Either deal with the hurricanes or some other kind of natural disaster. He’d choose the hurricane.

Fugaku quickly jumped up, pointing at the quarter back of their team. “Go! Go! Go!” The crowd was yelling and cheering along with Fugaku as the players were running down the field following the quarterback. Coach Guy and the mascot were running along following the team.

Lily and Sasuke jumped up, only because Fugaku had gotten excited. They looked at one another and shrugged as they continued to watch the Mascot and Guy follow their school's team.

Bam!

One of the players who held onto the ball got tackled right into the mascot, causing a moshpit of teenage football players and a giant hawk collapsing on top of Coach Guy. Parents, staff and students all stood up with wide eyes, different sounds of screams and gasps from the bleachers surrounding the field.

“Ooh!” Sasuke and Lily almost in sync, full body cringed, closing one eye as they gritted their teeth. Their arms pressed against them as if they wanted to block their sight but it was like a trainwreck, so bad but you just couldn’t look away. The mascot and players slowly climbed off Coach Guy who stayed laid on the floor with a loud “Ouch!” slipping from his mouth.

Then came Naruto. He jumped over the fence that blocked off the bleachers and ran toward Guy’s side. He was like a damn super hero the way he flew toward him. “Alright everyone give him some space.” Naruto held his hand out as the players from both teams.

“Naruto, I’m fine.” Guy went to get up but Naruto held down his shoulder.

“Don’t move until we get an ambulance here.”

“Oh no please don’t cause a fuss.” Guy winced as he looked up at him. Naruto let out a sigh as he looked at Guy checking him out for any injuries.

Godlike being. The words echoed in Sasuke’s brain. He quickly shook his head and let out a loud sigh as Lily looked at him with confusion riddled on her face. She quickly turned her attention back to Naruto and Guy. Guy had still tried to convince Naruto that he was fine but Naruto kept him down with just a simple hand on his shoulder.

Sasuke’s eyes were glued to him. Even if he wanted to take his eyes off of Naruto, he couldn’t.

It didn’t take long for the paramedics and firefighters to arrive, Sasuke squinted his eyes as he tried to read the number on their uniforms. He saw station 43 and Sarutobi on the back of one of them.

“Look! It’s Maru!” Lily said pointing. Sasuke side eyed her, being excited that her brother was here didn’t feel like it should be the most exciting thing considering what his job was.

But, he was just fantasizing about Naruto while he took care of his “patient” so he wasn’t entirely innocent either.

“Uzumaki?” Konohamaru looked at Naruto as he walked over, his arms in the air and just as expressive as Lily was. “Thought you retired.” He said with a smirk, kneeling down next to Naruto and Guy.

“Shut it Sarutobi, I’m still doing your job better than you.” Naruto teased him back but before telling him the situation.

It was a pretty awkward end of the night as they watched Coach Guy be wheeled off in a stretcher.

“Feel better Guy!” Lily yelled, waving as they put him in the back of the ambulance, making Sasuke turn his head toward her with a raised brow. Guy just gave her a thumbs up as Naruto climbed in the back with him, shutting the doors behind him.

“Do you think they’re gonna need a new coach?” Fugaku said, making Lily and Sasuke turn their heads toward him, with wide eyes. Somehow, his father was the worst between the three’s actions and thoughts throughout the whole Guy situation. “Hey! It’s a valid question.”

His father did end up signing up to be the new varsity coach. Which meant he actually had to come to more games.

————————————————————————

It was the end of the day on friday and most of the teachers were heading out for the weekend. Sasuke stayed later to work on some notes he needed to do for next week. He sat at his desk as he looked around his classroom.

Sasuke sighed as he looked up at the ceiling tile that was beginning to shift and fall in the middle of the classroom between the whiteboard and the students desk.

Sasuke’s classroom was falling apart.

His white board was falling off the wall, slanted on its side closest to his door. It had happened a few days ago and he’d put an urgent request into maintenance and they used the words “we’ll get to it when we get to it.”

The last straw was his wobbly desk.

He’d put a maintenance request for all the other things that had been a problem long before the white board situation during the summer when he’d gotten into his classroom. It had been at least a month ago since he’d turned it in but that department was always slow moving.

Well, not really because they had a backlog of other complaints because the school was so old and their county wasn’t the best at funding for their schools so they only had so many maintenance people. It wasn’t really their fault but Sasuke didn’t know who to blame.

Well, he did know who to blame but it wouldn’t get him anywhere.

He sighed, looking up at the ceiling with his projector, he’d gotten it mounted but it didn’t seem like it was right. Like it could fall down at any moment. He made sure to make sure no students walked underneath it and kept far from it himself.

Sasuke thought about maybe asking his father to help with some of these things but then shuddered at the thought. He’d have better odds finding some taskrabbit to do it than getting his father involved.

Sasuke turned his head as he heard his door open. Naruto revealed himself with a puzzled look as he peeked into Sasuke’s classroom. “It’s Friday, what are you doing?”

He didn’t mean it when he said his door was always open but the blonde and his wonderful brunette cousin-in-law made it that way whether he had a choice or not.

“I have a lesson to plan and I need to grade these projects.” Sasuke pointed to the basket of papers near his desk. They were piling up way too high and it was his fault, he’d gotten behind during the week because his mother invited him to come over but he didn’t realize he’d been voluntold to help move every single piece of furniture around in their home plus the lanai.

It took multiple days. After work.

After all these years, he didn’t know how to tell his mother no so it landed him in this situation.

“And you choose to do it today?” Naruto raised a brow at him as he stepped into the classroom, the door slowly shutting behind him. “This feels like a Thursday thing.”

“I have nothing going on tonight, so I’m finishing it.”

“Go home and do it there.” Naruto frowned at him. “I’m gonna go home and watch some movies and actually enjoy my weekend.”

“Good for you.” Sasuke huffed as he turned back to his desk. As he turned his body his whiteboard fell down more, hanging halfway on. “Ugh.” Sasuke groaned loudly as he placed his head on his desk that shook beneath him.

“Yikes.” Naruto looked over at it. He’d heard some steps but he couldn’t bring himself to look at Naruto. “These classrooms man.”

“Tell me about it.” Sasuke muttered into his desk, he was about over today. His fourth period was rough, they’d talked over him and weren’t paying much attention to his lesson. He knew on Monday he was gonna do a pop quiz just to be a dick after how he was treated that day.

This week had just been a little too miserable, from his mother to his fantastic fourth period class and then this classroom was just the cherry on top.

His classroom practically falling apart before his eyes and the only thing he could bring himself to do was watch it slowly crumble. He was defeated.

He’d heard another few steps and then the door opened. Sasuke still had his head on the desk but he laid on his cheek watching as Naruto walked out, the door shutting ever so slowly behind him. He’d walked out without a word. Which made Sasuke roll his eyes and turn his head back down on the desk, closing his eyes. Naruto didn’t seem like the kind of guy to leave without saying goodbye.

Which would have been nice to at least hear that stupid little word.

But, Naruto was right about one thing, he should just take this stuff home. He let out a dragged out groan as he lifted his head off the desk and stood up, stretching his arms in the air. He looked down at the pile of papers before plopping it into his rolling cart so he could bring all of it to his car.

Sasuke paused as he heard his door open and Naruto stood in the doorframe holding a toolbox. “You just have a toolbox with you at all times?”

“Yeah.” Naruto shrugged, “I keep it in my truck.”

Of course Naruto drove a truck and kept tools in it. Ex-Firefighter, duh. “What are you doing?”

“Fixing your room.” Naruto said casually as if this was the most normal thing in the world. He placed his toolbox on a student desk with a thud and shook the desk entirely. It looked as if it was finally going to give out. “Damn, this one's wobbly too?”

“It’s easier to tell you which ones aren’t.” Sasuke muttered with a pout. “You really don’t have to do this, I can wait til maintenance fixes it.” He felt guilty, he didn’t like asking for help. Well, he didn’t entirely ask and Naruto didn’t really offer. He just walked in like some white knight.

Sasuke didn’t need saving. He didn’t need some man to come in and swoop him off his feet. He didn’t need someone to come and take all his problems away. He didn’t need to be taken care of. He could do it all on his own.

But, what if Sasuke did want to be swooped off his feet?

But, he didn’t need saving. He was firm on that.

But maybe… just maybe, Naruto wasn’t doing this with ulterior motives. He was just being a friendly coworker. Coworkers helping one another out.

“Yeah?” Naruto hadn’t bothered to look at Sasuke as he dug into that red box of tools. Sasuke couldn’t even tell someone which tool was which other than maybe a screwdriver. He was not gifted with the… D.I.Y “skills” his father said he had. “They’ll have it fixed just in time for next year’s students.” Sasuke frowned. Naruto did have a point. “It’s really no big deal, I had to do a lot of TLC in my room too.”

Sasuke still looked at him unsure but before he could even bother to decline, Naruto had pulled a chair over to the ceiling tile that was falling down. Sasuke frowned as he walked over and held the chair to make sure he was stable. “These chairs suck you’re gonna fall.” Sasuke was a little too close to Naruto, watching as his shirt rode up as he lifted the tile up. It revealed the lower part of his abdomen, the part Sasuke remembered spending a lot of time… licking.

He swallowed with a shaky breath, trying his best to get his mind off of that night, the lewd actions that felt as if another person other than Mr. Uchiha the AP Chemistry teacher, had done. In a lame attempt to distract himself, his eyes followed the direction of Naruto, landing right on his arms that peaked out of his short sleeve shirt, flexing as he was lifting that stupid white ceiling tile.

Holy fuck, those arms.

“And then you can catch me.” Naruto teased as he stepped down, the chair squeaking as he climbed off of it. “You gonna help me hold up this white board?” Sasuke blinked a couple of times, getting his head off the thought of the arms that held onto him that night as he– “You with me Sasuke?” Naruto let out a chuckle which brought him right out of those thoughts.

“Uh, yeah.” Sasuke nodded quickly as he walked to the other side of the white board as Naruto fished out the tool he needed, the sound of clinking metals echoed through his empty classroom.

Sasuke wasn’t gonna lie to himself. Something about a man just fixing things and without asking? Hot. He watched as Naruto’s brows furrowed as he focused on making sure the board was tightly secured and symmetrical.

Sasuke’s mind was drifting to that night once again, the way Naruto looked into his eyes and had that similar fixated look in his eyes as he was brought closer to the edge.

“Do you think any of the janitor's closets are unlocked?” Naruto asked, making Sasuke’s eyes widen.

“Huh?” Sasuke blinked before staring wide eyed at the blonde.

“I need a ladder.” Naruto wasn’t looking at him as he stared up at the projector, completely oblivious to Sasuke’s erotic thoughts. “This is literally a hazard.”

The attention to detail… Naruto was good at that. “Yeah… it is.” Sasuke mumbled, trying his best to get his head out of the gutter. “I don’t think it is because of students going in to them to make out.”

Naruto frowned, “We can come early on Monday and I’ll just bring one of my own.”

Sasuke sucked in a sharp breath. “You really don’t–” Sasuke shut his mouth as Naruto turned, giving him a piercing glare. “Fine. We can come in early.” He mumbled, looking down at his feet.

Naruto hummed in approval as he bent down to fix one of the wobbly student desks. Sasuke felt kinda useless as he watched Naruto fix all these things around his classroom. He felt slightly embarrassed, he didn’t even think about doing these things himself.

He probably could have.

It was kinda nice that he didn’t have to.

The fact he thought about asking his father to help him.

He was so glad he didn’t do that.

As Naruto finished with all of the student desks, he made his way toward Sasuke’s desk, tilting his head as he took in the sight. On the back wall behind Sasuke’s desk chair there were different drawings of frogs. Some colorful, a few that looked similar to Naruto’s frog and even one with a drawing of what he assumed was Manda that a student saw on his desk.

Sasuke hated it but he felt guilty not displaying gifts from students.

“Frogs?” Naruto turned back with a confused look on his face.

“Yeah.” Sasuke sighed, “They saw your little gift on my desk.”

“That’s cute.” Naruto let out a little chuckle as he bent down, clearly amused at the situation. He opened a drawer so he could get easier access to the side that made Sasuke’s desk wobble. “Whoa.” The amount of tiny frog plushes that Sasuke received had all been stuffed inside that little drawer, other than Naruto’s that was still placed on his desk between one of the candles his mother forced onto him and the picture of his cat.

“This is the hell I’ve been doomed to.” Sasuke sighed as Naruto bit back a laugh. “Don’t you get gifts like this from your students?”

“I mean sometimes but I definitely don’t have a desk full of plushes.”

“And you’re the one with the frog themed room.” Sasuke pouted as he sat down in the chair as he watched Naruto work. As much as he enjoyed watching Naruto fix everything, he had a feeling of guilt that he wasn’t more help.

“Maybe they thought your room was boring too.”

“Whatever.” Sasuke huffed before exhaling a loud breath, “Seriously though, thanks for doing this for me… you really didn’t have to.”

“I wanted to.” Naruto shrugged as he stood up. He placed his hand on the desk, gripping it tightly as he tried to shake it. It barely moved which made Naruto look up at Sasuke with a wide grin.

Cute.

“I think that’s the first time in the last three years that it hasn’t wobbled.” He let out a soft laugh.

“If anything else in here breaks let me know, I got it.” Naruto gave him an assured look that made Sasuke shake his head with a small blush creeping onto his cheeks. He hated the effect that Naruto had on him. Normally he wouldn’t be that way but it didn’t necessarily help that he’d seen Sasuke naked. “Now, you get to take me to dinner.”

“I’m sorry?” Sasuke raised a brow at him, it was a request out of the blue.

Well, more of a demand than a request.

“That’s how you’ll repay me.” Naruto smirked at him, taking a few steps back. Putting the space in between them.

“Oh so that’s how it is?” Sauke chuckled, “and to think I thought you were doing it from the kindness of your heart.” His voice was playful, something he also rarely did unless it had been with Itachi or Shisui.

“Me? Never.” Naruto chuckled, “I did it for the free dinner.”

Sasuke rolled his eyes, it was the least he could do. “But it’s not a date.” Sasuke side eyed him as he gathered his things and Naruto grabbed his toolbox. Sasuke needed boundaries, especially with coworkers. But, mostly for himself. To get rid of these sinful thoughts that still lingered.

“Fine.” Naruto shrugged. “Just dinner.”

“Just dinner between coworkers.” Sasuke corrected. Naruto smirked at him–something that was becoming almost a signature for him– before leaving his classroom. Sasuke was quick to follow him out, rolling his little cart behind him.

“Just dinner between coworkers.” Naruto repeated, “Not even friends?” He continued to tease Sasuke as they walked side by side. He wouldn’t admit it, but he liked whatever this banter was between them.

It was nice having someone to banter with.

Someone that wasn’t his family.

“Definitely coworkers.” Sasuke shook his head. “Where did you wanna go?”

“I was thinking Jiraiya’s down the road.” Naruto shrugged. Sasuke paused, looking at Naruto confused. “What? Do you not like it?”

“That’s the bar my friend works at.” Sasuke couldn’t believe the odds. Sasuke didn’t add the fact that the friend in question is his ex boyfriend.

Ex boyfriend from five years ago. He reminded himself.

“Oh really?” Naruto looked at him surprised. “That’s my godfather's bar.”

“Seriously?” It was kinda crazy how interlapped their lives were. It was like there was this invisible string connecting them to one another. Like they were just a couple people apart this entire time.

“So, my car or yours?” Naruto asked with a wide grin on his face. Sasuke rolled his eyes and shook his head, a small smile creeping up again.

Boundaries. He reminded himself again and again.

“We’re taking our own cars.” Naruto’s grin quickly turned into a pout.

“Coworkers carpool.”

“Not these coworkers.” Sasuke waved his finger in between the two of them. “Boundaries.” He said it more to remind himself.

“Boundaries.” Naruto shrugged as he took a few steps away from him, giving space between them. Naruto was being respectful and Sasuke honestly wasn’t sure if he liked that or hated it. Naruto stopped the teasing and didn’t press the issue anymore as they made it into the teacher parking lot, both parting ways to their own vehicles.

The two of them met at Naruto’s godfather's bar down the road from their work. Sasuke had gotten there first, waiting as he watched Naruto pull in next to his car.

They both stood in front of their cars that were parked next to one another. Naruto held in a laugh, they looked ridiculous, like complete opposites.

Naruto drove a lifted gray Dodge Ram truck, one of those big ones which was cliche for firefighters to drive. On the back windshield there was a “Flo-Grown” decal next to another red firefighter decal. Sasuke sucked in a sharp breath, the whole thing felt… stereotypical.

He slept with the stereotypical Florida man.

That helped lessen the thoughts of Naruto, only slightly. Which Sasuke berated himself for.

Sasuke’s car was small compared to Naruto’s truck, it was an older model BMW that he took very good care of. He was very particular about his car and couldn’t imagine putting bumper stickers on it.

“Flo-grown?” Sasuke turned to face Naruto. “Seriously?”

“What!” Naruto held his hands up in defense. “There’s nothing wrong being proud of this state!”

“Eh.”

“Okay fair.” Naruto let out a chuckle. “My crew pranked me when I became a lieutenant and put this on my truck.”

“So you get to look like even more of a douche bag when you cut people off?” Sasuke laughed, “How come you haven’t taken it off?”

“It’s a reminder of my team.” Naruto smiled at it, staring just a little too long at it. “Let’s go eat.” Naruto nodded his head in the direction of the bar.

It wasn’t as crowded yet, which Sasuke was thankful for. The two walked toward a booth with a picture of a firetruck hanging above it. He looked around, he never even realized how much firefighter memorabilia was in here.

From framed pictures of firetrucks and their crew, a year underneath and a black american flag with a red line through one of the stripes. Different themed bar signs, full of firefighter puns and things about another Pinellas county station.

His godfather had been a firefighter too, apparently.

The two ordered their food and were brought beer. Sasuke let out a soft laugh, they looked like two bro’s hanging out rather than people who slept with each other at one point.

But it was nice, having a friend.

“So,” Naruto looked up at him as he took a sip of his beer. “What made you become a teacher?”

“Honestly, because I really like teaching.” Sasuke knew how cliche it sounded so he explained further, “I actually was going to college to do research in a lab.” Naruto raised a brow at him. “But, while I was halfway through my Biochemistry degree I realized I didn’t actually like doing research.”

“That would have sucked being a researcher who didn’t like researching.” Naruto teased him.

“I know. I preferred reading other people's research.” Sasuke let out a chuckle. “I actually got a job at a night school helping people get their high school diplomas and I realized how much I enjoyed it.”

“That’s sweet.” Naruto gave him a small smile. Sasuke felt his heart flutter, that smile could still light up a room. So bright and charming.

“Why did you become a teacher?”

“Because I’m a retired firefighter.” Naruto said smartly.

“Fine.” Sasuke took a sip of his own beer and rolled his eyes. “Why did you stop being a firefighter?” Naruto’s smile faded as he asked this question, which made Sasuke realize he opened an old wound. “If you don’t want to talk about it, I get it.”

“No it’s okay.” Naruto let out a soft sigh. “But it’s gonna ruin the mood.”

“That’s fine.” Sasuke didn’t care about any kind of mood. Whatever Naruto wanted to talk about was okay with him.

“We were at a call, It was a five alarm fire” Naruto sucked in a deep breath. “And our captain called a mayday for us to leave but I couldn’t.” He paused to take another sip of his beer. “Inuzuka was missing because I gave him orders to go into a room and a part of the ceiling trapped him in the room before the mayday call happened.”

“Oh…” Sasuke knew exactly where the story was going as he watched Naruto’s eyes brim with tears.

“I did everything to get him out.” Naruto wiped his eyes with his index finger slightly curled. “But when I heard his PASS device going off because he was still for too long, I knew I was too late.” Naruto closed his eyes and let out another shaky breath. “My captain was screaming at me through the walkie talkie but I couldn’t leave him behind and I pulled out his body.”

“Naruto…”

“We couldn’t resuscitate him and I quit the next day.” Naruto gave him a sad smile as he grabbed his beer to finish it. “We should go onto something a little lighter.” Naruto laughed dryly.

“Okay.” Sasuke let out a sigh and nodded. “Do you want some candles?”

“I’m sorry?” Naruto raised a brow at him, he couldn’t help but let out a real laugh this time.

“My mom and dad keep complaining about these candles from Shisui’s wedding.” Sasuke chuckled, “Actually, they’re complaining about everything in their garage so if you want some vases too.”

“Why don’t they just throw it away?”

“My father.”

“Ah.” Naruto shook his head with a laugh. Naruto had a smile on his face again and Sasuke could tell it was one of those fake smiles. There was a big difference between Naruto’s wide toothy grins and this kind of smile. “Well, I’d love some candles and some vases.”

“I’ll bring them to you.” Sasuke smiled at him.

They chatted for a little bit longer about more lighthearted things. They’d actually gotten to know one another, mostly Naruto opening up about his interests and hobbies. Naruto pressed Sasuke to talk more about himself. He asked questions about Sasuke’s family and about his cat. Naruto was actually interested in his life and he wasn’t entirely used to something like this.

Someone who was genuinely interested in getting to know him.

“So you think we can call ourselves friends or are we still coworkers?” Naruto gave him that same smirk that made Sasuke roll his eyes and take his lip between his teeth. He tried to ignore the cough that Naruto did as he watched him.

“We can be friends.” Sasuke was clear with his boundaries. He couldn’t have anything more even if he wanted to.

Did he want to?

“Friends.” Naruto repeated as they looked into one another’s eyes, sparkly blue meeting dark onyx. Naruto placed his elbow on the table as he put his cheek in the palm of his own hand, looking up at him with those shiny blue orbs that gleamed even in the lowlight of the bar. Sasuke closed his eyes and let out a soft laugh at just how adorable Naruto looked. Like he was innocent and pure. “Friends.” Naruto repeated once again.

Friends who knew what one another looked like naked.

Sasuke looked down, laughing nervously as he felt the blondes eyes gazing longly upon him. Naruto was going to make this impossibly hard to keep these boundaries in place.

Especially if Sasuke was already rethinking them as it was.

He looked up, seeing Naruto smiling at him, a genuine one this time. Looking at him like he was the center of his universe.

Or maybe Sasuke was projecting.

Naruto opened his mouth to say something but before he could even get the chance, there was a loud sound on the other side of the bar. A man slammed his hand down on the table as he held his heart, gasping loudly before falling down onto the ground.

Sasuke went to say something to Naruto who had already jumped up, bolted across the bar and looked down at the man, pressing his fingers into his neck as he closed his eyes, like he was counting. Sasuke blinked a couple of times, baffled at his reaction time.

It’s almost like he used to be a firefighter.

“Sir?” Naruto asked, fingers still against his neck as Sasuke stood up and walked toward Naruto. A small crowd from the other people who were in the bar with them watched curiously. “Sasuke, call 911 and put it on speaker.” Naruto said calmly, nodding his head to himself as he began to do compressions, his arms pumping up and down on the unresponsive man.

Sasuke quickly tapped the numbers into his phone, pressing the speaker button for Naruto to speak into the phone. His fingers trembled as he held it near the blonde.

“This is Lieutenant Uzumaki, station forty three. I’m at Jirayia’s bar and I have a collapsed man, no pulse and probably early sixties.” Sasuke watched as Naruto talked on the phone and wasn’t even breaking a sweat, like old habits that couldn’t just leave someone. He was so calm and collected. Unlike Sasuke who was internally panicking. “Patch me over to medical dispatch until the paramedics get here.”

His tone was so professional. He was so focused and seemed like he even forgot where he was. Like the only thing that mattered was the man on the floor.

Well, maybe that is the only thing that mattered in the moment but Sasuke was still super impressed.

Minutes had passed, which felt like hours as Sasuke watched him continue to do what looked like harsh presses. Harsh presses that looked extremely painful for both the patient and Naruto.

“Damn Uzumaki.” Konohamaru walked in with the rest of Naruto’s old team. The paramedics quickly took over and allowed Naruto to stand up and walk toward Sasuke. “Dispatch said there was a lieutenant on scene but I didn’t know it would be you.” Konohamaru shook his head with a smirk on his face. “The way you’re at all of these emergencies I’m starting to think you’re gonna come back.”

“You wish.” Naruto laughed as he patted Konohamaru’s shoulder. Sasuke tilted his head in confusion. Naruto and Konohamaru were bantering with one another and almost like they were having fun while there was an active emergency. He could see the way Naruto’s arms tensed but he acted as if that was lightwork.

“We got him back, let’s get them to the ambulance.” The paramedic said as they lifted him onto the stretcher. Naruto had saved this man, doing CPR for at least eight minutes and it seemed like it was just another day for him.

It used to be a normal thing for him. This was his everyday life at one point in his life.

It was amazing, the way he was so swift and diligent. He didn’t think twice, he just allowed whatever training and instincts he’d had to take over and practically teleported from their booth to the man across the bar. He didn’t understand how Naruto wasn’t on top of the world, high on the fact he’d just saved someone.

If Sasuke was in his shoes, he more than definitely would have let it go to his head.

Being a firefighter seemed so exciting, going on different calls and seeing new things everyday. Helping people at their worst, making sure they were okay. Originally, he assumed most firefighters were meatheads (aside from Konohamaru) Naruto was proving that to be wrong.

Firefighters were smart, a mix of medical training and the courage to run into burning buildings while people ran away? It was admirable.

He didn’t understand how Naruto had given that up. It had to have been one of the most difficult decisions of his life… because Sasuke wouldn’t have been able to.

“How did you switch from this to being a teacher?” Sasuke voiced his thoughts which made Naruto turn to face him and chuckled. It was like he had no control over the words that were coming out of his mouth. “You look like you had fun, isn’t teaching kind of boring compared to this?”

“Real.” Konohamaru nodded his head in agreement. “Teaching is boring, running into fires is more fun.”

“Teaching is fun!” Naruto pouted at the two. “I like it and I like the kids.”

“Well, your spot’s still here if you ever want it, Uzumaki.” The captain walked up to the men. Captain Sarutobi, Lily and Konohamaru’s father. He was a nice man that Sasuke had met maybe once or twice. Sasuke probably had to see him more often on holidays now but he wasn’t entirely sure.

He noticed Naruto’s happy grin softened a bit and his shoulders slumped down. Like every ounce of pride had just been sucked out of him, leaving him lifeless.

“I’m good, Cap, I’m happy where I am.” Naruto turned toward Sasuke and with a sad smile. Anyone who studied him (like Sasuke had) would know it was sadness that overcame him but to a normal person (that wasn’t Sasuke) you’d think he genuinely meant that. Maybe part of Naruto did but Sasuke knew his place, he couldn’t press the issue and ask.

Captain Sarutobi raised a brow glancing between the two before his lips curved into a smirk. He’d glanced at Naruto once again before nodding. He’d had a whole conversation with Naruto that Sasuke wasn’t included in.

“Let’s go, Sarutobi.” He said sternly, turning around to walk out. Konohamaru’s shoulders straightened at the command and followed behind, walking out of the bar and leaving them alone once again.

“Does chaos just follow you?” Sasuke turned to face him. “Am I gonna get hurt next?” Sasuke joked, trying his best to lighten Naruto’s gloom.

“Looks like I’ll be there to save you.” Naruto nudged his arm while having a similar grin on his face. Not as wide as normal but it was enough to make Sasuke sigh and roll his eyes playfully.

“In your wildest dreams, Uzumaki.” Sasuke said in a mocking tone, the same way Konohamaru had said it earlier. He turned around and walked toward the table, placing money down.

“It sure is.” He heard Naruto mumble behind him. Sasuke felt his cheeks heat up slightly before shaking his head, hiding his face like he was a shy teenager that talked to their crush for the first time after realizing they’d actually had a crush on said person.

“I’ll see you on Monday, coworker.” Sasuke said as he grabbed his things.

“Bye,” He could hear the cockiness in Naruto’s voice while his back was turned. “Friend.”

————————————————————————

Hurricane season was very much among them. In states where it snowed, they got snow days. But in Florida, they have hurricane days. When hurricanes are over category three they usually close the schools and tell people in certain zones that they need to evacuate.

Hurricane Micheal was coming fast towards their city and the school had at least the next two days off. It was at category three but predicted to reach four before landfall.

“Honey, take the candles from the garage just in case the power turns off!” Sasuke was on the phone with his Mother. He was grateful his parents weren’t in town to face the disaster that Micheal was predicted to make.

They weren’t ones to really evacuate unless it was a category five and it drove him crazy. His mother wouldn’t do hurricane preparation until it was too late and the only water bottles left in Publix was Dasani. You’d think she’d learn by now for being in Florida more than half her life.

But, that generation never learns. Stubborn bastards.

“Sure mom, but I’m only taking a couple.” Sasuke muttered, he’d heard his dad yell something about taking all of them. “I’m not taking all of them.” Sasuke rolled his eyes, he couldn’t believe his parents were still going on about those stupid candles. “Alright mom, I’m gonna check on Itachi and Shisui to see if they need anything.”

“Do you have everything you need?” His mother kept the conversation going which made him sigh.

“Yes mom, I’m more prepared than the two of you usually are.”

“Tell him I said that’s rude!” Fugaku yelled in the background.

“Your father said-”

“I heard him, mother.” Sasuke chuckled. “I love you guys. See you when you get back.” Sasuke placed his phone down as he laid his head on his desk once again. Having a hurricane in October was terrible for students with all the exam preparations they were supposed to be doing.

Sasuke had done his due diligence to spend the days before the storm got close and printed packets for every student to help them just in case they felt they needed to study. He knew only a few students would but he doubted his fourth period would but he printed enough anyways.

He’d snuck to Shisui’s home to use their printer so he wouldn’t waste his limited amount of papers he’d been allotted for the school year.

Lily had been doing the same thing, both of them snickering as they printed their packets with Shisui’s printer and ink. They both agreed that he more than definitely could afford to buy new ink cartridges. Which Lily had done because they ran out a couple times.

“Hey.” Naruto had opened Sasuke’s classroom door. He never knocked but Sasuke didn’t care about that anymore. They were friends. He still didn’t know how his classroom became the hangout area but he kinda liked the company Naruto and Lily provided. Mostly Naruto. “Are you in an evacuation zone?”

“No, I’m more inland.” Sasuke put his elbow on his desk as he propped his chin in his hand. “You?”

“Yeah.” Naruto had a frown on his face as he stepped closer. He lifted the chair up instead of scraping it (like Lily and his students loved to do no matter how many times he’d begged them not to.) placing it next to Sasue’s desk. “I’m probably gonna bunk at my old station.” Sasuke raised a brow at him. “I never really had to think about it because we didn’t really have a choice to not work.” He placed his arm on Sasuke’s desk, propping himself up. “A and B shift had to be on call as soon as it was deemed safe to travel. We used to have to help with barricading hospitals days before for those possible floods.”

Sasuke took in his words, he tried his best to listen but his mind was racing. Debating if he wanted to voice these thoughts. He had two options here, he could just go ahead and let him sleep at the station… or he could invite him to come to his apartment. He had a two bedroom apartment and his parents usually stayed there when they evacuated.

But his parents weren’t home and Shisui and Lily had evacuated to Itachi’s and Izumi’s home. So the room was free.

“Oh.” Sasuke said quietly, Naruto tilted his head as he realized all of his rambles had gone in one ear and out the other. He sat there for a moment before letting out a shaky breath. The words slipped out before he could really process what he was saying. “Do you wanna come to my place?”

“Oh?” It was Naruto’s turn to raise a brow now as a smirk creeped onto his face, a small chuckle escaping as he realized that’s why Sasuke hadn’t paid attention to him. He leaned in closer which made Sasuke cower back into his chair with a glare. It had no bite to it and Naruto had been very aware of it, used to these “playful” glares he’d done. Naruto treated it like it was affection and maybe it was Sasuke’s own way of showing it.

“Not for that.” Sasuke rolled his eyes. “I have a guest bedroom you can stay in.”

“Is this a real offer?” Naruto asked before clearing his throat. Sasuke paused for a moment, reading the look on Naruto’s face. It didn’t have that normal grin or egotistical smirk he normally had. It was genuine curiosity and a hint of what seemed almost like… vulnerability? Sasuke swallowed, pressing his fingers into his desk like a habit he couldn’t break before he slowly nodded. He didn’t know if he was making a big mistake inviting Naruto to stay in his home. “Then yeah, we can camp out.”

Sasuke let out a nervous breath. He was sure it’d all be fine, just two friends alone in an apartment. Two friends who’d once given one another orgasms so amazing that they’d both gotten lost in oblivion. Hands gripping in sacred places as they gasped into one another’s necks, mouths and even their chests.

Friends.

Friends.

The hurricane was predicted to hit in the middle of the night and those were always the worst. He hated it because he couldn’t sleep from all the wind and rain beating against his windows and admittedly it was scary as hell.

“Oh god,” Sasuke cringed as he took a step back. Naruto had a backpack on and held the small tank from his classroom. “You brought that?”

“I couldn’t leave Gama in the classroom, what if the school floods?” Naruto looked down with a smile at the ugly frog. Sasuke let out an irritated breath, he should have expected Naruto to bring that thing. “And if the roads flood and are unusable, I won’t be able to get to him!”

Sasuke felt like the normal Floridian that rolled their eyes at the thought of a hurricane actually causing damage but the way Milton hit last year, Naruto had a valid point. Even if he hated that ugly frog.

“Just make sure Manda doesn’t eat it.” Sasuke huffed and crossed his arms, itching his upper arm slightly.

“Would he really eat him?” Naruto asked, holding the tank closer to his body. Sasuke just shrugged, he didn’t actually think his cat would eat it but there was always a chance, a chance Sasuke wouldn’t entirely mind other than the fact he couldn’t make a trip to the vet.

Naruto placed his things down and frantically grabbed a book Sasuke had on the kitchen counter to cover the lid of the tank. Sasuke couldn’t help but chuckle, watching as Naruto frowned looking down into the tank.

Things were quiet, like they were both taking in the realization that this was a strange situation between the two. They looked at one another, blinking before a small smile crept onto Naruto’s face as he looked down, shaking his head.

Sasuke let out a loud sigh before he walked toward his kitchen, pressing his hand on Naruto’s side to move him over as he walked to the fridge. When Sasuke printed the papers at Shisui’s house, he borrowed two bottles of white wine from his cousin's wine fridge that looked pretty expensive. He originally planned to snuggle into a blanket with a book in his bedroom and drink alone as he waited out the storm.

But here he was, under Naruto’s curious gaze as he pulled out the wine from the fridge. “Sorry I wasn’t able to get any drinks or snacks that you like with how last minute my invite was.” He finally spoke, earning a chuckle from the blonde.

The only thing Sasuke had was wine and bottles of water. He had some cereal, peanuts and maybe some granola bars in the back of his pantry.

Sasuke knew he was a hypocrite saying his parents were ill prepared. But to be fair, his mother would stock up with dry foods for him because she’d always tell Sasuke to eat more than things that could be shoved into an air fryer.

He could offer that but if the power went out it would be useless.

“That’s fine,” Sasuke stood back up, turning to see Naruto take a few steps forward looking around Sasuke’s apartment. Sasuke took a deep breath, opening his bottle of wine with trembling hands.

When they first met, the last thing he thought he’d do is allow this man to stay in his home because of a hurricane. It was weird watching the blonde just standing around in his apartment, taking in the environment.

He didn’t entirely hate it.

“Does your family live here?” Sasuke asked, looking up from the bottle of wine. He didn't know much about Naruto’s personal life other than the few interests he’d talked about. “Because if they’re in an evacuation zone they're more than welcome to come here.”

“No, they’re dead.” Sasuke choked and looked back down, he kept putting his foot in his mouth every time he asked about Naruto’s personal life. Naruto had said it so nonchalantly that Sasuke almost could have laughed. It was a terrible thing to laugh at and he wouldn’t… but how Naruto said it, like it was just a normal thing.

Well, it was normal for Naruto.

“Oh,” Sasuke shifted slightly, he looked back, seeing Naruto with his back toward him. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” Naruto shrugged. “You didn’t know.” He took a few more steps into his living room. He looked around at all the pictures that were hung up, courtesy of his mother. His family had taken professional pictures and there’d been a few that were less formal from family events. “You have a cute family.”

Sasuke didn’t know the right words to say here after the bomb Naruto dropped on him. “Thanks.” He mumbled as he grabbed another glass from the cabinet, “Did you want a glass too?”

“Yeah.” Naruto chuckled, “What? You didn’t get the Publix chicken and beer to prepare for our hurricane party?” Naruto said sarcastically as he shook his head as he kept looking around his apartment.

Sasuke let out a dry laugh, shaking his own head as he watched Naruto.

Sasuke didn’t realize how intimate it would be bringing someone home. He wondered what Naruto was thinking. Did he hate it? Did he think his choice of decor was bad?

Why did Sasuke even care?

It was unusual for him to care this much. He was proud of his little apartment that felt homey to him. Sure, when he’d gotten it a couple years back it wasn’t the best because of his shitty landlord but his father and (mostly) Itachi helped him fix things they could without getting the landlord involved.

His neighbors weren’t too noisy and he’d mostly kept to himself. Which he’d been thankful for because the thought of actually having to interact with them sounded awful. Even if they may have been nice people he just wasn’t interested in small talk.

Naruto placed his hand on Sasuke’s oakwood bookshelf, looking it up and down. It had been filled to the brim with books of all genres and a fake plant that hung down on the top.

“Yeah, I should have known better.” Sasuke walked over with a small smile on his face, watching him admire his little library he’d made. He had both glasses of wine in his hand and handed one of them to Naruto, the blonde took it but kept looking at the books. “Hopefully the power doesn’t go out tonight.” Sasuke muttered as he sat down gently on the couch.

He watched as Naruto still walked around, humming in agreement. His mind was obviously elsewhere but Sasuke wasn’t sure if he wanted to break whatever was going through his head.

Was he feeling awkward?

Sasuke, scratched at his arm once again before taking a big swig of his wine.

Alcohol and Naruto. He’d definitely seen this film before.

And he really liked the ending.

Sasuke bit his lip as warmth made his cheeks turn pink, looking up at Naruto from the couch. He was thankful Naruto hadn’t been paying attention to him and was entrapped in his own thoughts. He stopped right in front of the bag of candles in the corner of his apartment, next to the sliding glass door to his balcony. He never used that balcony, he didn’t care to look into his neighbors windows as it was the only view he’d had.

Sasuke’s eyes traveled down to the bag of candles Naruto had found as the man snickered. “Well, at least we’ll have light.” Naruto turned his head to look at Sasuke, that amused grin once again on his lips. “Did your parents finally convince you to take them?”

“That’s only a few of them.” Sasuke sighed. He was so over the candle conversation but he knows he’ll probably never escape it. He was thinking about taking the candles just to end his fathers complaints but he knew his dad would just move on to something else in their garage.

“It’s so funny, I didn’t even notice the candles at the wedding.” Naruto shook his head with a small laugh as he sat down next to Sasuke. He wasn’t close to him, he was on the other end of the couch as Sasuke sat with his knees tucked into his chest while he leaned his back against the arm of it.

They faced one another from one end to the other. Not too close but not too far.

“When you meet my father, don’t say that to him.” Sasuke didn’t even realize how that sounded until it came out of his mouth.

When… he said when… not if.

“Oh so you’re planning on bringing me home?” Naruto smirked at him before placing the glass of wine to his lips. Sasuke sucked in a sharp breath and rolled his eyes. “Don’t worry, I’ll tell him the candles were beautiful.”

Sasuke felt that warmth once again creeping onto his cheeks as he sipped on his wine, this time not taking as big a swig of it. “Friend’s do that, right?” He joked in a lame attempt to backtrack his embarrassment. He felt like he was messing up everything, but what was there to mess up?

He was just helping out a friend. It wasn’t like this was a date. They were in an active natural disaster and his friend was in an evacuation zone and he wanted him to be safe.

Nothing more.

“Yeah,” Naruto had that stupid grin he always had on his face. “Sure, they do.” Naruto gave him one more glance before continuing to look around Sasuke’s apartment, his eyes landing on the cat tree. Sasuke had bought a large black and blue tree that probably was meant for multiple cats. It had taken up the majority of the wall next to the window. “Do you have more than one cat?”

It was kinda cute how curious Naruto had been once Sasuke had gotten over the insecurity he was feeling. He’d have been the same way if the situations were reversed. He would have taken in every little thing in Naruto’s place.

He assumed that maybe Naruto would be a maximalist. A lot of orange and walls covered in little trinkets similar to his classroom. It’d be filled up with different colors and smell like that sandalwood cologne he smelled like.

“No.” Sasuke bit back a laugh. He’d bought it one night after drinking an entire bottle of Merlot with his brother. “That’s all for Manda.” When it showed up a week later, there was no way he was gonna return it. Manda deserved the best!

“Where is Manda anyway?” Naruto looked around on the floor. “I figured I would have met him by now.”

Sasuke let out a small laugh and rolled his eyes, “Manda hates these storms, you’d think he didn’t grow up with them.” He pointed toward the pill bottle on the counter in the kitchen. “He’s probably rolling on Oxazepam about now. So you probably won’t see him.”

“Awe, that sucks.” Naruto pouted, “I wanted to meet the little guy.”

“I’m sure you will eventually.” Sasuke shrugged, another thing he didn’t realize that sounded flirty.

“Oh yeah? I’m invited back?” Naruto was teasing him, his pout immediately turning back into that taunting smirk. Sasuke took in another deep breath. He really didn’t think this through, being alone with this man for at least the next twenty four hours.

“When is Micheal supposed to hit again?” Sasuke muttered, trying his best to steer the conversation in another direction. In a direction that didn’t end with him embarrassing himself more.

“I think in another two hours.” Naruto shrugged. Sasuke was thankful for Naruto to drop the teasing, he didn’t think he could survive the rest of this night if this continued. “Maybe next time we hangout, outside of work you can come to my place.”

Sasuke swallowed nervously, was Naruto flirting with him? “You don’t have any more amphibians there do you?”

“I wish. I would’ve brought all of them here.”

That was quite literally Sasuke’s worst nightmare.

“Then you’d have to find somewhere else to stay, next hurricane.” Naruto chuckled at that, but Sasuke was dead serious.

“Awe, c'mon Sas.” Sasuke raised a brow at the nickname. “They’re not that bad!”

“They’re slimy and weird.” Sasuke muttered.

The men hopped from conversation to conversation for the next two hours. Sasuke had learned a lot about Naruto and his hobbies. Naruto had more Tampa Bay Buccaneers memorabilia around his place that he actually owned. He told Sasuke the story about how he’d saved a player's sister’s life and he’d send him signed things at the beginning of every season for the last four years.

Naruto opened up about his subordinate who was one of his best friends that died in that fire a year ago. It was sweet hearing the way he talked about his friend and the silly stories they’d had from calls and in their personal lives. He could see how much losing Inuzuka had really affected him and how he still blamed himself. Sasuke tried to comfort him on the matter but Naruto said the wound was too fresh to even try to change his thinking on it.

He’d learned about Naruto’s parents, they’d died in a fire when he was ten. His father saved him and he went back in for his mother but never came back out. Naruto tried to go back in but his neighbor -who’d later become his foster father- held him back.

His foster father, Iruka Umino, was actually the principal of Palm Fire High. He was the one who convinced Naruto to get a teaching job instead of moping around all the time.

Apparently when Naruto was in college he had to leave during his junior year to take care of Iruka who’d gotten sick and when he was in remission, Naruto applied to the fire academy and finished his degree locally for Environmental Science.

Naruto was an impressive person, someone who seemed almost too good for this world. So bright even with the trauma he’d endured and the things he sacrificed. All the things he’d learned about him tonight gave Sasuke a whole new perspective on the man in front of him.

He respected the hell out of Naruto.

“We really were just a couple people away from one another, huh?” Sasuke said as he poured the last of the bottle of wine in their glasses. “It’s just crazy we’ve never met before.”

“I think about that too.” Naruto lifted the glass once again to his lips. The storm was starting to pick up as it got later into the night. The wind was causing the rain to beat onto the window as if they were inside of a car wash. If it wasn’t so terrifying and the thought of peoples homes being destroyed and flooded… it’d almost be peaceful hearing all of that rain.

“I’m glad I met you.” Sasuke said with a smile. Clearly, the wine was making him a little more loose with his words and thoughts. But, he did mean it. Sasuke truly didn’t have many friends that weren’t coworkers. Sure, he had Jugo and Suigetsu but he didn’t see them as often as he’d like.

Everyday was the same: he’d wake up, he’d feed Manda, he’d go to work, grade assignments, go to bed and do it all over again. Ever since he found out Naruto was his coworker and they actually talked and decided to be friends… things changed. He enjoyed his company and his smart remarks. He liked his stories about calls he used to go on. The way Naruto would come into the classroom and even the times Sasuke went into his… mess of a classroom.

He liked Naruto.

“I’m glad I met you too, Sas.” Naruto had a genuine smile.

“Where’d that nickname come from?” Sasuke raised a brow at him, he’d never had a nickname before and Naruto called him it twice now.

“It’s a thing I’ve always done, I give people nicknames.” Naruto shrugged. “But, if you don’t like it then I can just call you Sasuke.” Naruto had a small smirk crawl onto his lips. “Or, Mr. Uchiha if you wanna be professional and all, coworker.”

He could hear Naruto say Mr. Uchiha with that sultry voice of his over and over.

“I feel like you being in my house right now is a little past professional.” Sasuke laughed nervously. It’d been so long since he’d flirted with someone he didn’t know if that was what this was.

It was fine when Naruto was a stranger and they hooked up, they were never gonna see one another again.

Except, Naruto wasn’t a stranger anymore and he was a friend staying in his apartment.

A friend.

Naruto shrugged, “It’s what friends do.” Naruto placed his glass on the table. “Enough of my back story… Tell me about you.”

“Well,” Sasuke was embarrassed, he didn’t feel like there was much to tell. “I found out I’m gonna be an uncle.”

“Really?” Naruto raised a brow, “Lily is pregnant?”

“No, not her.” Sasuke felt a smile come across his lips. “My brother Itachi, his wife is probably gonna have a gender reveal party soon.”

“Gender reveal?” Naruto’s eyes narrowed, “They’re not gonna do anything explosive… right?”

“God, I hope not.”

“The amount of calls we go…” Naruto stopped himself and sighed, “I went on that had those things go wrong is unreal.”

“Yeah, the two of them had a small wedding at our parent’s house… I really can’t see them blowing anything up.” Sasuke didn’t acknowledge Naruto’s slip up but he could tell it bummed him out.

“Maybe you’ll take me to that.” Naruto joked, clearly trying to ease himself. Sasuke just playfully rolled his eyes, keeping that same small smile he had before.

The two sat quietly, looking at one another. Naruto’s sad smile was still there and Sasuke’s lips curved into a small pout. It was obvious giving up that part of his life wasn’t easy but there was no way Naruto would go back after what happened.

Sasuke looked at him, thinking of ways to help bring them away from the gloom that was cast over them. Sasuke closed his eyes, biting his lip as something crossed his mind. He never told anyone this before, it was a thing he’d kept to himself and his mother. “I like Hallmark movies.”

Sasuke kept his eyes shut, like he was waiting for laughter and teasing to come out of the blonde's mouth.

But they didn't.

“Hallmark movies?” Naruto asked curiously. Sasuke heard shuffling, carefully opening his eyes to see those bright blue orbs looking at him just as curiously as he’d been before. “Like those little love stories for holidays?”

“Yeah.” Sasuke let out a sigh of relief. There hadn’t been an ounce of judgement in Naruto’s tone. “I like all of them.” Sasuke relaxed his shoulders and jaw that he didn’t even realize were tensed up. “I grew up watching them with my mom. Shisui and Itachi were very expressive about the fact they didn’t like them.”

Naruto gave him a reassuring smile, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen one.”

“I used to hate them but I’d watch them anyway because my mom really liked them.” Sasuke told him. “When I moved out, I realized I missed hearing them every time I walked past the living room so I started watching them on my own.”

It was Sasuke’s guilty pleasure and Naruto had been the first person he ever shared it with.

“You should show me one, sometime.”

Sasuke blinked a few times, trying to figure out if that was a real thing Naruto had just said. He wanted to say something but he was just so dumbfounded. Naruto looked at him expectantly as if he was supposed to say something but he didn’t even know where to start.

This was a love language that he didn’t even realize he craved.

As Sasuke opened his mouth to say something, the lights around them shut off. Sasuke let out a loud sigh, there was no telling how long they wouldn’t have power until after the hurricane passed. “I guess we’re using the candles.” Sasuke huffed as he stood up.

“Do you have a fire extinguisher?” Naruto asked in a serious tone as he turned on his phone's flashlight and pointed it up at Sasuke. Sasuke gave him a sheepish look and shook his head. “Seriously?”

“Why would I have a fire extinguisher?” Sasuke was barely home to begin with. It wasn’t like he used his stove either, at most he used an air fryer.

“I don’t know?” Naruto said in a snarky tone, “Everyone should have one.” Naruto shook his head as he walked over to the bag in the corner. Sasuke left him to go find some kind of lighter somewhere in his apartment. “I wish you told me, I would have brought mine from my truck!” He heard Naruto yell from the other side of his apartment.

“Why do you have one in your truck?” Sasuke asked as he rummaged through his bathroom drawer. “Oh.” The realization hit him. God, a life with him would be hearing about fire safety and all the things he was doing wrong.

Sasuke shook his head quickly, staring down in the drawer.

They were friends, there was no point in thinking that way. Only. Friends.

“Yeah.” He heard Naruto walking toward where Sasuke was. “Candles are huge fire hazards.”

“Good thing you’re here.” Sasuke muttered–only mildly annoyed–as he finally found a lighter. The two walked back in the living room, Naruto was close behind him but Sasuke was doing his best to ignore the proximity.

Naruto placed his hand just above the small of his back as he moved Sasuke out of the way. Sasuke swallowed, the spot where Naruto’s fingers grazed was set ablaze still long after it had happened.

Sasuke stood still as Naruto took charge, grabbing all the candles and placing them around his living room. He felt useless once again but he was afraid if he’d moved he’d throw away all the boundaries he’d tried really hard to keep between the two.

He liked Naruto being his friend and felt it was more important to keep him as a friend than messing it up with feelings and sex.

Naruto had brightened his world just by being his friend, he couldn’t imagine taking that sunshine away once again because Sasuke had messed it up with those feelings and that biological desire.

He didn’t like Naruto that way. He couldn’t.

Naruto was put into his life as his friend and he couldn’t ruin it.

As all the candles around them were lit, the ambiance was so different than it was before. There was a yellow light casting off of them as they heard the storm raging around them. The wind was definitely picking up as the night went on and Sasuke couldn’t imagine all the cleaning he was going to have to do on his porch from branches and leaves blowing onto it.

Naruto’s tan skin looked as if it was glowing as the candle flames flickered around them. Naruto was rambling on about one of his classes and the things he was excited about for the rest of the year. It was nice and refreshing hearing a teacher be so passionate about their work.

Something about how excited and animated Naruto was as he talked. He noticed that the blonde talked with his hands a lot and had this wide grin on his face that Sasuke was realizing he adored a lot. He watched him, every movement and facial expression. He was admiring him.

Maybe… Sasuke was crushing on Naruto. He couldn’t help it and it left him so conflicted. He should put a stop to it but he didn’t know if he could.

He felt like a teenager with the butterflies he was feeling. He felt silly saying that he had a crush on Naruto but the way he was feeling was the way he felt back in high school when you really like someone but you don’t understand the feelings you’re feeling.

Sasuke definitely had a crush on Naruto.

Or it was the wine talking.

He felt himself inching over, like Naruto was a magnet pulling him in. Those soft lips that he could never forget and those blue eyes that were haunting him every time he looked at him.

“I have a student that talks about your dad like he’s some god.” Naruto laughed, Sasuke just hummed in acknowledgement but he really didn’t process the words the blonde was saying. He was too in his own head, staring at his soft and pale pink lips. “He’s one of my favorites and he asks me about all my football stuff too.”

Sasuke’s head was in a different place. All of those thoughts about trying to stop how he was feeling had dulled and brought to the back of his head. The feelings of desire and that crush Sasuke was realizing he was having were pulled to the forefront of his brain. He couldn’t stop it no matter how hard he tried.

He wanted to feel Naruto’s skin again. Make him feel that same fire that Sasuke had felt just by that small little brush of fingers.

Was Naruto thinking these same things or was Sasuke alone in these thoughts?

“That’s cute.” Sasuke said, a small smile on his lips. Naruto raised a brow at him.

“Are you paying attention to what I’m saying?”

“Yeah.” He wasn’t.

Sasuke wanted to feel his muscles once again, gripping onto his shoulders and rubbing his hand down Naruto’s back, feeling each indention of his skin flexing while Naruto gripped onto his hips.

“What’s on your mind?” Sasuke shook his head as Naruto chuckled at him. “Clearly whatever it is,” Naruto looked Sasuke up and down with a small laugh escaping his lips. “Is more interesting than what I have to say.”

“I-” Sasuke looked down with a sheepish grin. “It’s nothing.”

“Aw Sas,” He didn’t know if Naruto was subconsciously inching closer as well. “Don’t hold out on me now!” He had a small pout on his face but it was a playful one.

“It’s really nothing!” Sasuke held his hands up defensively. The closeness was getting a little too much for him, it was making his palms sweaty. Naruto and him were about three feet away at this point.

“Fine.” Naruto shrugged, “I won’t tell you what I’m thinking about either.”

Now Sasuke really felt like a teenager with this exchange. The pouting and the childish actions the two were exhibiting was honestly comical. They’re adults, he should just be able to tell Naruto how he’s feeling.

“It’s just the wine.” Sasuke mentally facepalmed.

He’d be feeling this way with or without the wine.

“The wine?” Naruto didn’t believe him. Hell, Sasuke couldn’t believe his own words. “I’m thinking about the wine too.”

Sasuke rolled his eyes, this felt like a conversation he could’ve witnessed between two of his students. “I definitely need more wine if I’m talking about my thoughts.” Sasuke muttered as he stood up earning a boisterous laugh from his friend. He made his way into his kitchen, refusing to look back at the teasing blonde.

“Keep your fridge closed!” He yelled from the other side of Sasuke’s apartment. “We don’t know when the power will be back.”

Sasuke groaned louder this time before quickly turning back around and plopping back next to Naruto who was still giggling. He was right, the last hurricane they had the power was out for three days. Milton really did a number on Florida.

“Now,” Naruto looked into Sasuke’s eyes, making him take a deep breath. His eyes sparkled just like a universe that he wanted to explore. He’d spend his whole lifetime studying and learning all the secrets of the universe it had to offer. “What’s on your mind?”

“I’m…” Sasuke was so embarrassed, why couldn’t he just tell him? It wasn’t like they haven’t been intimate with one another before. Sasuke was hating that amused smirk on Naruto’s face. It was like he was taunting him, like he knew every thought Sasuke was thinking. Sasuke closed his eyes and took another deep breath as he prepared himself. “Oh fuck it…”

Sasuke scooted closer and lifted his hands to Naruto’s cheek. That amused look on Naruto’s face had dropped and turned into a look of confusion… then to desire. Sasuke leaned in, placing his lips softly on Naruto’s.

Both of them hummed softly into the kiss. Sasuke didn’t realize how much he’d wanted to do this and maybe this was what we wanted afterall. He wanted Naruto in his life more than just a friend. That was his sunshine and he wanted to bask in it.

It was scary as hell but he was willing to fall, fall into Naruto. He was a walking contradiction to the thoughts he was having earlier in the night but he didn’t care.

He wanted Naruto to have all of him.

Sasuke felt Naruto’s arms snake around his waist as he deepened the kiss. Sasuke’s hand slid up to Naruto’s body and up to his cheek, his fingers delicately holding onto him. Warmth was filling his chest, it all had started with that biological desire that all humans had but there was something different.

Something different than the first time…

Naruto’s lips were telling him that he felt the exact same. Telling him that he’d thought of Sasuke just as much as he thought about him. They were falling into one another, arms wide open. This invisible string that tied them to one another, threaded with a glittery gold that proved they were just so close yet so far from meeting.

It tightened around them, proving that they were destined to meet. The universe had brought them together.

Sasuke disconnected their lips, looking once again into Naruto’s eyes. It was crazy to think that this was the same man he’d planned to only have a one night stand with but he was so thankful that wasn’t the case. Thankful for the invisible string theory.

Naruto’s eyes were hazy as he scanned Sasuke’s own features, like they were studying one another. Sasuke bit his lip and looked at him with half lidded eyes as he took the initiative to press Naruto’s back into the back of his couch. Naruto watched with lascivious eyes every movement Sasuke made as he climbed onto his lap.

The two of them looked into one another's eyes before Sasuke leaned in, connecting their lips into a bruising kiss. Even if Sasuke was quite literally on top of Naruto, it still didn’t feel close enough. He needed to be closer, he needed to feel Naruto inside of him.

Naruto’s hands slid under Sasuke’s shirt, making him shudder as he felt that same fire that was way more intense than just the brush of fingers earlier. His teeth grazed Naruto’s bottom lip, earning a soft moan from the man beneath him.

The blonde slid his hands down Sasuke’s sides and held them as the two came up for air. Sasuke quickly went to lean down but Naruto turned his face to the side, making Sasuke kiss his cheek. Naruto let out a shaky breath with his eyes shut tightly. Sasuke paused, moving himself up to look at Naruto once again, studying Naruto’s hesitation.

“Sasuke…” Naruto whispered in that sultry tone of his. “I… if we’re gonna do this I want us to do it right.”

“What do you mean?” Sasuke blinked, looking down at him puzzled.

“I mean, we shouldn’t have sex tonight.”

“Oh.” Sasuke leaned back slightly, putting space between the two. “Okay.” Sasuke felt slightly disappointed. Like all the fire in his thoughts were quickly extinguished. He felt as if that string was cut and falling on the ground around them.

As Sasuke went to climb off Naruto’s lap, his fingers gripped tighter as he held him in place.

“Not because I don’t want to!” Naruto pulled him closer once again which helped make Sasuke feel slightly better. “Because trust me I do want to.” Naruto exhaled, he slowly let his hands fall down to his sides and off Sasuke. His hands balled into fists like he was trying to find a way to contain himself. Sasuke took the opportunity to scurry off his lap and sit on the couch next to him. “This started as a drunken hook up and if we’re gonna do this I want to actually take you out on a date.”

Now he really was feeling like he was in high school.

“Really?” It was Sasuke’s turn to be amused. “People still do that?” He teased him, but Sasuke was reeling at the fact Naruto actually wanted to take him out on dates.

“I’d like to.” Naruto smirked at him, still flushed from kissing Sasuke. “But, it’s getting late and if I spend any more time next to you I’m gonna go back on my word.” Naruto sighed as he stood up. Sasuke eyed him up and down skeptically, an actual date sounded silly.

It also sounded nice.

“Goodnight, Naruto.”

“Goodnight, Sas.”

————————————————————————

Over the past few weeks, Sasuke and Naruto had gone out on dates and hung out a lot more in their personal time. Hell, he’s never spent this much time with someone ever in his life but he couldn’t get enough of Naruto.

He couldn’t get enough of the jokes and even just the quiet moments. He loved fighting over the bill when they went out and going to those touristy boutiques that had over priced memorabilia to make fun of.

“Look at this!” Sasuke said with a wide grin–like Naruto’s, that was something he did more of nowadays, they’d started picking up on one another’s mannerisms. He picked up a red firetruck statue that had a black cat wearing a fire helmet sitting on it. “It’s kind of cute.”

“Awe, It’s Manda!” Naruto grinned as he stepped forward to take a closer look. His hand placed gently on his back which made Sasuke blush slightly. Naruto was very touchy and affectionate with subtle actions that Sasuke was learning to love and truthfully, expect.

Naruto’s love language was more than definitely physical touch.

“I’m gonna buy it.” Sasuke said as he held it close to him, he didn’t want Naruto to buy it himself. “You can put it on your desk.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah!”

Naruto brought out a side of Sasuke he didn’t realize was still in him. A side that he thought life had beaten out of him.

They walked happily down the pier in St. Petersburg and looked at the crystal blue water. There were lots of people and children around, mostly tourists. This was a spot for tourists and Sasuke rarely went to places like that.

Sasuke had lived in Florida his entire life and he’d never seen the pier before. He didn’t really do much in this state, other than the few times he went to Disneyworld with his family when he was a kid.

However, he did make his parents take him to MOSI a million times as a kid.

“Seriously?” Naruto looked at him as he ate the ice cream bar he’d gotten both of them. “The pier was like a staple of my childhood.”

“Are you sure you’re from Florida?” Sasuke joked, most locals avoided places like this like the plague. They were always overcrowded and loud.

But, Naruto wanted to go and Sasuke wanted to be with Naruto.

“Come on, Sas!” Sasuke snickered at his whiny tone, “A lot of these places are fun if you give them a chance!”

And he did, he gave them a chance. Like the Tampa Bay riverwalk and going to Anna Maria Island. Naruto took him all over the coast and showed him places he’d gone to when he was a teenager.

This was so far out of Sasuke’s comfort zone but he was relishing in it.

The two walked around the Clearwater aquarium. Sasuke always wanted to go there when he was a kid, he’d watched Dolphin Tale a million times. He never got to see Winter when she was alive but the aquarium set up a beautiful memorial for her.

“How many times did you say you watched this movie?” Naruto’s voice was teasing him.

“Shut up.” Sasuke huffed, a small pout on his lips. “Winter was so cool.”

“I can agree with that.” Naruto smiled as they looked at the other dolphins swimming around in their tank. “They charge a ridiculous amount to get in here though.”

“I told you I could have pitched-”

“Nope!”

Sasuke smiled, this was the best fall break he’d ever had. Normally, he’d dreaded the fall break because he was always alone until Thanksgiving which was usually when he’d have his privacy invaded. But, this break he’d spent everyday with Naruto.

After Naruto had taken him all over the place it’d been two days before Thanksgiving. They'd spent the day in Sasuke’s apartment. Naruto had his arm on the back of the couch as Sasuke sat close to him. They were sharing a blanket as Manda sat on Naruto’s lap, Naruto gently petting him as he slept.

Sasuke was showing him his absolute favorite Hallmark movie of all time. Love at the Parade.

“Emily’s boyfriend is an ass.”

“He is.” Sasuke nodded, he’d seen the movie so many times he could probably recite the whole script from start to finish. “But, I don’t think I would want to spend my life on some oversea expedition.”

Naruto gasped dramatically, “So you won’t spend your life on a boat with me?”

“Absolutely not.”

“Fair.” Naruto turned his attention back to the movie. “I’d pick Henry too.”

“Henry is hot.” Sasuke shrugged, “But you gotta admit he was an ass before as well.”

“Yeah, but he’s still hot.”

“Agreed.”

The two giggled with one another as Sasuke leaned his head on Naruto’s shoulder. He’d never felt so comfortable with someone before and he could relish in it forever.

Later in the day, Sasuke made them do their original plans that Naruto and he had made for the day. Naruto whined about it, tempting Sasuke with another Hallmark movie and more cuddling but Sasuke had to be firm. It was just too important.

They’d made the plans to work on their lesson plans they needed to have the day after break for the exams that were approaching rather fast. They needed to figure out what was most important to review and test on during the week.

Naruto sat criss cross on the floor in front of the couch with papers sprawled all over the coffee table and his laptop on his lap. Sasuke sat on the couch, papers all around him as well. The two of them sat in silence as they read papers.

Sasuke was in his head, he was thinking about what his relationship technically was with Naruto.

They’d gone on dates and things but Naruto hadn’t made any moves on him or even kissed him. Other than the cuddles during the movie, that was the extent of it.

He wanted to do more but also, he was happy with this. His crush was developing into something more and he wasn’t entirely complaining. He knew Naruto felt the same way but neither of them pursued anything.

They were like glorified best friends.

“I have a stupid idea.” Sasuke said as he looked down at the stack of papers.

“Hm?”

“What are you doing for Thanksgiving?” Sasuke couldn’t believe he was asking. Maybe, this time he’d actually bring someone home even if it was just a friend.

“My dad and I usually have takeout,” Naruto looked up at Sasuke. “Why?”

“Well, I was gonna see if you’d like to come to Thanksgiving at my family's house.” Sasuke swallowed nervously, he couldn’t look down at Naruto out of fear of rejection. “You can bring your father.”

“Yeah?” Sasuke could hear the smirk in his voice. “Is Mr. Uchiha asking to bring me home?”

Sasuke rolled his eyes, “I guess I am.”

“As your friend?” Sasuke finally looked at Naruto as he turned his body to face him with that amused smile once again on his face. That amused smile that he adored.

“Well, is that what we are?” He genuinely didn’t know the answer to that question, he was leaving it all up to Naruto.

Naruto shrugged, “I like you and you like me.”

“I do like you.” He felt a blush creep on his cheeks. He didn’t know why he was so embarrassed about this admission of feelings, it’s not like Naruto didn’t know.

“I like you too.” Naruto had a cheeky grin, “I’d love to come home to your family.”

They continued to work quietly. It wasn’t an awkward silence but a comfortable one. One where Sasuke couldn’t keep the giddy smile off his face. The two would glance up at one another every once and awhile, both having that same bashful smile.

Is this what it was like to fall in love?

Was Sasuke falling in love?

Sasuke sighed as he held his phone in his hand. He didn’t know if he could do it. He knew he needed to at least warn his mother that Naruto was coming with him so she’d have enough to feed him or else he wouldn’t hear the end of it.

Well, his mother always made too much and his father always did his best to pawn it off to anyone and everyone. It didn’t entirely matter but she would still be angry and explain how she could have made more.

“Sasuke!” His mother was so cheery, “Honey, if you’re calling to ask if we need anything, I already told you that your father and I took care of it.”

He sucked in a sharp breath, he needed to just say it, just rip the bandaid off. “Mother-”

“Actually, tell him he better be wearing one of his Lion’s shirts we got him!” His father yelled from the background.

“Your father said-”

He let out another loud sigh, he really did love his parents. “I will.” Sasuke muttered, they’d always come earlier on Thanksgiving so they could spend time with his father while he watched the Lions game on the TV. None of the boys actually cared about football but his father loved it so they came for him.

Sasuke usually leaves to the kitchen to watch his mother, she wouldn’t let him help her because one year he’d burnt the mashed potatoes and he still heard about it to this day.

“Can you set another plate?” He said, his voice more shy than he’d expected.

“Oh! Did Shisui forget to tell me he was bringing another person?”

“Shisui is always bringing his strays from work,” His father added.

“I’m bringing someone.” Sasuke muttered, something he never thought he’d say. He’d never brought someone home, it was just something he didn’t do. But something about Naruto, being this bright sunshine… he wanted to share it with the world. With his family.

The line went silent for a moment, even his father didn’t have anything to say.

“It’s really not a big-”

“Oh my god!” Mikoto yelled, making Sasuke move the phone off his ear. “Honey! Tell me all about him!”

His parents were always so supportive of Sasuke from the moment he came out. It wasn’t entirely a shocker, he’d never taken interest in girls and he spent a little too long looking at his mothers cosmopolitan magazines… and he definitely wasn’t looking at Mandy Moore. So when he brought home his first boyfriend in high school, it wasn’t a surprise to anyone.

He was happy to hear his mothers genuine excitement– not that he didn’t expect it. It was just another way to reassure him that he was making the right choice bringing Naruto home.

“You better give him one of your Lions shirts!” He heard his father yell. Sasuke had already warned Naruto about being subjected to wearing the team’s T-Shirt.

Sasuke had a small smile on his face as he talked about Naruto to his mother. He didn’t go into too much detail because he figured he’d let Naruto tell these things about himself.

For his parents to see just how happy this man made Sasuke.

Sasuke drove Naruto to his parents, both of them wearing a Lion’s T-shirt. Naruto held flowers and some fancy bottle of wine he’d gotten for Sasuke’s mother. Sasuke looked over as the butterflies once again flared up, it was so cute that Naruto was considerate enough to think about bringing something for Sasuke’s mother.

Love. He was definitely in love with this man.

The ride there, he’d talked about how his father was doing and how he went on some cruise with his boyfriend. He invited Naruto but he told him to just go so his father and his boyfriend could have quality time together.

They were the last to arrive, which wasn’t usual for Sasuke either. He was just so nervous and he didn’t know why. He loved Naruto and he knew his parents would too.

“Your dad a big Lion’s fan?” Naruto joked as he turned his head, looking at the Lion’s flag on the pole on the side of their garage.

“Yeah, he’s the biggest.” Sasuke rolled his eyes, his father just really loved football. “Make sure you tell him all about your Buc’s stuff, he’ll love it.”

The minute they walked in, they were swarmed by his curious family. Naruto took it with a wide smile on his face. “I’m a hugger!” Mikoto said, Sasuke blushed and looked down at the ground as his mother giggled, pulling Naruto in a wide hug.

“These are for you.” Naruto handed her the bouquet of yellow tulips. “I wasn’t sure what kind of wine you liked but this one looked pretty nice.” His mother looked down and then back towards Sasuke, mouthing ‘I’m in love with him.’

Sasuke was too.

His father quickly came up, narrowing his eyes at Naruto. Naruto raised a brow at him, the two of them began having this weird silent stare off. All of his family members looked between one another, almost worried about what words could possibly come out of Fugaku’s mouth.

Fugaku was the first to break the silence, “Do you like sports?” Sasuke let out a sigh of relief, thankful that was the only thing his father said.

“I played football in college.” Sasuke raised a brow, he didn’t know that about Naruto. “I was a Gator.”

There it was, that look in Fugaku’s eyes. His eyes were practically twinkling as he walked over and patted Naruto’s back. Fugaku began asking a million questions as he took Naruto to the living room without Sasuke.

“I think dad stole your date.” Itachi said, a small smirk on his face. “I think he likes him more than us.”

“You can never break up with this man.” Shisui said, the three men watching as Naruto and their father laugh about things they didn’t understand. This was probably the happiest they’d ever seen Fugaku.

Naruto fit in perfectly with the family, they’d all sat in the living room as Mikoto, Itachi and Lily were in the kitchen. They were the only ones his mother let in, Izumi was banned from the kitchen from another incident similar to Sasuke’s. Shisui, he just didn’t care to cook and Lily loved to.

Izumi didn’t seem to mind as she rested her feet on the footstool trying to understand what was happening on the TV.

Naruto and Fugaku were yelling and cheering about these men who tackled one another for a ball, each one landing harder on the ground while getting piled on. The three Uchiha men never understood the whole football thing but they were glad his father finally found someone who would be just as hyped as him.

The more he watched his father and Naruto yell with one another, the wider Sasuke’s smile got. He felt all warm and fuzzy and he didn’t understand why he was even nervous in the first place. Mikoto adored him and Fugaku clearly thought of him as the son he never had.

The day went on and the Lions had won which always made his father in an extra good mood. Naruto continued to be bombarded with questions and he answered all of them happily. Sasuke knew his family was a lot but Naruto was clearly the one who could handle it.

Most people would run from things like this… but Naruto stayed. He stayed like he belonged.

They all sat around the dinner table, asking questions as they took turns passing around all of the food to one another. Fugaku and Mikoto took turns talking to Naruto, he’d been thrown around between subjects, from Football to asking about his job.

His father excitedly asked about his games, he’d told him about how the only competitions he went to when Sasuke and Shisui were younger were the debates or STEM club things they competed in. Sasuke and Shisui would pout, even if Fugaku was still proud of them–which he made very clear– he was excited to know someone that actually could talk sports with him and not at his clearly uninterested family.

His father tried to pawn off candles on Naruto and of course Naruto took some. He’d even taken some vases and said he’d look at some other things to take out of their garage.

Fugaku was so filled with joy that Sasuke was worried he’d try to marry Naruto just to keep him all to himself.

“Thank you guys for such a wonderful night.” Naruto said, that same wide smile on his face as he waved back toward his parents as the two men walked back to the car. They’d had a bunch of leftovers in their hands that had been pawned off and Naruto of course didn’t say no.

“Drive safe!” Mikoto said as they both waved, watching as the men drove away.

“I like your family.” Naruto said, looking at Sasuke with a soft smile. Sasuke wanted to look back at him but he kept his eyes on the road. He could feel Naruto shuffling, placing the tupperware in the backseat. “I can see why the students on the football team like your dad, he’s really passionate.”

“More like, fanatic.” Sasuke chuckled. He’d gone silent for a moment, trying to find the way to describe how he was feeling. He was just so… happy? He felt light, like whatever that was laying heavy on his chest was lifted.

“I’d like to see them again.” Naruto said, quieter this time.

“I’d like that too.” Sasuke whispered. It was an unspoken oath that they were gonna keep to one another.

He couldn’t imagine a life before this. Before he met Naruto. A time where his family didn’t love the blonde that sat next to him.

A time he didn’t love Naruto.

————————————————————————

Students were noticing.

They noticed the longing glances and the way Sasuke smiled more when Naruto was around. The way colors other than blue and black popped up on his classroom walls. He’d added things like red and a splash of orange, sure it was just colored papers with instructions but even when he used dry erase markers, he used more than just black.

He didn’t realize he was doing it until students pointed it out.

And it wasn’t like they were really hiding it. They’d walk out of the teachers lounge with one another laughing or they’d go to the cafeteria together during lunch. There was a time Sasuke even volunteered to do bus duty just to hangout with Naruto.

He hated bus duty.

“I’m thinking about getting another frog.” Naruto had pulled up a chair, leaning his elbows on Sasuke’s desk. Sasuke was grading assignments which Naruto should be doing but he didn’t want to be Naruto’s boss right now.

“Absolutely not.” Sasuke muttered, shaking his head.

“Come on!” Naruto chuckled, “You could name it!”

“I think I’ll pass.”

“When are you gonna be done with grading assignments?” Naruto asked, letting out a loud huff. He’d dropped the topic entirely but Sasuke was sure he’d bring it back up eventually. “I want to go out to eat.”

“Well,” Sasuke looked up at Naruto. “I have 140 students and I’ve done…” He counted the papers on his desk. “Ten.”

Naruto frowned, “That’s what you get for making them do research papers.”

“I’m an AP Chem teacher, of course they’re gonna do research papers.” Sasuke side eyed him. “What exactly have you made your students do this week?”

“Are you asking as my boss?”

“Never mind.” Sasuke let out a sigh, it was better not to ruin their happy little moment. “I can bring this home and I can do it this weekend.” Naruto grinned up at him as Sasuke packed up his papers. “You should grade some papers this weekend.”

“Fine.” Naruto shrugged, standing up to help Sasuke. “But tonight, we’re spending it together.”

“We can grade papers together,”

“That’s tomorrow's plan.” Naruto had a smirk on his face, caging Sasuke in between his desk and the white board. Sasuke gave him an unimpressed look. “Tonight, you and I are gonna go get some food and sit in the car and yap.”

“I think you yap enough.” Sasuke smirked as he grabbed Naruto’s hand and moved it out of the way. He slid past him, looking him up and down before grabbing his little cart. “Come on.” Sasuke turned his head toward the door, walking out.

They’d agreed to Sasuke driving to Naruto’s house to drop off his truck so they could take one car. Somehow, he agreed to let Naruto drive his car, another thing he’s never ever done in his life.

He wouldn’t even let his own mother drive his car.

Definitely not his father.

The two men sat in the car, laughing as they ate take out ramen. It wasn’t Sasuke’s favorite but Naruto liked it. He’d eat it every day if it meant he could see that little smile and happy dance Naruto did every time he ate it. Naruto had found this quiet and dark parking lot that had no cars in it, no one to interrupt their time together.

“This student today,” Naruto said between bites, “She was the only one answering all of the questions and it was adorable but she wouldn’t give anyone else a chance.”

“Was anyone else trying to?” Sasuke asked, as he wiped his mouth.

“No.” Naruto slurped up the noodles before speaking again. “She’s probably one of the smartest students in my class.”

“What’s her grades like?”

“I don’t know off the top of my head but I’m pretty sure she has the highest grade among all of my students. I mean she aces every assignment and test.” Sasuke nodded, looking innocently at Naruto as he took a sip of his drink. Naruto raised a brow before frowning, realizing exactly what Sasuke was getting at. “You can’t try and poach my favorite student.”

“Think of her future!” Sasuke had to bite back a laugh at the loud huff from Naruto. “Okay, fine this is a weekday conversation, tell me more about your classes today.”

Naruto rambled on, talking about different students and different areas he felt he needed to work on as a teacher. Sasuke listened and gave advice here and there, but he mostly just listened. He liked hearing the blonde talk and how eager he was to be working with students.

He was passionate about his career just like Sasuke had been.

“One of them asked about fire science and I’m thinking about getting a whole booklet for him from the fire academy!” Naruto exclaimed, “Isn’t that so cool that someone's interested in that!’

“It is cool.” Sasuke turned his body to face Naruto, leaning his head against the head rest. Their garbage was discarded in the back seat of Sasuke’s car, which for sure would be cleaned before he went to bed tonight. “I’m glad you’re connecting with your students.”

“Me too, I was really nervous about doing it but my dad said I’d be good at it.” Naruto smiled, leaning his head on the headrest himself. “This year went very differently than I thought it would.”

“Mine did too.”

They were quiet for a moment, just existing. Sasuke was getting lost in those beautiful blue orbs, sparkly. They glimmered even more under the moonlight that lit up the inside of the car.

“I wouldn’t change it.” Sasuke whispered. He meant it, he was so happy with the way this year turned out. He was no longer that bitter Sasuke that he once was.

He was happy.

Naruto scooted a little closer, his hand making its way over to Sasuke’s. Their fingers intertwined, never breaking eye contact. “I wouldn’t either.” Naruto had this soft look, like he was just too pure for this world. “Sasuke?”

“Yeah?” Sasuke raised a brow as Naruto played with his fingers, his thumb tracing little circles on the front of his hand.

“I’m gonna kiss you.” Naruto’s free hand slowly moved to the side of Sasuke’s face, pressing softly on his cheek. “Is that okay?” He felt Naruto’s thumb trace small and slow circles onto him which made Sasuke lean into his touch.

“Please kiss me.” Sasuke didn’t mean to sound so desperate but god, he wanted to kiss him again since the night of the hurricane. He didn’t know how he’d survived this long without kissing the man in front of him.

Naruto had that sinful smirk Sasuke hadn’t seen since the night of the wedding hook up. He gave Sasuke’s face one more glance over as he got closer. He could feel the blonde's breath just above his lips, just hovering over Sasuke’s.

Sasuke couldn’t take it anymore, he just wanted Naruto more than anything. Sasuke took his hand that Naruto was holding and quickly slid it on the back of Naruto’s head, pulling him in. The moment their lips touched, he could feel the hesitation and surprise Naruto felt but it was quickly replaced with desire.

Their lips clashed with urgency, their tongues sliding against one another with burning passion allowing it to consume them. To fall right back into one another and never let go.

Naruto’s hand went to the small of Sasuke’s back, sliding underneath the polo that Sasuke was wearing. Sasuke hummed in approval as Naruto pulled him closer, his grip on the curls his fingers had in Naruto’s hair tightened slightly.

He wished he wasn’t in a car doing this, well he’d do this anywhere as long as it was with Naruto. But, he wanted to be somewhere where he could give Naruto all of himself. In his bed, their bodies intertwined in bedsheets as Naruto pressed himself into Sasuke.

Naruto disconnected their lips, looking down at Sasuke with half lidded eyes. His pink lips were swollen and his pupils blown wide. Naruto was thinking the exact thing Sasuke was, it was like they could exchange thoughts without saying a word.

Sasuke was becoming unglued, all barriers he’d had before to protect himself, to keep to himself and make peace with the fact he was meant to be alone… they’d all fallen to the ground. No one deserved to see this side of Sasuke… other than the man in front of him.

This was real, it was a real thing.

They were real.

Naruto leaned down, pressing soft and wet kisses into Sasuke’s neck. Sasuke laughed, feeling as his lips tickled him.

Suddenly, Naruto bit down which made Sasuke gasp. He began sucking softly, Sasuke shuddered and closed his eyes. He couldn’t tell if he was feeling more pleasure or shock at the feeling. Sasuke moved his head, giving Naruto more access to him as if it were instinct.

They were sitting in a parking lot, making out in a car and he was getting a hickey from Naruto.

God, he never felt more like a teenager than right at this moment.

“Naruto, I swear to god if you give me a hickey and we go back to work on Monday…” Sasuke couldn't help but gasp not finishing his sentence but Naruto knew what he meant, “I will kick your ass.”

He felt Naruto hover above the now reddish purple skin, giving a breathy laugh sending chills down Sasuke’s spine. “Fine, I guess I just need to give you some in more hidden places.”

Sasuke’s face lit up red. The idea of Naruto marking him all over his body and claiming him… “Shut up…” It was all he could bring himself to say… he was just so embarrassed that he actually liked the idea.

Naruto just hummed, acknowledging how embarrassed Sasuke was. He moved himself back up, looking back into his eyes. “Come on, Sas.” Sasuke was a puddle in Naruto’s hands. That voice… those eyes. All of that was for Sasuke, right in this moment the only people who matter in the world were them. “I know you’d like that, wouldn’t you?” Sasuke nodded slowly, he couldn’t deny it.

All of these pieces falling into place and getting caught up in the moment, he could have told Naruto he loved him. The words were bubbling up and he didn’t think he could hold them back anymore.

“You look so beautiful in the moonlight,” Sasuke whispered, looking at the features that were accentuated in the low light of the moon and the street lights that lit inside of the car. His nose, his cheeks and those arms.

God, those arms.

“I could say the same about you.” Naruto smiled down at him, it wasn’t that smirk… something else. He almost liked that genuine smile more than that devious smirk Naruto would have.

Naruto leaned in once again, more gentle this time but filled with just as much passion. Sasuke sighed into the kiss, allowing himself to get lost. Lost in the universe that was Naruto.

Sasuke’s hands trailed down, from Naruto’s neck to his chest, making its way slowly down to his belt buckle. Naruto gave him a soft hum of approval as Sasuke disconnected their lips so he could see better to get that damned buckle out of the way. Naruto chuckled at the way Sasuke was doing his best to urgently take it off.

Naruto slid his hand back up, pulling Sasuke into another kiss, his tongue swiping his bottom lip asking for an entrance once again. Sasuke obliged, their tongues intertwining as Sasuke finally got the buckle off, pushing it to the side as his fingers went for the zipper.

The two were lost in one another, drowning in the tension and need for release. Both feeling the desire and need radiating off one another.

Too lost to hear the sudden tapping on the window.

The sudden tapping turned into a louder knock, taking them right out of their heated moment.

Naruto disconnected, turning his head back to the drivers side window seeing a flashlight shining in on them. Sasuke’s eyes widened, quickly backing off Naruto. The two looked between one another before Naruto quickly zipped himself back up and slowly rolled down the window revealing a police officer.

“Alright kids,” the police officer said as she bent down. Her eyes widened, a little surprised to see two grown men sitting in the car. “Lieutenat Uzumaki?” Sasuke looked between the officer and Naruto.

She’d clearly expected to see high schoolers.

“Uh, hey Deputy Anko.” Naruto muttered, scratching the back of his neck. The two men both looked shy as they both blushed, embarrassed they were caught.

Sasuke watched as Anko leaned down more, shining her light on Sasuke. “Mr. Uchiha?” She said, Sasuke’s eyes widened, he couldn’t believe she’d known who he was. “My daughter is in your class! She raves about you all the time.” Sasuke gave a shy smile, “I met you at open house!”

How could Sasuke forget? He only met two parents that night. “Oh… hi.” Sasuke was still in shock, unsure of what to say in this moment. “It’s nice to see you again.” Naruto turned his head to look at Sasuke, biting his lip as he held back a laugh, earning a glare from the Uchiha.

“Okay,” Anko stood up straight as she cleared her throat. “I’m going to give you two a warning. You can’t hook up out here.” She couldn’t help but chuckle at that. “You’re… trespassing.”

This situation was just awkward for everyone.

“Yeah, we’ll leave.” Naruto said, turning the car on. “Thanks Anko.”

As they pulled away, the two looked at one another and bursted out laughing.

————————————————————————

There was this expectation now. Sasuke wished they finished their hook up that night. And, it wasn’t like Naruto was expecting anything, it was all in Sasuke’s head. It all had to be perfect.

It was a mental fight, sure he’d slept with Naruto before but that was different. Naruto wasn’t a real person to him with real feelings and someone he could call… his boyfriend.

Boyfriend.

What a strange concept.

Naruto wasn’t pressing for it, he waited for Sasuke. The ball was in Sasuke’s court and he didn’t know how to approach the idea. They were busy, sure they were busy together as they made lesson plans and when Sasuke held meetings to tell the department what they needed to teach.

But never alone.

Alone enough to cave and fall into one another again.

Christmas break came along fast, Naruto was gone for the entirety of it as he spent it with his father. They’d agreed that they wouldn’t get one another presents until the next year, which made Sasuke feel all warm and gushy that Naruto expected them to still be in each other's lives by next christmas.

It was the longest they’d been apart since before the hurricane. Sasuke didn’t hate it but he didn’t like it either. He didn’t want to come off clingy and he truly did cherish his alone time but he did miss his ball of sunshine that lit up his world.

He sat on the couch as Manda walked up, laying down next to him. “I miss him.” Sasuke muttered to the cat, Manda just laid his head on Sasuke’s lap ignoring him. “I feel ridiculous saying I miss him when we’ve been apart for what, maybe fourteen days?”

It was like he was expecting Manda to respond to him.

“Not that I’m counting.” Sasuke muttered, trying to justify himself to… his cat. He went quiet for a moment, looking down at Manda. “You’re right, I’m overthinking this.” He began petting his cat, looking down as he purred. “When he comes back, I’ll talk to him about how I’m feeling then I can jump him.”

Sasuke was going crazy, he really was telling his cat his plan to have sex with his boyfriend for the first time since they hooked up. “You don’t think I’m crazy, right Manda?” He let out a sigh, as he leaned back on the couch.

He didn’t recognize this version of himself, he never thought he’d be like this. Nervous and missing someone. He’d never felt this way with any partner before and he wondered if it was normal?

Was he supposed to feel this strongly for someone or was it weird? Was feeling like this too much too soon? Did his family feel this way when they met their partners? When his father fell for his mother, were they inseparable and felt this strongly?

His mind was racing, every thought so fast as he spent this time alone.

All of this was so juvenile. He was an adult that could just communicate this.

He never was like this in his quiet alone time. It was always peaceful and he was able to read his books. Read books Lily recommended or look at articles of new research that had come out. He’d be able to cozily enjoy his Hallmark movies and snuggle with Manda.

But now, the air just felt so empty when it wasn’t filled with Naruto’s laughter and constant rambling. When Naruto wasn’t in his kitchen making them dinner or when Naruto wasn’t playing with Manda.

Naruto lit up his world and him being so far and busy… everything felt so dull.

Was life really this dull before Naruto drunkenly stumbled into his life?

A small smile crept onto Sasuke’s face as his phone lit up, seeing Naruto’s name pop up. His thoughts instantly quieted down and he wondered if Naruto knew he was going crazy alone.

Was he going just as crazy?

“Hey.” Sasuke said softly, the idea of Sasuke feeling this soft or being this soft… it was unusual.

“Hey.” Naruto had an obvious smile on his face. “You suck at texting.” Sasuke rolled his eyes, he hated texting. He’d preferred calling if someone needed something, but he did enjoy seeing the little pictures Naruto would send of him and his father.

“I do,” Sasuke agreed as he lifted Manda off his lap. The cat meowed grumpily before slowly pitterpattering to the cat tree, resting on the little hammock that hung on the bottom of Manda’s mansion as Naruto called it. “How’s Michigan?” Sasuke asked as he stood up, making his way to his bedroom. He’d placed his phone on the bed on speaker so he could change.

He looked down at the PCFD shirt he’d stolen from Naruto’s bathroom a few weeks ago. It still smelled like him, that citrusy smell of his body wash and his sandalwood cologne that lingered in the air.

“Cold.” Naruto muttered, “It’s nice seeing my dad’s family.”

“You know, my dad’s from Michigan too, I have some family up there I believe.” Sasuke said as he slipped the shirt on and laid down on his bed.

“Oh trust me, I know.” Naruto chuckled, “I heard all about it on Thanksgiving, he went to the university of Michigan and played football, go Wolverines!” Sasuke didn’t know that about his father, well maybe he did but he might have tuned it out. He felt a little guilty about it, so he made a mental note to ask his father more about his college life.

“What is it with old people moving to Florida from Michigan when they were younger?” Sasuke huffed, “They have kids and then we have to grow up here.”

“Florida’s not that bad,” Naruto had that smile once again, “It’s where I met you.”

Sasuke rolled his eyes, feeling warmth rush to his cheeks. “Yeah, it’s not that bad I guess.” Other than all the bad that was in Florida, at least he could look at some of the positives even if there are very few.

Naruto was one of the positives.

Ron DeSantis on the other hand…

“I’m ready to be back home.” He could hear some ruffling as Naruto settled on his end, “How’s Gamakichi doing?” Sasuke cringed, he couldn’t believe he’d agreed to take care of that damned frog while he was gone.

“He’s a frog.” Sasuke muttered, earning a chuckle from the blonde. “Manda hasn’t eaten him yet even though I’m tempted to leave his enclosure open.”

“Hey!” He heard him dramatically gasp, “Don’t feed Gamakichi to Manda.”

Sasuke imagined that cute little pout Naruto always did.

“No promises.” Sasuke got more comfortable on his bed, the sheets cradling his body around him. “I miss you.” He blurted out before he could even realize what he said. Sasuke was never an impulsive person but he just couldn’t control it, he wanted Naruto to know even if he didn’t want to say the words. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to just say that I just..." Sasuke tried to backtrack, rambling whatever words he could think of.

“Sasuke.” Naruto was obviously amused, “I miss you too.” Sasuke let out a quiet sigh of relief. “It’s weird not being around you all the time, I’ve been having fun with my family don’t get me wrong but… it all would be better if you were here.” Naruto admitted shyly, it was the first time Naruto wasn’t that boisterous and confident self he always was.

He sounded just as vulnerable as Sasuke.

Sasuke didn’t know what to say, all those thoughts that were quieted down earlier bubbled up once again. “I-” Sasuke stammered, how much could he say before Naruto ran? “I feel the exact same.” He whispered. “I never have felt this way before and all of it is… confusing.”

“I get it.” The tone in Naruto’s voice was comforting, “I'm confused too.”

They were in the same boat.

There was a silence where unspoken words were once again laid. Like they were both telling each other that… that they loved one another. At least, that’s what Sasuke hoped Naruto was saying.

“It’s cold.” He couldn’t take the silence anymore and he blurted the first thing he could to change the subject. “Why is it cold in Florida?”

“Oh it’s cold?” Naruto had that mocking tone in his voice. Sasuke heard a few clicks and taps on Naruto’s side. “It says it's 68 degrees.”

“That’s cold!”

“I’m literally in freezing temps.” Sasuke smiled hearing the laugh on the other end. “It’s colder than your fridge outside, it literally hurts to breathe.”

The Florida cold sucked even more because of the humidity and Naruto was being totally unfair.

“Well,” Sasuke muttered, “Usually we could still go swimming during Christmas time but this year it’s cold.” He pouted.

“Swimming at Christmas is a funny thought.”

Another silence fell between them, as if they were both trying to figure out what to say next. He was worried their phone call was coming to an end but he really just didn’t want it to end, he wanted to talk to him all night if he could.

To have two weeks worth of conversations on one simple phone call.

The silence between them allowed Sasuke to think, to let his brain get the best of him. He let out a loud huff, in an attempt to quiet these thoughts that had crept in.

These thoughts that started to creep in Sasuke’s mind weren't entirely innocent. He wanted Naruto here, he wanted to feel Naruto in his arms and hold onto him and never let go. He imagined Naruto above him, gasping and groaning as sweat glistened off of him. The way the muscles on his arms flexed as he held onto Sasuke’s waist, thrusting into-

“What was that?” Naruto’s voice had that teasing tone to it once again. “Kinda sounds like my little Sas is pouting.”

Sasuke sucked in a breath, he wanted to be mad at how he was being taunted but hearing the word “my” coming out of Naruto’s mouth just fueled him. The thoughts ignited even more, imagining him claiming him and being possessive over Sasuke.

“I’m not pouting.” Sasuke couldn’t even convince himself. “I’m just thinking.”

“About?”

Sasuke shut his eyes, he wasn’t sure if he could voice these thoughts. If tonight was really the time to do it.

But the idea of Naruto muttering things like praises and sweet nothings in his ear.

Calling Sasuke his.

“You.” Sasuke spoke softly, “I can’t get you off my mind.”

Not necessarily a lie…

“What about me?” He heard shuffling once again. He could only imagine the knowing smirk on Naruto’s face.

“Well, I’m wearing one of your shirts so I guess I’m thinking about your cologne.” That sandalwood smell mixed with faint notes of citrus. It quickly became one of Sasuke’s favorite scents. A scent that smelled like home.

“You have one of my shirts?” Naruto asked, slightly surprised.

“Last time I went to your house, you had one of your firefighter T-Shirts on the floor and I just couldn’t help myself.” Sasuke said shyly which earned a loud laugh from the blonde. “Don’t laugh at me!”

“I’m not laughing at you!” Naruto said between giggles, “It’s just the idea of Sasuke Uchiha in a Pinellas County fire department shirt.” The way his name slid off of Naruto’s tongue made goosebumps go down Sasuke’s body.

“It’s comfy.” Sasuke muttered bashfully, his cheeks warm.

“Are you wearing anything else?” Naruto couldn’t help but chuckle at his words.

“Did you really just ask me the ‘What are you wearing‘ question?” Sasuke mocked Naruto, the two men laughed with one another.

“Yeah… I guess I am.”

“Well, we both know I’m wearing your shirt.” Sasuke was so embarrassed, “Naru, this is silly.”

“Did you just call me Naru?” God, Sasuke was so over Naruto’s teasing voice. “That’s so cute.”

“I’m gonna hang up on you.”

“No, I wanna hear you say Naru again!”

“Goodnight Naruto.”

“No! Come on, Sas,” Naruto said between chuckles, Sasuke was bluffing there was no way he was gonna hang up. “When I get back, I want to see you in my shirt. All of my shirts.”

“Stop…” Sasuke felt himself smiling cheekily. He’d never heard his voice so whiny before.

“God, the idea of it is driving me crazy.”

Then, Sasuke decided to just be bold, the ball that was in his court was being thrown or whatever. “I think the idea of it off and on the floor would drive you crazier.” He had a smirk of his own, even if all of this felt ridiculous he somehow made his voice sound confident.

Naruto was quiet for a moment, like he was processing what Sasuke had just said.

Sasuke double downed, “Especially when I’m crawling onto the bed and climbing onto your lap, looking down at you.”

“Holy fuck, Sas.” Naruto finally let out a shaky breath to follow. “You can’t do this to me while I’m across the country…”

“Why not?” Sasuke loved having the upper hand, hearing how much he had an effect on Naruto. Then faux confidence from before was replaced with the feeling of lust… the idea alone of hearing Naruto all breathy like that, from his doing was addicting. “I like the idea of teasing you.”

He heard Naruto take another breath before asking, “Are you sure you want to do this?”

It was sweet, sweet that he was considerate which was kinda funny, it’s not like they hadn’t seen each other naked before, pressed against each other. Heard one another gasp and moan into each other's mouths as they grasped onto one another, shaking from mindblowing orgasms.

Sasuke couldn’t think of anything he’d want to do more than this.

Well, actually having Naruto in his bed was something he wanted more but this was the closest he was going to get.

“Of course,” Sasuke said breathily, his hands sliding down his side, stopping at the waistband of his own pants. Each brush of his fingers made the skin beneath them send small little shocks up his spine, imaging it was Naruto’s own fingers. “Do you want to do this?”

“God, yes.” Naruto practically whimpered out. “You don’t know how much I think about this… about you.”

Sasuke felt his heart flutter, “I think about you all the time…” Sasuke mumbled as he continued to slide down his pants, his boxers quick to follow. “I think about the way I looked down at you, gasping as I slid down onto your cock.”

His own words sent thrills through his veins, the heat pooling and going right to his groin. He could hear a soft gasp from Naruto, he’d kill to see the look in his eyes. “Tell me more, Sas.” It was more of a plea than a demand.

“Do you know how many times I’ve thought of pushing you up…” Sasuke could barely get the words out himself as he took a hold of himself, slowly stroking. Every stroke, each twist of his hand was filled with desire. “Against a wall,” He gasped, “and dropping to my knees in front of you.”

“The thought of you looking up at me and my hands going in your hair…” He could hear Naruto hum as he tried to keep himself quiet. “I don’t know if I can contain myself when I get home…”

Sasuke swallowed, he felt butterflies fluttering in his stomach and he wasn’t sure if it was out of excitement or anxiety. He wanted to just rip the bandaid off, pushing Naruto on the bed and having his way with him but he was just so stuck on it being perfect.

“Don’t then.” Sasuke bit his lip, moving his face closer to his phone. His pace quickened up, grasping his length a little bit tighter, allowing that raw desire to take over. “I need you, I need to feel you gasp into my neck when you're close.”

Dirty talk was so out of character for Sasuke but something about Naruto, it changed a lot of things. He just felt more confident with him, like he could be anyone he wanted and Naruto wouldn’t judge him.

He’d encourage him. He’d support him in any aspect of his life. He helped build Sasuke up into another version of himself that Sasuke was even more proud of.

He was always confident and secure but… Naruto made it go to a whole other level.

“I can give you more hickies that I know you love so much.” Naruto teased him and Sasuke wanted to deny it and not give him the satisfaction, but he was right. He did like the idea of Naruto giving him sweet little love bites even if it meant he needed to learn how to cover them up.

Or wear turtle necks…in the Florida heat. Totally not obvious whatsoever.

“Please…” Sasuke wanted to punch himself in the face with how desperate he sounded, it felt even more out of character and almost pathetic. He could hear the blonde chuckle on the other end at the fact he wasn’t denying it.

“I knew you liked it.” He could just imagine that stupid little smirk, the one that curled onto his lips as he made Sasuke feel all bashful. “I bet you’d like it when I whisper things in your ear telling you just how good you’re making me feel.” Sasuke felt himself getting closer, “How much I need you,” Sasuke gasped, losing the entire upper hand he’d had earlier. “Fuck, Sas” Naruto groaned, sending shocks up Sasuke’s spine. “I’m so close.”

Sasuke felt himself blushing, arching his back and thrusted into his own hand, wishing it was Naruto. “Me too, Naru…”

There was that damn nickname again.

And that feeling, the feeling that made Sasuke all warm and fuzzy. Things he’d never felt before, not with any one of his past partners. Love and lust. He was feeling all of this, feeling so connected to Naruto and he wasn’t even in the room with him. Someone who was 1,471 miles away from him and he’d never felt so close to someone. So consumed by the man he was in love with.

If he was feeling this way just with phone sex, how could he survive the real thing?

He heard Naruto’s muffled moans, imagining the way he was probably biting his own hand to keep himself quiet. The thought of that was enough to make that wave of emotions and feelings crashing through him, bringing him to his own climax.

The two were quiet for a moment, the only thing they could hear was breathing between the two of them as they came down.

The realization of what they’d just done had dawned on Sasuke. They really just had phone sex all because they were sexually frustrated and missed each other… before even having real sex since after their one night stand. He began chuckling, embarrassed by the fact that they’d actually done that.

How was he supposed to survive the next few days without Naruto actually in his bed?

“That was fun.” Naruto seemed content, a mix of pride in his voice. “When I called you, this is not what I expected to come out of tonight.”

Sasuke shook his head, rolling over to look at his phone. Naruto’s contact photo was a picture of him holding Manda, the cat's face pressed against Naruto’s cheek, grinning widely as the cat was basically glaring at Sasuke while he took the photo. He smiled, his cheeks still flushed, “Yeah, me neither.”

“I guess I should call you more.” Naruto chuckled, making Sasuke roll his eyes.

“I told you I’m a bad texter.” Sasuke teased him back before sighing, “How many days til you get back?” He asked, trying his best to hide the sound of urgency in his voice.

“Two days.”

Those were the longest two days of Sasuke’s life. He was going stir crazy and all he could think about was kissing Naruto the minute he’d walked through his door. Fulfilling all of the promises they’d made to do with one another.

All expectations that he’d worried about before were quickly washed away the minute he saw the blonde grinning at him in the doorway of his front door.

He barely was able to say hello with the way Sasuke quickly shut his apartment door, pushing Naruto up against the door and frantically pressing his lips into Naruto’s. Naruto was surprised but quickly regained his composure as he moved his hands onto Sasuke’s waist, gripping him and pulling him closer.

Sasuke’s body was pinning Naruto against the door as he wrapped his arms around Naruto’s neck, pulling him in for a deeper kiss. Their lips clashing with one another as they desperately tried to get as close to the heat and desire Sasuke yearned for, for so long now. He felt himself grinding against him, doing his best to get any kind of friction.

Sasuke disconnected their lips, only to remove their shirts before immediately diving back, his teeth grazing Naruto’s bottom lip before connecting their lips into a bruising kiss. Sasuke was drunk on it, drunk on the feeling of Naruto, from the smell of his cologne to the feeling of his skin and the universe he calls his eyes. He was lost in him and he never wanted to leave.

He was putting his all in Naruto’s hands, trusting him with every fiber of his being. As he relished in the feeling of adoration and inclination, he was coming to terms with just how in love he was with this man. He knew he loved him but he never knew the depth… until now.

This was it, this was the man he was going to marry.

Sasuke should have known it the moment he laid eyes on him. The day he’d walked into that mess of a classroom or the time Naruto fixed all the things in his classroom without Sasuke asking.

He disconnected his lips from Naruto’s, trailing kisses down to his neck. Sasuke felt one of Naruto’s hands slide up his body and to his hair, intertwining his fingers through the strands and playing with his hair gently. “Hello to you too.” Naruto let out an amused breath before shuddering as Sasuke bit down. “I should leave more often if this is the treatment I’m gonna-”

“Don’t.” Sasuke huffed against his neck before biting down a little harder making Naruto gasp. His hands slid down Naruto’s torso before sliding his fingers to his waistband. He didn’t recognize this possessive side or desperate side of himself but he wasn’t going to worry about that right now.

“Don’t worry,” Naruto whispered as Sasuke lifted his head, making eye contact with Naruto. Naruto licked his bottom lip and took it between his teeth, drinking in the sight of Sasuke. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Sasuke slid down to his knees, his hand sliding from his chest to the indentations of his abs before landing right on his waistband. He was doing exactly what he promised and let that sense of urgency take over, pulling down Naruto’s ugly orange shorts and boxers along with them, making them drop to his ankles. Naruto’s eyes followed his every movement as Sasuke’s fingers wrapped around the blonde’s hardening length.

Sasuke licked his lips before placing his tongue on the head of Naruto’s cock, swirling around on the tip before swallowing all of Naruto, giving his lover everything he was craving.

Sasuke was obsessed. He needed Naruto to look at him with those hazy eyes all the time. He needed to hear the praises and give him the soft touches he’d given him while he bobbed his head up and down, enveloping the entirety of Naruto’s cock.

“F-Fuck…” Naruto’s head leaned back against the door with a soft thud, both of his hands making their way into Sasuke’s hair gracefully. He felt the tips of Naruto’s fingernails lightly brush against his scalp making him hum against Naruto. “Just like that, my love.”

The tenderness in his voice as he uttered those little words sent a wave of fleeting emotions straight through him. It was a drug and he needed an unending supply of it.

Sasuke’s tongue danced around the sensitive tip of Naruto’s cock, licking teasingly slow from the base back to his tip. He used one of his hands to steady himself on Naruto’s hip while taking his free hand to Naruto’s balls, massaging them in his hand.

He could hear the blonde's breathing become heavier, shaking beneath Sasuke’s touch.

“If you keep going like this, I won’t be able to have enough energy to fuck you.”

Sasuke stopped for a moment, Naruto still in his mouth as he debated. On one hand, he could keep going and let Naruto finish… or he could stop and let Naruto drag him into his bedroom.

Naruto chuckled, feeling the hesitation from him as Sasuke took his mouth off his length with a pop. “Stand up, I want to feel you around me.” He had that adorable grin sat right on his lips as he looked down at Sasuke.

Sasuke had other plans, as much as he loved the idea of it.

Sasuke looked up from his place on his knees in front of Naruto, a smirk on his lips. Naruto raised a brow and tilted his head, “We both know you’d still have enough energy even if I made you cum right now.”

The look on Naruto’s face was priceless with wide eyes and parted lips, surprised by the words that’d come out of Sasuke’s mouth. Hell, Sasuke was surprised himself but he couldn’t help it. He was so eager to please, he wanted to hear more of Naruto’s gasps and watch as he closed his eyes in pure bliss.

To get more of that addicting drug.

Naruto nodded, giving no fight whatsoever and leaning himself back against the door once again allowing Sasuke to take him back into his mouth.

Sasuke knew he’d eventually get his turn but this was about Naruto. He wanted to show him how much he missed him, how much he truly wanted him. Sasuke looked into Naruto’s eyes, his face tilted slightly up as he lazily stuck his tongue out, placing it on the bottom part of Naruto’s tip. He took his tongue, swiping a stripe up to the head and tasting that salty liquid of precum.

He was always good at putting on a show for Naruto.

“Sas…” Naruto’s eyes were wide as he looked down at the sight, watching as Sasuke slowly traced circles with his tongue. His fingers went back into Sasuke’s hair, playing with it as Sasuke closed his eyes and took the rest of Naruto’s length in once again, his tongue dancing on the base of him. “You have no idea what you’re doing to me…”

Sasuke had a feeling he knew because Naruto was doing the exact same to him.

Sasuke quickened his pace as Naruto muttered sweet little praises, telling him he was making him feel so good or uttering little compliments on how Sasuke looked.

He could listen to Naruto’s mixture of curses and praises all night. Feel the way Naruto trembled as he was brought closer and closer to that pure bliss he knew the blonde was craving. That release that only Sasuke could bring him to.

So he kept doing that, he kept bringing him right to that edge before slowing down. Every time Sasuke did it, he’d hear the cutest whine from the blonde.

“Sas, please…” He whined, “You’re killing me here.” Sasuke hummed softly as he cupped Naruto’s balls once again, massaging them as he continued to tease Naruto. He just couldn’t help himself.

Then, Naruto tried a different strategy. “My love, if you keep teasing me like this…” Naruto swallowed, his eyes tightly shut and his head pressed back against the door. “Fuck…” He groaned, his hand getting tighter in Sasuke’s hair. “You’re so going to regret this when I fuck you later.” His voice went an octave lower filled with desire and mix of desperation.

As tempted as Sasuke was to bring him close once again just to make Naruto whine more time… he was craving feeling Naruto against his skin, more than just being between his legs. He needed to feel Naruto pressed against him, caressing the side of his body as he thrusted into Sasuke.

“I’m so close, baby…” Naruto uttered before biting his lip. Sasuke had to hold back that temptation of messing with Naruto one more time, it grew more and more when Naruto arched his back off the door, pushing further into Sasuke’s mouth.

Sasuke looked up at Naruto as he’d brought him over the edge. It was a godly sight, better than he’d remembered that night. He was so beautiful with his eyes shut and gasping loudly with those flushed cheeks of his. His hair stuck to his forehead from sweat and the rest of his tan skin glistening under the dim lights of Sasuke’s apartment.

Sasuke swallowed, savoring every last drop of the salty liquid happily before swirling his tongue one last time on the tip of his length before slowly departing his lips from Naruto. Naruto was panting as he came down from his high, watching Sasuke’s every move as he rose up from his knees.

Innocently smiling at his boyfriend.

His boyfriend.

“I don’t think I’ve ever came that hard from just a blow job.” Naruto slurred out, drunk on his own lust, his hazy eyes making contact with Sasuke’s own passion filled ones.

Sasuke chuckled as he watched Naruto place his hands on both sides of himself on the door, like he was bracing himself. “That good, huh?” Sasuke was filled with pride as he teased him. Naruto let out a small and breathy chuckle, his chest still rising up and down slowly.

“You know, I’m so getting you back when I come down from this.” Naruto muttered, a smirk crawling on his lips. Sasuke blinked as he was coming down from his own ego trip, the realization setting in that Naruto was serious.

“You know…” Sasuke backed up, his innocent smile still on his face. “You don’t have to do that.” Naruto gave him an amused smirk as Sasuke continued to back up. Sasuke made it to the entrance to the hallway that led to his room, watching his boyfriends eyes following each step he made.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.” Sasuke laughed nervously before biting his bottom lip. That evil smirk on Naruto’s face told Sasuke that this was going to be a long night for him.

One where he won’t be able to walk tomorrow.

Naruto’s eyes followed Sasuke’s movement as he kicked off the shorts that laid around his ankles. “For sure.” Naruto said casually, pushing himself off Sasuke’s front door. “I don’t have to do it.” He mocked Sasuke as he walked towards him.

The two men both grinning as Naruto got closer. Once he stepped into the proximity of Sasuke, he grabbed Sasuke’s hand before leaning in to peck his cheek. It was innocent, like an apology for what Sasuke was going to endure.

“Wanna show me to your room?” Naruto leaned in, whispering into Sasuke’s ear. “Mr. Uchiha?” Sasuke closed his eyes as he felt little goosebumps go down his arms, nodding slowly as Naruto’s breath tickled his ear. With Naruto’s free hand, he gently placed a finger on Sasuke’s chin, pulling him to face the blonde. “Good.” Naruto had that cheeky grin before placing a soft kiss on his lips.

Sasuke swallowed back any smart retorts that he wanted to say and looked at Naruto with the same innocent eyes he’d had earlier before leading him down the hallway. He felt the burning desire of Naruto’s eyes scanning his body behind him as they made it to his closed door.

Naruto had been in Sasuke’s room a couple of times, mostly to find something or when Sasuke actually showed Naruto around his apartment.

Never longer than ten minutes maybe.

Sun peaked into Sasuke’s room, casting an orange glow on the two men as they smiled into their kisses, soft laughs as they accidentally clinked their teeth together because they simply couldn’t stop smiling. Clothes were discarded as they fell onto his bed and fell into one another.

They were in their very own sunlit tryst, a place Sasuke could bask in forever. The warmth of Naruto, not only physically but emotionally. Naruto had proved he really was the human form of whatever godlike being Sasuke had thought Naruto was the first moment he’d laid eyes on him.

He was real and he was Sasuke’s.

They laid on Sasuke’s bed as Naruto’s hands explored every inch of Sasuke’s body. Finger’s sending soft little flames as he’d studied all of Sasuke’s features as if he was trying to memorize them. His hands traced from Sasuke’s neck to the sides of his body, with delicate little touches.

It’d been the first time Sasuke was able to really touch Naruto’s arms in a way that wasn’t platonic and god he was so thankful for it. He’d taken his own hand and rubbed down Naruto’s shoulder to his bicep, taking his time to admire it and how all of this belonged to Sasuke. That no one else would ever get to feel Naruto as intimately as he got to.

“What’s going through your head?” Naruto asked softly, still caressing Sasuke’s sides. Each touch branding his skin with words like ‘you’re mine’ and ‘you’re the love of my life.’

“The first time I saw you, I noticed your arms.” Sasuke admitted, earning a laugh from Naruto. “And your eyes… but mostly your arms.”

Naruto readjusted himself, one of his arms resting above Sasuke’s shoulder as he propped himself up to look directly into Sasuke’s eyes. Sasuke sucked in a sharp breath, looking directly into Naruto’s hazy eyes once again with a grin on the blonde's face.

“I saw your brooding face.”

“I was not brooding!”

“You were brooding.” Naruto shook his head with a wide smile as Sasuke pouted. He took his free hand and grazed Sasuke’s body again, slipping it lower and lower until it landed on his waist. “I saw you standing up as a groomsman.” Naruto whispered, his hand making its way to Sasuke’s length, dragging his finger down the base before grasping it. “I knew I was going to make my way over, any excuse.”

“Any excuse?” Sasuke hummed as Naruto stroked him slowly, each stroke achingly slow as heat pooled into his hardening length. Naruto gazed into Sasuke's eyes for a moment, watching with pure fascination and admiration, like this was where he belonged. They both belonged right here, in this moment together.

“And when I walked over to that table where you were brooding,” Naruto said with an amused tone that earned a huff from Sasuke. “It was the moment I knew,” He licked his lips before leaning down and pressing soft kisses down Sasuke’s neck as he quickened his strokes. “I had to have you, that I wanted you and I’d do anything to make you mine.” He breathed against his neck.

Sauske’s eyes fell closed and let out a shaky breath. He was almost jealous Naruto knew exactly what he wanted before him, that it took him one glance and he knew. Naruto was persistent but patient and Sasuke fought it.

He was worried about ruining their friendship, ruining the light in his life.

When Sasuke finally realized that he couldn’t imagine not letting that sunshine fully engulf him.

“Fuck…” Sasuke bit his lip, stifling his own gasp as Naruto made his way lower, pressing a kiss against his chest then to his stomach, each kiss setting his skin ablaze. “You… definitely got me.” He shuddered, feeling the warmth of Naruto’s chuckling as he made his way down, landing just above his length.

“Hell yeah, I did.” Naruto let out another breath before giving Sasuke’s tip a soft kiss. The blonde sat up, his knees weighing down the mattress between Sasuke’s legs. “Where’s the lube, my love?”

“You assume I have some?” Sasuke opened his eyes, a teasing smirk was met with a knowing look on Naruto’s face. “Maybe I don’t.”

“Yeah? Someone who was practically begging for me to fuck him when were on the phone a couple of nights ago, doesn’t have lube?” Naruto was mocking him and Sasuke didn’t like it.

Okay, maybe he did.

“I was not begging.” Sasuke huffed, “Bedside table, top drawer.” He muttered, pointing toward the table with a bashful smile. He hated the way Naruto could both make him feel so confident at times but then at other times so shy.

“At least we’re being honest about something.” Naruto let out a chuckle that made Sasuke roll his eyes as Naruto walked over and opened the drawer, raising a brow. “Awe, a new bottle? Did someone go shopping?”

“Shut up.” Sasuke huffed again, turning his head to hide that grin he had. Naruto fumbled with the plastic on the bottle quickly tossing it to the side. Once again, his knees pressed down into the sheets. Sasuke sucked in a breath as he looked up to see Naruto biting his lip, looking down at Sasuke’s lower half.

He used his hand to push Sasuke’s leg to the side, giving him more access. The carnal desire in Naruto’s eyes was something Sasuke fantasized about often but it was so much different seeing it in person made, it made everything feel more real.

And the real thing was way better than his fantasies.

Sasuke covered his mouth with his hand, stifling a sigh as he felt Naruto’s slicked finger wet with lube slide slowly into his entrance. He could feel Naruto’s eyes on him, watching every little movement, every breath he’d taken.

When Naruto slid in another finger as he slowly stretched Sasuke, he felt a gasp slip through his fingers as he continued to muffle himself. His eyes fell closed as burning desire stirred inside of him, feeling as Naruto brushed against the bundle of nerves. When Naruto felt Sasuke clench around him, he curled his fingers hitting that bundle of nerves head on.

“Ah… fuck…” Sasuke muffled out, biting the top of his index finger as he continued to try and keep quiet. Naruto chuckled softly as he took his free hand and placed it on Sasuke’s stomach, slowly caressing his body. His fingers delicately brushed down his body to his side as Naruto quickened his pace as he hit that sensitive spot.

“Don’t be coy with me now, Sas.” Naruto teased, an obvious smirk on his face. “What happened to that confident man who pushed me against your door and edged me?” His tone dripped with lust as he continued keeping the same pace with his fingers before adding a third. “I wanna hear all your pretty moans and hear you scream my name.”

Sasuke gasped, feeling himself teetering that edge with each pump of his fingers hitting his prostate that felt like mini explosions threatening to fully push him off that edge. He kept his hand pressed against his mouth, still keeping himself from being a muttering mess of curses and almost confessions.

Every emotion and sensation Sasuke was feeling were things he’d never felt before. Every touch felt more sensitive and every word Naruto uttered sent warmth through his entire body.

Sasuke had slept with men before but something about Naruto made him stand out from the others.

The difference was the fact Sasuke had actually fallen in love with this man.

Naruto’s pace had gotten slower, stretching his fingers a few more times before sliding them out entirely, earning a loud and embarrassing whine from Sasuke. Naruto let out what felt like a patronizing laugh that made Sasuke let out an irritated breath.

Naruto climbed up, aligning himself at Sasuke’s entrance as he looked down at the man beneath him. Sasuke opened his eyes, looking up at Naruto who’d been scanning Sasuke, his eyes taking in every feature of his. There was a look in Naruto’s eyes, a look of awe and something else Sasuke just couldn’t pinpoint.

It was a look that he’d never seen from a partner he’d been intimate with. It seemed as if Naruto was fascinated in him, like he was the only thing that ever existed.

The sun seeped in through the windows, casting a soft orange glow on his tan skin. Illuminating him like he was under a spotlight in a theater. The curls in his blonde hair seemed even brighter as if the glow from the sun was coming from him.

The both of them gasped at the same time as Naruto slid into him slowly, allowing time for them to both adjust to the feeling. To the feeling of being submerged and blanketed by heat. Naruto leaned down, propping himself up as he shifted to get a better angle to look into Sasuke’s eyes.

Naruto gently grabbed Sasuke’s arm, slowly pulling it out of the way as he gently raised it above Sasuke’s head, intertwining their fingers. “I need to hear you.” Naruto whispered, “I want to be able to kiss you whenever I please and for you to do the same.”

“Naru,” That stupid nickname that Sasuke had a love/hate relationship with had slipped out in a breathy whisper. “I need you-”

Before Sasuke could even finish his sentence, Naruto thrusted into him, looking directly into his eyes. Sasuke wanted to get lost in that universe, orbiting around the sun with Naruto for the rest of his life. They were gasping and gripping one another’s hands tighter as Naruto kept a steady rhythm, his eyes half lidded and dusted with arousal.

Naruto adjusted himself again, swiveling his hips as he looked for the right angle. Sasuke arched his back as he felt Naruto brush against that spot, the spot Naruto was looking for. “I’m so glad you’re mine.” Naruto uttered, his head falling into the crook of Sasuke’s neck, this time thrusting directly into that bundle of nerves.

Sasuke cried out a moan, resting his head on Naruto’s shoulder. Sasuke rotated his hips, meeting every thrust with just as much passion and desire that Naruto was giving him, each one felt like unspoken confessions. “God, you feel so good.” Sasuke breathed into his shoulder, his mouth agape and teeth brushing against his skin. “Bite me…” Sasuke involuntarily whispered out.

Naruto let out another soft gasp against Sasuke’s neck before softly biting him and brushing his tongue against the little mark. Sasuke’s free hand went underneath Naruto’s arm and placed it on his shoulder, his nails digging in as he held him closer.

“You’re the only man for me, Sas.” Naruto whispered between little love bites he was giving Sasuke. “My everything.” He gasped against his neck as he quickened his pace, just as desperate to get as close as possible to Sasuke.

“Holy fuck Naruto…” Sasuke moaned out softly. He was addicted to his voice and the words he was saying. These sweet nothings, it was all just so intimate and unworldly experience Sasuke had never experienced.

Each thrust was filled with promises, his body telling Sasuke that he’d never leave. That this was where they belonged and Sasuke agreed. They belonged right here, in this bed intertwined in these sheets moaning one another's names.

Sasuke’s hands slid up Naruto’s arms making their way into his hair, his fingers tangling themselves in the blonde curls. Naruto let out a soft sigh, pressing his head back against Sasuke’s palm.

He placed his lips against Naruto’s tan skin, teeth grazing his neck before closing his lips, sucking the skin beneath. “My love…” Naruto uttered, his body trembling above him. “What are you doing to me?”

Sasuke traced his tongue from the little red mark he’d left up to Naruto’s ear. “Exactly what you’re doing to me, my love.” Sasuke whispered, his lips lightly feathering Naruto’s earlobe.

Those words shook both of them to their core, allowing the wave of emotions to crash over them. Naruto’s thrust became relentless, desperate to be as close as he possibly could. Their breathing got heavier, Sasuke’s moans louder and Naruto continued to whisper those sweet nothings about how he belonged to Sasuke.

How Sasuke had stolen his heart from the first time he glared at Naruto in his own classroom.

He knew what he wanted and boy, he got him.

“Naru,” Sasuke’s back arched into Naruto once again, feeling as his precum swiped against Naruto’s stomach. “F-fuck I’m so close.” Sasuke’s hands found their way to Naruto’s back, his nails scratching down him as Naruto held his sides, bruisingly tight.

They were both so close, so close to falling off that edge. Their sunlit tryst was filled with the sound of heavy breathing, loud groans and skin slapping against each other as they chased that wave both of them craved. The need to be consumed into one another, the love that was so close to being said out loud.

I love you.

God I’m so in love with you.

Please never leave.

Sasuke was the first to crash and burn, his body arching into Naruto’s with eyes tightly shut as his cum painted both of their stomachs. His body trembled beneath the flames of Naruto’s hand sliding to hold the small of his back while Naruto rolled himself right into that bundle of nerves. He could feel those blue eyes studying Sasuke, watching him as his own orgasm spilled through him.

Naruto’s head fell onto Sasuke’s shoulder, his breath tickling his skin. “Fuck…” He whispered, pressing his head into his neck, “I knew it’d be good…”

“But, not this good?” Sasuke let out a chuckle, the blonde quick to follow. “Yeah,” Sasuke’s breathing was heavy. “Me neither.”

Not that Sasuke ever imagined himself with anyone else – which he was sure he’d made very clear to Naruto – but this night, it ruined sex for him if he were to even try to sleep with another man.

Naruto had remembered every little touch and exactly which words to say to make Sasuke’s toes curl or grip into the blonde harder. Naruto had studied Sasuke like he was some kind of exam he couldn’t risk failing.

There was no way he would have ever failed.

Naruto slid himself out of Sasuke, both of them letting out a shaky breath as Naruto fell to Sasuke’s side. The two of them laid on their sides, onyx eyes meeting cerulean blue eyes once again.

Naruto’s fingers traced from Sasuke’s hip and up his sides before finding his hand. Their fingers intertwined, “I don’t think we’re gonna leave this bed today.”

“God, I hope not.”

When Monday came, Sasuke sat at his desk during his free period lesson planning. He should have done it the night before but he’d been… a little busy. Sasuke picked at the black turtle neck he was wearing, he’d been sweating to death in this Florida heat.

“Hey, long time no see!” Lily said, a big smile on her face as she walked (uninvited) into his classroom. They’d last seen one another on Christmas and Shisui had gotten her this expensive diamond necklace that was practically blinding him in the sunlight that peeked in through the blinds. “What are you doing wearing a turtle neck in 80 degree weather?”

“It was cold this morning when I got dressed.” He wasn’t lying, the morning low was around 65 degrees fahrenheit but it wasn’t the reason he’d chosen this outfit.

“Layers.” Lily crossed her arms. She’d been completely oblivious which Sasuke was grateful for.

Until, his idiot blonde boyfriend walked in.

He was wearing a dark blue turtle neck that he’d borrowed from Sasuke’s closet. Naruto had spent the night but they didn’t carpool together out of fear of being caught by other staff or students.

“Hey Sas!” Sasuke had asked Naruto to not call him that at work but clearly he wasn’t thinking with his dumb little brain. “I can’t log in to EloSchools,” Naruto walked into the classroom. Lily’s skeptic eyes followed his every movement, eying him up and down. “Can I use your password so I can print out some worksheets?”

Sasuke let out a sigh as he grabbed a sticky note, quickly jotting down his password. “Here.” Sasuke muttered, looking down at his desk, avoiding Lily’s judgmental eyes.

And to make matters worse, Naruto looked over his shoulder watching to see if any students or faculty were in range of Sasuke’s open door. When the coast was clear, Naruto leaned down and pressed a soft kiss on the top of Sasuke’s head, instantly making the man blush. “Thanks, love,” Sasuke didn’t know if his face could get any brighter. “I’ll see you tonight.”

Lily smirked at Sasuke as Naruto walked out of the room, leaving the two teachers alone. Sasuke still hadn’t looked up at her but he could see her in the corner of his eye. “Oh, it was cold this morning?” She mocked.

“Shut up.”

————————————————————————

It was a sparkling summer, full of golden daylight. His life had changed so much over the last school year. It’d almost been a year since he’d met Naruto and his life had been changed for the better.

Sasuke normally opted out of going on these trips his family made every year but this year, he’d brought Naruto on all of them. From Disney trips, Universal trips and beach house trips.

Naruto had the time of his life at Disney, taking pictures with almost every cast member. Sasuke hated the crowds and loudness but Naruto loved it and he loved Naruto.

Naruto dragged him to Disney even without his family, they’d become passholders and Sasuke was dreading it. He’d been to Orlando so many times in June that he'd practically memorized the roads at this point.

And don’t even get Sasuke started on the family beach house trips his parents did. Trips. As in multiple. With every single member of the family crammed into a beach house in both July and August.

His mother loved doing them and again, he loved his mother.

Sasuke usually got sucked into only one of them but his father insisted that he and Naruto come to the second one.

He swore his father was more excited than he was.

Fugaku and Naruto got along so well, watching them exchange football stories and watching the preseason games all from the beach house.

Sasuke watched and sat from the dining table as Naruto and his father yelled at the TV. As much as he loved seeing Naruto get along with his father, how the hell did he fall in love with a sports meathead?

This meant he was gonna have to go to EVERY superbowl party his parents hosted.

Fugaku called Naruto more than he called his own son, just to talk about the draft or whatever the fuck it was. One day a few months ago, Sasuke and he had sat on Naruto’s couch as Sasuke read quietly with Naruto’s feet on his lap having a relaxing day when suddenly his wonderful father called Naruto to talk about how crazy some trade was and Naruto laughed loudly with him.

To say Sasuke was bitter about his father ruining the peace and quiet was an understatement.

Itachi sat next to him, holding Miko, named after their mother. Izumi, Lily and his mother all laid out by the pool as Shisui took a (very loud) phone call upstairs.

“When does this vacation end?” Sasuke whispered to Itachi, earning a chuckle from his brother. He’d cherished all the family time but there was a reason he’d only done one trip with them during the summer and didn’t go to the others.

But, Naruto and his father just seemed so happy. He’d seen his father smile and be cheerful before but this was on a whole other level. Similar to Sasuke, Naruto had brought a whole new light to his whole family.

Naruto was “the son he’d never had!”

His fathers words exactly.

The three Uchiha men pouted when Fugaku said that.

“Oh come on Sasuke, look at how happy they are.” Itachi was rocking Miko in his arms as she got a little fussy. “Why would you want this to end so soon?” Itachi teased him.

In all honesty, he’d really just wanted Naruto all to himself. He was really really REALLY happy that he’d gotten along so well with everyone. But, he was ready to take Naruto back to one of their places and snuggle without hearing a crying baby in the next room.

“This is the last trip of the summer… right?” Sasuke whispered toward his brother as the men in the living room jumped up and high fived one another. Sasuke let out a sigh as he took a sip of his beer. He hated the taste of the beer his father had but he drank all the ones he brought the night before and he wasn’t gonna spend the rest of this time sober. “I’m so grateful, I promise.”

“I can tell.” Itachi side-eyed him. “Yes, unless your boyfriend drags you to Busch Gardens next.”

“God, I hate amusement parks.”

“And I’m sure Naruto hates museums.”

Sasuke frowned, they’d both compromised for one another for sure. It had been one the busiest summers of Sasuke’s life and he didn’t entirely hate it but he would have been okay with Naruto laying in his arms as he read his book.

Some peace and quiet.

But, he knew if he truly wanted peace and quiet, he probably wouldn’t have picked Naruto.

The two men once again yelled and clanked their beers together, cheering about some play their team made. “They do realize these preseason games don’t matter right?” Itachi asked.

“It’s the Lions, Dad doesn’t care about that.” Sasuke rolled his eyes. He was just thankful he didn’t have to hear the football talk when he was alone with Naruto. Sasuke obviously would endure it but Naruto had enough decency to save it for Fugaku.

“You know, you’re gonna have to spend your weekends at Mom and Dads house during football season right?”

Sasuke snapped his head quickly, narrowing his eyes at Itachi. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“College plays on Saturdays and Sundays are NFL.” Itachi said it like he knew what he was talking about. “Dad is gonna want to see the Michigan games and Naruto will watch the Gator’s.” Itachi had a small smirk on his face, “When the Lions play and when… who’s Naruto’s favorite team?”

“Whatever Tampa is.” Sasuke barely remembered his fathers favorite team's name. “You’ll come too, right?” Sasuke gave him a hopeful look.

“No. Tell Uncle Sasuke I said no!” Itachi said as he cooed at Miko in a baby voice. “Good luck, brother.”

Sasuke let out a loud sigh, placing his elbow on the table as he put his chin in his hand. He was going to be closer to his parents than ever against his own will. His head whipped back toward his father and Naruto the minute he’d heard the words “Vases and Candles!”

Sasuke glared at Naruto who gave him a sheepish grin as Fugaku patted Naruto’s shoulder, still watching the TV, unaware – or purposely ignoring him, Sauske wasn’t entirely sure – that Sasuke was glaring at his idiotic boyfriend.

When it had gotten late enough for Sasuke to rip him away from Fugaku, the two laid in their bedroom. Naruto had laid his head on Sasuke’s lap as he slowly scratched Naruto’s scalp earning hums of approval.

Sasuke scrolled on his phone, reading a recent article that was published as Naruto broke their calming silence. “We need to tell my father about us.” Sauske paused, the fingers in Naruto’s hair freezing up and quickly locking his phone.

Telling his father would pop their little bubble they had at work. They’d have to have HR involved to sign some waiver, telling them that it’s consensual and blah blah. Which, in all honesty Sasuke didn’t have a problem with and it was only fair with how much time Naruto spent with his family.

“Okay.” Was all that Sasuke managed to get out.

Naruto frowned, sitting up from his comfortable position on Sasuke’s lap. “Is that a problem?”

“No.” Sasuke said, which clearly wasn’t enough by the expectant look from Naruto. “We’ll still hide it from students right?”

“Of course.”

“I’m fine telling Iruka,” Sasuke sighed, he didn’t entirely get what his problem was. “I guess… it’s just telling the faculty about us.”

Naruto had a small frown as he laid back down, laying on his stomach to look up at Sasuke. “I want the world to know you’re mine.”

Sasuke let out a shaky breath, he loved when Naruto said things like that. He still wasn’t entirely sure about popping their safe little bubble and making things more serious than they already were. Which didn’t make all that much sense because he was serious about Naruto.

His body and heart knew he wanted to be with Naruto forever. His emotions were strong and filled with so much devotion to the man in front of him, he dreamed of growing old and having maybe… another cat or something.

They hadn’t had the whole children conversation yet and that would have popped their little bubble even more if they didn’t agree on it.

“I love you.” Naruto whispered as he sat up slightly, pulling the blanket off that had covered Sasuke, revealing his legs and the boxers he’d been wearing. It had been the first time Naruto actually had said that he’d loved him regardless of the many times he’d called him “love.”

“What?” Sasuke asked, his eyes wide as Naruto climbed in between his legs, laying down on his stomach once again. “Did you say what I think you did?”

Naruto nodded, that cheeky grin he’d always had. “I love you, Sas.” Naruto leaned down, peppering the top of his left thigh with small kisses. “I knew from the moment you walked into my classroom telling me you weren’t having an affair with Lily.” Naruto laughed as he moved his way down to Sasuke’s inner thigh.

“What happened to ‘I know what the hook up was?’” Sasuke teased him, earning another laugh from Naruto as his hand reached up to grip Sasuke’s outer thigh. Sasuke bit back a gasp, trying to be as quiet as possible.

Naruto looked at him with those devious eyes that Sasuke loved so much before kissing farther up Sasuke’s thigh. “Mine.” He whispered against him before giving him a soft bite, then traced what felt like letters with his tongue. Mine. Sasuke closed his eyes, sinking his body down. Naruto gave him one last love bite before propping himself to crawl onto Sasuke, straddling himself onto Sasuke’s lap.

“Hi.” Sasuke whispered, a smile on his face as Naruto grinned at him. Naruto’s face was in such close proximity to his, feeling one another's breath on their lips.

“Hi.” Naruto whispered back before placing a soft kiss on his left cheek. “You…” Naruto placed another kiss a little lower still on the same cheek. “Feel,” Sasuke sucked in a soft breath, blushing from all the affection Naruto was giving him. “The same,” Naruto had kissed his nose before moving to his other cheek and kissed lower onto his neck before finishing his sentence. “Right, my love?”

Sasuke let out another shaky breath, shutting his eyes tightly. He could feel Naruto’s intense eyes on him as he lifted his head to look down at Sasuke. Sasuke opened his eyes and nodded, like he was at a loss for words.

“Tell me.” Naruto had that little smirk he’d always gotten when he realized exactly what he was doing to Sasuke.

“I do.” Sasuke was able to get out, but Naruto obviously wasn’t pleased with just that. One of Naruto’s hands had trailed down Sasuke’s chest, his own head soon to follow as he placed more kisses down his torso. As soon as he’d gotten lower, he dragged his tongue up Sasuke’s V-line. Sasuke's eyes watched the entire thing, sending electricity through his veins.

Sasuke had said those three little words in his head a million times. When Naruto would help his mother with whatever DIY project she couldn’t finish or when Naruto got in a debate with Shisui (and lost.) Even the times he watched Naruto yell at the TV with his father.

Sasuke tapped Naruto’s shoulder making Naruto look at him curiously. “Kiss me.” Sasuke whispered, a little too much vulnerability was evident in his voice for Sasuke’s comfort but he knew Naruto would understand.

Naruto quickly obliged, crawling back up to Sasuke. He hovered just above Sasuke, he could see Naruto scanning every little feature on his face. Sasuke was doing the same, like he’d done a thousand times before.

“I’m so utterly in love with you.” Sasuke swallowed nervously, it’d been such a long time he’d trusted someone to say those words. But, this was a different kind of feeling. Soulmate level feeling if that was something Sasuke believed in.

Which, Sasuke was starting to.

Naruto had a soft smile on his face before he placed both his hands on Sasuke’s face. They were looking into one another's eyes as he softly caressed his cheeks, his own hands falling down to Naruto’s hips as the blonde straddled him.

So many words had been exchanged just by looking into each other's eyes.

“Tell me again.” Naruto snickered, making Sasuke roll his eyes.

“I’m in love with you.” Sasuke felt his cheeks heating up along with Naruto’s. “Now, kiss me, you idiot.”

That night was filled with “I love you’s” being exchanged so many times Sasuke lost count. Mixed with quiet gasps and groans as they tried their best–and probably failed– to not keep anyone else up.

The two men didn’t get much sleep that night, along with Izumi and Itachi who had the room right next to them.

————————————————————————

To say Sasuke was terrified was an understatement.

Naruto had planned a group outing with all of his firefighter buddies at his godfather's bar while Suigetsu was working. Jugo had agreed to come to the bar (the place he worked) on his day off after just working a double the night before.

So not only was he anxious about meeting practically all of Naruto’s old team… He felt guilty bothering his two friends.

He’d invited Karin but she laughed him off the phone.

Lily and Shisui had done the same exact thing.

So there he was, staring in the mirror at his reflection imagining exactly how tonight was going to go.

He’s going to meet a bunch of buff men, some covered in tattoos and possibly homophobic because they lived in Florida. They were going to be loud and obnoxious with ego’s the size of Texas. He expected stereotypical Florida men who drive lifted trucks and make douchey comments about things they don’t try to understand.

Sasuke didn’t know anything about these guys. Sure, Naruto had talked about how great they were and some stories about calls they’d gone on.

Lily explained to Sasuke that they were decent people, that her father would never allow a bigot on his team. She’d told him his fears were valid but they were nothing like what he was thinking but Sasuke assumed she was biased because she had two family members in that specific station.

“You look good.” Naruto appeared behind him, the two of them looking at one another through the reflection. “Very casual.” He teased, with crossed arms and nodded with an amused smile.

Sasuke had changed three times, he couldn’t decide if what he was wearing was too formal or too casual. He’d landed on a pair of Naruto’s jeans and a Palm Fire hawks football T-Shirt. Everything in Sasuke’s own closet (aside from shirts he’d received from work) wasn’t entirely meant for casual functions.

He mostly had dress pants and polos for work, he’d had a few button ups but he felt those were just too formal as well. Sasuke didn’t own a pair of jeans and he wasn’t going to wear shorts on an outing that wasn’t just him and Naruto.

So this is what he had settled on.

Naruto on the other hand, had cargo shorts and a Taylor Swift Eras Tour shirt with the sleeves cut off and made into a makeshift muscle tanktop.

Sasuke tilted his head and raised a brow. Maybe his firefighter buddies weren’t homophobic if he was going to wear that… Or, maybe Naruto just didn’t care about being… bullied? Sasuke wasn’t entirely sure what to think, if his thoughts were either too mean or if Naruto was being stereotypical? Was it mean to say it was stereotypical? Either way, this was the last thing he expected to see the blonde wearing.

“What?” Naruto frowned at him.

“How much did that shirt cost?”

“She didn’t sell any muscle tank tops!”

“So you cut a $40 shirt?”

“Yeah.” Naruto shifted uncomfortably under Sasuke’s judgemental stare. “Okay fine! She did sell them, I bought all of them and then I bought a few T-shirts and cut the sleeves off! Okay!”

“I didn’t say-”

“I did it for Ariana too!” Sasuke blinked a few times and was baffled. Not even about him cutting the shirts but mostly about the fact he’s caving like Sasuke was interrogating him. Every time Sasuke went to say something, Naruto just kept spewing out word vomit. “Yes, I know it was a lot of money, I just like muscle tanks!”

“Okay.” Sasuke bit back a laugh, muscle tanks weren’t the only trend Sasuke was noticing. “It’s fine, Naru. Seriously.” Naruto pouted as Sasuke turned around with an amused smirk of his own this time. “I think it’s very cute how much you like your popstars.” He said teasingly as he lifted his hand up to pat Naruto’s cheek.

“I can cut one of your-”

“Absoulutely not.”

Naruto chuckled as he leaned in and gave Sasuke a chaste kiss. One of those kisses that you just can’t help but smile into.

Those were always Sasuke’s favorites.

“Are you ready to meet my family?” Naruto asked with a wide toothy grin, almost too pure for Sasuke’s heart to handle. They stood right outside of Jirayia’s and he could hear the loud voices from outside of the bar. He looked at himself one last time in the tinted windows, swallowing nervously.

He felt all of his teenage insecurities he’d suppressed years ago all coming up again. Was he cool enough to meet these people? Would they think he’s lame and nerdy? Hell, what if they tell Naruto he could do better?

Sasuke more than definitely was not ready but he didn’t have a choice. What was he gonna do? Not meet his partner's friends?

“Yeah,” Sasuke glanced at Naruto one more time before letting out a soft exhale. “I’m ready.” Naruto gave him a reassuring smile as he reached to intertwine their fingers, giving Sasuke a small squeeze.

He wasn’t sure if the butterflies that were fluttering in his stomach was anxiety or for the small gesture Naruto had done.

As the two went in, the bar was loud from the chatter of just his friends. There weren’t many patrons that weren’t firefighters and they all laughed loudly with one another. Sasuke’s shoes were sticking to the floor as the two men walked toward the crowd. All of the different conversations traveled around the bar as Sasuke took in the environment.

Suigetsu stood behind the bar talking to a brunette male that had a ponytail pulled to the back of his head. There’d been two women–which Sasuke admittedly didn’t picture–and three men, one of which was Lily’s brother Konohamaru.

The pink haired woman was yelling at Konohamaru, something about him cheating at pool and him fervently defending himself. The other brunette woman was taunting loudly at a man with long spiky hair all down his back.

Jugo hadn’t arrived yet and Sasuke stood there standing, watching in awe as he studied Naruto’s friends. From first glance, they were nothing like what Sasuke imagined. The only stereotype he’d gotten right was the loud and obnoxious part.

Just like Naruto.

Sasuke only knew them by last names from all the stories Naruto had told him and he wasn’t sure which name belonged to who.

“Uzumaki!” The brunette with long spiky hair yelled, making all the heads in the bar turn. Suddenly, all of them were yelling Naruto’s last name as the man who started it ran up to see them. “Uzumaki’s boyfriend!” He yelled loudly, a little too close to Sasuke’s ear.

“I’m Sasuke, nice to meet you.” Sasuke gave a polite smile before the man patted Sasuke’s shoulder blade a little too hard making him choke a little bit. Sasuke turned to look at Naruto with narrowed eyes as he watched his boyfriend bite back a laugh.

“This is Akimichi.” Naruto said as he let go of Sasuke’s hand. “He’s one of my frat brothers from college.”

“Choji works too.” He had just as wide of a grin as he gave Sasuke a little space. “I was going for Uzmaki’s lieutenant position to actually put that stupid degree to good use.” Naruto let out a scoff, “Hey! I could have got it!”

“Over Nara?” The pink haired woman said, walking with the brunette woman next to her. Both of them had curious eyes as they looked at Sasuke. The look wasn’t out of judgment but more like genuine curiosity. Before Choji could try and fight her words, she turned toward Sasuke. “So you’re the guy that Naruto met at the-”

“Haruno.” Naruto cut her off with a warning tone. “Let’s not talk about it.”

“Talk about what?” Sasuke asked, looking at Naruto with mischievous eyes. “What did you say about me?”

“Nothing that should be repeated.”

“Oh?”

“Hyuga!” Naruto awkwardly smiled and walked over to the brunette woman. Sasuke and Haruno both watched with amusement as Naruto deflected. “Have you met Hanabi yet?”

“Hi!” She said cheerfully, “We’ve only heard good things!”

“Really good things.” Haruno smirked at Sasuke. “Life changing things.”

“Haruno, you’re banned from seeing Sasuke again.” Naruto glared at her.

Naruto thought that night was just as life changing as he did. It was eye opening for both of them and when Sasuke saw Naruto standing in that teachers lounge–even if he ran away at first– it was that invisible string that brought them together. Sasuke gave Naruto a pleased smile before turning to talk to Naruto’s friends.

Jugo showed up and instantly got along with everyone too. Suigetsu and Jugo told embarrassing stories about Sasuke and Naruto’s friends had done the same.

He’d heard about how Shikamaru and Hanabi saved a woman from a fire but Naruto had saved her dog and how she thanked him a million times and didn’t thank the other two once. The time that Naruto and Inuzuka had gotten caught trying to prank their captain by trying to fill his office with five hundred balloons but Captain Sarutobi caught them by the time they’d gotten to fifty and were put on cleaning duty for a month.

Naruto had gotten to hear about the time Sasuke and Jugo were doing some chemistry experiment that Sasuke had found online inside of his parents garage. The experiment went horribly wrong AND Sasuke fell into a rack with a partially opened paint can that spilled all over his father’s car.

Sasuke still hears about it to this day.

“Uzumaki is as clumsy as you are, apparently.” Shikamaru looked between the two. Sasuke protested, fighting that he wasn’t clumsy… anymore. “Oh but you gotta hear this one.” The man took one last swig of his beer before asking Suigetsu for another one. “When Uzumaki first came to the station as a probie.”

“Oh come on do you really gotta tell him this story?”

“We were at a carwash that a car had gotten stuck in.” Naruto groaned loudly and covered his face with his hands as the others laughed. “Inzuka who was technically his superior at the time,” Shikamaru could barely get through his sentence. “Told him to follow him blindly into it.”

“You mean stupidly.” Sakura added.

“Stupidly.” Shikamaru corrected, drunkenly throwing his hand with his index finger in the air. “Into the running carwash because the staff couldn’t get it shut off and when we told them not to they didn’t listen.” Shikamaru side-eyed Naruto. “Not only did they get soaked, the two of them got grabbed by a hose that’d broken off the top of the sprayers and it wrapped them inside the wraparounds.”

“Ugh! Nara!”

“They got wrapped around the wraparounds.” Choji laughed boisterously, slamming his hand on the table he’d been sitting at.

Sasuke covered his mouth as he did his best not to laugh at his boyfriend's embarrassment as everyone else howled around them. He could only imagine the two men twirling around and around until they were able to get the carwash turned off.

“Wow.” Sasuke choked out before laughing loudly at Naruto. “And how did you become a lieutenant?” Sasuke asked as everyone laughed even louder.

“Alright, alright.” Naruto finally let out his own laughter. “I promise I was good at my job.”

“He was.” Shikamaru nodded, “But he was a little bit of an adrenaline junky before he became good.” Shikamaru slurred out.

Sasuke had stopped drinking awhile ago as everyone around them had spouses or friends who’d offered to pick them. He was Naruto’s involuntary designated driver. He hated driving Naruto’s truck but the way his boyfriend was slamming back beers, there was no way he was getting behind the wheel tonight.

“He was also a dumbass.” Choji added, earning agreement from everyone making Naruto playfully pout.

“He’s still a dumbass.” Shikamaru held his finger up again as he went to say more. “Inuzuka and Uzumaki were both dumbasses but they were an amazing team.”

“They were.” Konohamaru said as everyone quieted down. Sasuke noticed the vibe shift immediately, everyone looking down at their drinks with a sad smile. Sasuke turned to face Naruto, he had this blank look in his eyes, blinking a couple times before looking down himself. “Come on guys, Inuzuka would be so mad at us for being sad right now so lets cheers to big man!”

The rest of the night went on fine as everyone chatted drunkenly and enjoyed themselves. Sasuke had given Naruto a few reassuring squeezes but Naruto was either too drunk to feel them or just not acknowledging them. Naruto hadn’t said much for the rest of the night and Sasuke was the only one to notice.

When the night came to an end Sasuke was able to meet everyone’s significant others and he ended up seeing Lily anyways as she pouted picking up both Konohamaru and Hanabi.

“Are you okay driving my truck?” Naruto asked, slinging an arm around Sasuke’s shoulders as he helped the very drunken man to his truck. It’d been the first thing he’d said since the whole Inuzuka comment. “We can take an Uber.”

“No, it’s okay.” Sasuke nodded, earning a small chuckle. “What?”

“You driving my truck.” Naruto slurred out as Sasuke got him to the passenger side door. “The last time you took it, you hit three curbs.”

Sasuke cringed, “I know, I was there.”

“Oh yeah.”

Sasuke let out a sigh as he helped the blonde up into his truck. He was surprised to see him this drunk, he wasn’t even this drunk the night of the wedding.

Well, they didn’t really have much time to get that drunk.

As Sasuke was driving home, Naruto had whined about holding Sasuke’s arm while he drove and normally Sasuke would have obliged but he was terrified and holding onto the wheel with a white knuckled grip.

Next time he goes out with Naruto’s friends, they’re taking his car.

“When we get home, can we make out?”

“Sure, Naru.” Sasuke could feel Naruto watching him as he drove. “We have leftovers so you can eat before you sleep.”

“But what happened to making out?” He whined, once again. Sasuke shook his head as he let out a few chuckles.

“After you eat.”

“Can we make out now?”

“I’m driving.”

“You’re no fun.” Naruto huffed, before turning to look out the window. He adjusted himself so he could lay on Sasuke’s shoulder as he drove. “My friends really liked you and I liked your friends.” He spoke softly, still slurring some of his words.

“I liked them too.” Sasuke nodded, a small smile creeping on his lips.

“Suigetsu is the ex you told me about, right?”

“Yeah.” Sasuke didn’t know where this line of questioning was going to get him. He’d told Naruto early on about Suigetsu. Suigetsu and him were best friends throughout high school and college and they’d dated towards the end of college for a year before deciding they were better friends than lovers and ended amicably. “Why do you ask?”

“He was really cool too, I see why you kept him around.” Naruto hummed softly, “But I could tell he really cares for you.”

“Are you jealous?” Sasuke joked, even if Naruto was, there was no reason to be. He was in love with this man and would tell him a million times if he asked… again.

“Jealous of a man you dated in college?” Naruto sat up as Sasuke pulled into his apartment complex. “Totally.” Naruto chuckled. “I could take that guy anyday.” Naruto held his arms up, striking what he probably thought was a cool pose, flexing his arms.

Sasuke’s point of view however, he’d just seen Naruto fumble around the truck hitting both the gear shift and the center console at the same time as he lazily flexed.

“I’m sure you can, Naru.” Sasuke bit back a laugh as he watched Naruto do… whatever he called that.

When they got back to his apartment Sasuke had helped Naruto and fed him the leftovers that Naruto made for dinner the other night for the two before taking him to bed. For the most part the blonde was quiet, as if he was deep in thought.

Naruto held onto Sasuke tightly, laying his head on his chest. Sasuke looked down at the top of Naruto’s head as he softly rubbed Naruto’s back.

“He was like a brother to me.” Naruto started. Sasuke gave a soft hum in acknowledgement, not entirely surprised by the fact Naruto was bringing it up. Naruto had talked about Inuzuka a lot, mostly just as stories but by the hurt in Naruto’s voice, Sasuke knew that wasn’t the case this time. “Him and I were more than a great team.”

Sasuke nodded, knowing words just wouldn’t help in this situation.

“The minute I walked into that station, he welcomed me like we were family. He helped me with so many things, from things like my father to heartbreaks and he encouraged me to go back and get my degree so I could become a lieutenant.” Naruto let out a shaky breath and gripped onto Sasuke’s side tighter. “He studied with me everyday and put me on track to be the next captain of our station the minute Sarutobi retired.”

“Naru…”

“I introduced him to Hinata and I was best man at their wedding.” Naruto scooted up, tucking his head into his neck. Sasuke shut his eyes tightly, brimming with tears as he felt his neck begin to get dripped on. “Then I had to be a pallbearer for my best friend and help fold the flag so it could be handed to his wife.”

The pain in Naruto’s voice was unbearable. If Sasuke could go back in time and erase any memory that caused his sunshine any pain, he would. He’d take all of Naruto’s hurt and give it to himself even if it meant he had to endure these awful things. Sasuke would sacrifice his own happiness just to make sure the man on top of him would never feel an ounce of pain again.

“I wish I could have saved him.” Naruto whispered again, his hand slowly reaching for Sasuke’s and intertwining their fingers. “He told me he saw so much of me in him… and I hope I’m just making him proud. He wouldn’t want me here crying over him and he’d be so pissed at me for quitting the station.”

“I’m sure he is proud of you.” Sasuke finally spoke up. “You are the most genuine and selfless person I’ve ever met in my life.” He tried his best to be soothing. “And I’m sure he would understand both of these things. You did what was right for you in the moment and he would be proud of you for setting boundaries for yourself and knowing what you can take.”

“Yeah,” Naruto mumbled. “He’d call me a dumbass but he’d get it.”

“I can call you a dumbass if you want.”

Naruto went quiet for a moment before looking up at Sasuke. He blinked a couple times before bursting out in a fit of laughter. Sasuke bit his lip, trying not to laugh but the blonde's laughter was contagious.

“Sasuke.” Naruto said as the laughing died down. His eyes were a lighter shade of blue than they normally were and his cheeks were stained with dried tears.

“Yeah?” Sasuke reached out his hand, placing it on his love's cheek. Naruto looked so beautiful, which felt awful to say in this circumstance but the way crying made his irises look as if they were a shiny ocean at the peak of the day.

Naruto was always beautiful.

“Inuzuka would have loved you.” Naruto gave him a sad smile as he leaned into Sasuke’s touch. “He would have been my best man at our wedding.”

“Oh, so we’re getting married now?” Sasuke gave Naruto that same teasing voice that he used to get before they started dating. Naruto rolled his eyes and gave him a knowing look. He’d done it to Sasuke hundreds of times.

“You’d be lucky to marry me.”

Yes, yes he would be. He wouldn’t say it now but they both knew.

“I love you, Idiot.”

“I love you too.”

————————————————————————

Naruto wanted to move in with Sasuke.

He had all the right reasons and it definitely made sense. They’d spent most of their time at one another’s places anyways. They could carpool to work now that the faculty was aware of their relationship.

They were in love and Sasuke knew it was time. Even if he was a little against the idea at first.

Mostly because Naruto’s taste in decor… was something else.

When they’d gotten their classrooms ready for the upcoming year, Sasuke almost forgot how bad he really hated Naruto’s ideas of a classroom. Naruto still called his classroom boring and Sasuke still called his classroom tacky.

They’d helped one another set up their classrooms, not without bickering about what the other should do.

Which was one of the reasons Sasuke was nervous about moving in with Naruto. The fact that he’d have to compromise was something he really was not ready for. He loved Naruto so much that he would do it, but he’d be doing it begrudgingly.

Plus, moving during the school year fucking sucked.

They’d agreed to start fresh, renting a house right in between both his parents and Naruto’s father. Finding a house in Clearwater was really hard, especially with both of their salaries. They’d both had money put away but it wasn’t entirely that much.

He didn’t like bothering his retired parents for money either, he was simply too proud for that.

Naruto was too.

They’d agreed that one day they’d save enough to actually buy their own home together but at this moment in time, it was fine to just rent.

“Oh god.” Sasuke looked down at Naruto’s box of frog related things and the amount of… Gator’s memorabilia. Did they really have to pick the ugliest shade of orange and blue together? “I love him, I love him.” Sasuke repeated to himself multiple times. He sucked in another sharp breath when he saw two gator head plush’s sticking out of another box.

“Regretting saying yes?” He heard Naruto’s taunting voice behind him. “It’ll go in the guest room.” Naruto walked up behind him, placing a hand on the small of Sasuke’s back. “But Albert and Alberta have to stay on the dresser in our room.”

They were going to have two gators staring at them while they slept.

“I love you.” Sasuke said it like he was reminding himself more than telling Naruto. “I really, really love you.” Naruto chuckled as he placed a kiss on the side of Sasuke’s head.

Other than the awful taste in decor, they’d built their sunlit tryst. Family photos from their vacations and selfies they’d taken with Naruto’s father had been lined up along the entry wall of their home.

Their home.

They’d found an even mix of contemporary and the colors Naruto had wanted. Sasuke picked the art that hung on the wall above their couch, a tasteful painting of trees glistening over the water in a forest and then Naruto got to pick the throw pillows…

“Naruto.” Sasuke laid his head on Naruto’s shoulder as the two browsed different websites to find decor. “You cannot get a pillow that has Will Smith photoshopped into Shrek for our living room.”

“Why?!”

Sasuke leaned up, giving him one of those ‘you’re joking right?’ looks.

“Fine, how about this one?” It was a black pillow with a chubby white and black cat that said ‘Huh?’ “It has a cat on it!”

Sasuke sucked in a sharp breath, he couldn’t believe he allowed Naruto to decorate their home at all. “Fine.”

So Sasuke’s brown leather couch had some meme cat–Naruto had explained it was some TikTok thing– that laid on each side of their couch.

There’d been a few times Sasuke had walked into their kitchen as Naruto was cooking, playing loud pop music on their bluetooth speaker Shisui had gifted them. Naruto was the main one who used it and sang loudly along.

Sasuke didn’t hate this part of living with Naruto, it was actually one of his favorites.

Sasuke walked in as Naruto chopped vegetables as he swayed his hips to the beat of whatever Ariana Grande song was playing. Sasuke wasn’t sure which one because he swore they all blended in together which offended Naruto greatly as she was one of his favorite artists.

“Hey Sas!” Naruto beamed in the direction of him. He turned his attention back to his cutting board as Sasuke walked over to him, leaning on the counter next to Naruto. “How was shopping with Lils today?” Naruto asked as he leaned in, giving him a peck on the cheek real quick.

Naruto really did make a nickname for everyone. Shi, Tachi, Mimi and Lils. He didn’t make one for his parents out of respect.

“It was fun,” Sasuke shrugged. “She talked my ear off about some fight that she and Shisui got into.”

“And whose side were you on?”

“Shisui’s.” Sasuke let out a small laugh. “But to Lily, I was on her side.” Naruto rolled his eyes, they both knew it was just better to take her side right or wrong.

“Thank god when we fight, we make up quickly.” Sasuke rolled his eyes at Naruto’s words. “I mean, the last time you got mad at me for leaving my students homework out and they got mixed with yours-“

“It ended with a screaming match.” Sasuke pouted, remembering it very well. It took them hours to figure out which student was whose and which belonged to each class. It was a fucking nightmare.

“Actually.” Naruto placed the knife down on the cutting board and turned to face Sasuke. “It ended with me fucking you, up against that wall.” Naruto pointed at the wall on the other side of the kitchen. Sasuke sucked in a sharp breath, his face becoming a bright scarlet color. “Not that I like you getting mad at me,” Naruto scooted closer to Sasuke. “But watching you all pissed and yelling at me, it’s hot.”

“Shut up.” Sasuke huffed, “I’m sure you’ll mess something up and I’ll yell again.”

“Oh I’ll mess something up?” Naruto said playfully, chuckling at him. Naruto was getting really good at pushing Sasuke’s buttons and he figured out exactly why he wanted to. “And when I do, I’ll get to bend you over something else.” Naruto whispered as he leaned over to kiss Sasuke softly.

Sasuke let out a small huff before grabbing his arm and pulling Naruto over to him making it easier for Naruto to kiss him. Even with the nature of their conversation, it’d been an innocent kiss. One of those kisses that told one another that they loved each other.

That Naruto missed him even if Sasuke had been gone for only a couple of hours.

And Sasuke missed him too.

Sasuke let out a small laugh as Naruto placed soft kisses all over Sasuke’s face. From his cheeks, to his nose and forehead. “Stop! Naru!” Sasuke said between what sounded like giggles as he was showered in affection.

Which he would deny happened if anyone ever asked.

Naruto chuckled as he pressed a few more kisses on Sasuke’s cheeks and then gave him one last peck on his lips. Sasuke looked up at Naruto, with cheeks dusted with pink and an adoring smile.

There was nowhere he’d rather be than this, in their home and in their kitchen holding one another in their arms. The smell of the floral candle that Sasuke had bought Naruto, surrounded by Naruto’s cheesy wall art of foxes and frogs and his ugly utensils that also had frogs that Naruto brought from his home.

God, he hated Naruto’s taste but this was a part of the man he loved so he’d have to learn to live with this too.

As much as he thought it was ugly.

“This song reminds me of you.” Naruto whispered as another one of Ariana Grande’s songs played. “It’s called moonlight.” He said as he took a few steps back.

“Moonlight?” Sasuke felt his cheeks heat up more, turning into a scarlet color.

“Because you remind me of the moon, so beautiful and so necessary to the world.” Naruto whispered as he grabbed Sasuke’s hand and pulled him off the counter. One hand held Sasuke’s hand as the other slid around his waist. “That even at night, you illuminate the world and give guidance, that the world would cease to exist without you.”

Sasuke sucked in a sharp breath, looking the love of his life in the eyes as they swayed back and forth slowly in their kitchen. He’d never told Naruto that he called him the sun. He’d never voiced his thoughts of how he was the sunshine in his life.

Sasuke was the moon and Naruto was the sun.

The sun and moon needed one another.

“You think of me as the moon?” It was Sasuke’s turn to smile widely, something that he’d rarely done.

“Of course.” Naruto beamed back, “I thought it the day I met you.”

“Shut up.”

“I’m sorry?”

“No, sorry.” Sasuke shook his head, both of them chuckling as they continued to slow dance. “I always call you the sun, in my head.” Naruto looked down, a shy smile as he shook his head. “I think I even compared us to a total solar eclipse the first time we hooked up.” Among other things, he wasn’t going to voice those ever.

“A total eclipse huh?”

“I was drunk and you were hot.” Sasuke huffed as Naruto leaned in and pressed a soft kiss on his neck. Sasuke let out a couple of laughs as his lips tickled him. “You’re still hot.”

“You’re still hot.” Naruto teased, breathing against neck. “You don’t even want to know the things,” Naruto placed sloppy kisses in between earning a hum from Sasuke. “I thought of that night when you were on top of me, so fucking beautiful, my moonlight.”

Sasuke let out a gasp as Naruto bit down softly before pushing him back up against the counter. “I’d love to hear those thoughts.”

“Not gonna happen,” Naruto whispered, making Sasuke pout. “But I can tell you my thoughts right now.”

“I’m gonna ask Sakura.” Sasuke gasped as Naruto bit down a little harder. “Fine I won’t ask her.”

That night, they christened another place in their home.

Living with Naruto and his ugly decor was something he was getting used to but Sasuke really wished the decor was the end of it.

Sasuke walked out of their bathroom, toothbrush in his mouth as he heard Manda hissing in their living room. He looked curiously at the cat and then back toward their front door. He blinked a couple times, wondering if he was seeing what he was really seeing.

Naruto held an orange Golden Retriever puppy, holding it out with arms stretched as if he was the monkey from the Lion King holding that baby lion.

“What the hell is that?” Sasuke muffled out as he walked over to the kitchen sink and spit out his tooth paste. He glared at Naruto from the kitchen as he continued to hold up the dog. He was doing a terrible job hiding how livid he really was.

“I found him on the side of the road!” Naruto exclaimed, smiling down at the damned dog.

Sasuke hated dogs but that little smile on Naruto’s face was just so adorable. Sasuke was always a cat person but he wished he’d asked Naruto what kind of animals he’d liked before agreeing to move in.

Sasuke almost would have preferred him getting another frog over this.

Almost.

“Naruto, that’s someone's pet.”

“They left him on the side of the road!”

Sasuke sucked in a sharp breath and closed his eyes, counting to ten. “We need to see if he’s microchipped.” He was praying.

No spiritual being heard his prayers. The dog was abandoned on the side of the road… with no microchip.

The vet and Naruto couldn’t figure out why and of course Naruto begged Sasuke into keeping him.

“Compromise.” Sasuke whispered to himself. Naruto had fallen in love with the stupid dog the minute he’d picked him up off the side of the road. Naruto went out to get groceries and came back with a mutt. He couldn’t entirely judge, he’d found Manda at the bottom of a trashcan as a kitten.

Kurama was the name Naruto chose for the dog. He was a sweet angel who immediately fell in love with Naruto as quickly as he did. The dog did everything with Naruto, he’d brought him down to the station and even into his classroom.

The dog could do no wrong.

At least that’s what Sasuke thought.

Sasuke quickly found out why the dog was abandoned on the side of the road and he was half tempted to do the same thing.

He would never but when Kurama ate their dry wall and Sasuke’s favorite pair of slippers because he was having separation anxiety from Naruto, it made him think about doing it more than once. Sasuke had wanted to crate train him but Naruto said it was too cruel and he wants to sleep with the dog. So now, not only are they missing the dry wall in their living room, he now has a dog in between him and his boyfriend.

Naruto kept saying apologies as he’d fixed the drywall and Sasuke just watched, silently judging him with a cup of coffee in his hands. The demon dog panted happily, sitting behind Naruto.

Manda wasn’t too fond of Kurama but he didn’t hate him either so he assumed maybe that was a win. Other than Sasuke hating the dog.

Well, he didn’t entirely hate him.

The dog was kinda cute when he’d slept, of course he chose to sleep on the couch next to Sasuke. Manda sat in his lap, sleeping soundly. It’d been the weekend and Naruto was out with some of his old firefighter buddies. So, Sasuke decided a night-in would be nice even if it did include… Kurama.

And it was nice and peaceful. He’d gotten to watch old Hallmark movies and snuggle with both of his animals. Kurama was cuddly and it was really sweet, to the point that maybe Sasuke would actually love the dog. There’d been a few moments where the puppy looked almost too pure for the world… as the dog was asleep.

Until his wonderful dog who he cherished so much, stole the remote to the TV, turning off the TV in the middle of his FAVORITE part of Love at the Parade.

Manda had jumped off Sasuke’s lap and scurried away quickly as Sasuke jumped up, flinging his blanket on the floor in front of him.

“Kurama!” Sasuke yelled as he chased him around their living room, the dog was sneaky and waited til Sasuke was caught off guard before stealing the remote from him. “It’s not a toy, dumb fuck!” He yelled so loud the walls shook and he was sure their neighbors loved the two of them. From the yelling and the barking of their wonderful dog. “You have a million fucking toys all over the living room and you choose my remote?!”

His living room was full of toys all over his floor. They were colorful and had squeakers in him that Kurama loved to play with, especially when Sasuke wanted quiet time. He tried cleaning them up, placing them in a toy box everyday but Kurama would pull the entire box into the middle of the living room and pull them all out. One by one.

Sasuke just gave up trying to pick them up which left a mess in his once clean living room.

“Whoa,” Naruto said as he walked in the door, watching as Kurama was running around in circles around Sasuke. “What-”

“Get. Your. Dog.” Sasuke muttered with gritted teeth before grabbing Manda in his arms and walked to their bedroom. He slammed the door shut behind them, leaving Naruto dumbfounded.

He loved Naruto, the passionate and caring man. The way he looked at a little life that he needed to save. He loved Naruto for it and respected him, it was one of the many reasons he fell for Naruto.

But, Kurama. Sweet. Beloved. Kurama.

Sasuke and Naruto laid in their bed, snuggling after a long day at their work. Sasuke had a rough day with his students, it felt like every teenager decided they needed to be rude to Sasuke and not do their work. Naruto had a much better day than Sasuke and he was doing his best to comfort him, stroking his back and whispering sweet nothings to him.

His heart fluttered, feeling the same way as he did when he’d first realized he was falling for Naruto.

There were a couple of jingles and a few pitterpatters before Kurama made his way into their room, jumping onto their bed. The puppy had grown significantly from the day Naruto saved him. Kurama went right between them, pushing them away from one another with a loud huff and laid down.

Sasuke glared at Naruto before rolling over and having his back toward Naruto.

“We need a bigger bed.”

“We need a smaller dog.” Sasuke muttered.

“I love you.” He could hear the amused tone in Naruto’s voice. Sasuke sighed loudly and rolled over again seeing Naruto hold out his hand with that same adoring look he’d always given Sasuke.

“I love you too.” Sasuke said, still pouting as he took Naruto’s hand. Their hands rested on Kurama who’d quickly fallen asleep.

He was going to actually marry this man and keep this stupid dog.

————————————————————————

Itachi rambled on about Miko as Sasuke drove his car, Itachi in the passenger seat. “I mean, she’s so cute, I never realized how much I wanted a kid but I think I want another.”

Sasuke hummed in acknowledgement, his knuckles white as he gripped onto the steering wheel, everything Itachi had said went in one ear out the other. His palms were sweaty, sweat was dripping down his neck and hives were forming on his arms.

Itachi had been oblivious to Sasuke’s stressed demeanor. He was too busy talking about Miko babbling her first words and laughing at silly faces they’d made at her.

Sasuke pulled into the parking lot looking up at the jewelry store. He’d been quiet as his brother stopped talking, looking up at the store and then to the mall that was across the parking lot. “I’m sure there's closer parking spots near the mall.” Itachi had a frown on his face as he turned to face Sasuke.

He was still staring at the jewelry store.

Itachi blinked a few times before following the direction Sasuke had been staring at. “Oh.” He’d said, like he was still processing it. “Oh!” Itachi turned back to Sasuke with wide eyes. “Holy fuck, we’re ring shopping?”

Sasuke didn’t say a word as he got out of the car and Itachi was quick to follow. He hated that wide smile his brother had on his face and talked about how exciting it was to finally call Naruto his brother in law. He didn’t want to go alone but he wasn’t sure how to approach the idea because the whole thing scared the hell out of him. So he brought Itachi after he told Sasuke he needed to go to the mall.

He didn’t know why he was so nervous. He knew Naruto would say yes, they’d talked about it a few times. They talked about their dreams and what their futures would look like with one another.

Naruto wanted a house with land so he could let their dog run around all over their yard. He wanted a big house so Sasuke and him could have their own separate places and a spot to invite their in-laws over to watch games with.

Sasuke loved the idea of having land and having his own space. One with a view of trees and colorful flowers and a nice lanai where he and Manda could relax while reading. He wanted his own library filled to the brim with different research books and old literature.

They’d talked about bedrooms next, the implication of children. Sasuke said he didn’t want any and Naruto had agreed hesitantly. The two of them had a big talk about it, it was something neither one of them should compromise on.

If the feeling changed between either of them they agreed to talk about it.

“What kind of engagement ring do I buy a man?” Sasuke asked the jeweler, earning a raised brow and a look of what seemed like judgment. He wanted to tell her off but he had to calm himself down. It was Florida, he was sure they didn’t get too many gay men buying their partners rings, at least not in this part of town.

“Well,” She cleared her throat as the three walked over to a different section of the store. “These are more simplistic, is he a simple man?” The brunette had regained her composure after the initial shock.

“Naruto is anything but simple.” Itachi nudged Sasuke’s shoulder, making him close his eyes and huff.

He should have brought Shisui instead.

“Gold.” Sasuke said. He knew it wasn’t much help but this was such a grey area for him. An area he never even really thought was meant for him until he’d met Naruto. Itachi turned and raised a brow, silently judging him.

“What’s his birthstone?” Itachi was trying to help him, which he knew he should take the advice of an actual artist. “Do you know?”

“Opal and Tourmaline.” Sasuke and Naruto had just looked them up the other day after a talk about some astrology thing that popped up on Naruto’s tiktok and then they went down the rabbit hole of star signs and birth stones. “Got anything in Opal?”

“Gold and Opal?” The jeweler said, her tone still a little too judgy for his liking. “Let me see.”

She’d walked away and Sasuke was debating leaving altogether. This entire thing was a dumb idea and he shouldn’t even bother-

“What about this?”

She’d found a gold ring that had a thin line of Opalite all around the band, a small sun directly in the middle of it with a discreet diamond inside of the sun. Sasuke blinked at it a couple times, staring at it.

A perfect ring for his sunshine.

“I like it.” Sasuke whispered, he was worried Naruto wouldn’t like it but if he really didn’t like it then the two would just go and get it replaced.

Sasuke wouldn’t be offended, he wasn’t great at things like this. He was better at decor than Naruto for sure, but this was a whole other ball game.

Something he figured Naruto would have better taste in… maybe.

“Are you sure you should pick the first one you saw?” Itachi asked, a little concerned about Sasuke’s reaction.

“It’s perfect.” Sasuke muttered.

Sasuke picked at his fingers, he wanted to make asking the question the most perfect thing. It had all these expectations that he just didn’t know what to do with.

Would Naruto like something flashy? Like some flashmob like a TV show would do?

Sasuke didn’t think he could ever bring himself to do it that way.

Naruto loved amusement parks so maybe he could do it there but Naruto would be suspicious if Sasuke suggested going to a park.

Plus, Sasuke didn’t think he’d be able to bring himself to do it in such a crowded place.

Maybe something more intimate? Between the two of them?

Naruto would want to scream it to the world so maybe he would have to do it around people.

Sasuke walked back and forth in their home. Manda sat at the top of the cat tree, watching him walk back and forth as Kurama followed him, occasionally stepping on the heels of his feet. Sasuke didn’t react to Kurama stepping on him with how often it happened.

He couldn’t stop his brain from over thinking. He had that stupid ring hidden and all he had to do was pop the question.

“What do you guys think? Flashy or intimate?” He said, looking between the two animals. Once again, Sasuke was acting like they’d actually respond back to him. “You two are no help.” Sasuke huffed as he sat down.

He wished Naruto would just come home so he could throw the stupid ring at him. Throwing it at him and making him catch it would put an end to all of this.

If Naruto could come home with a dog, Sasuke could just throw a ring at him, right?

Sasuke turned his head as the lock on the deadbolt began to turn. Kurama ran up, barking loudly as if it wasn’t Naruto at the door.

Sasuke felt butterflies attacking his inside, like he was a teenager again, asking a guy to go out on a date. It was similar but it just was asking a man to be his for the rest of his life, no big deal.

“Hey, Sas.” Naruto had a smile on his face as Sasuke stood up. His legs were a little shaky as he walked up to Naruto to give him a soft kiss like they’d always done whenever one of them came home and was away from one another. “Is everything okay?” Naruto asked.

“Peachy!” Sasuke wanted to punch himself in the face. Why the hell would he say that? That was so out of character for him and the tone of his voice gave away that something was wrong anyway.

“Peachy?” Naruto raised a brow. Sasuke nodded as he took the grocery bags from Naruto, quickly looking away from him. “When did you start saying peachy?”

“I’ve always said peachy.” Sasuke muttered, an obvious lie. He had his back toward Naruto as he unloaded the groceries. There were ingredients to make one of Sasuke’s favorite homemade meals Naruto made whenever Sasuke needed comfort food. “You’re making chicken bruschetta tonight?”

Naruto walked up behind Sasuke, wrapping his arms around his waist. Sasuke slightly jumped, cursing his damn nerves for ruining the evening. “You’re awfully jumpy tonight, my love.” Sasuke sucked in a sharp breath. He should get this damn thing over with and just tell him where the ring was.

“I’m just tired… I had to chase Kurama around because he took…” He couldn’t even make up an excuse about what Kurama could have stolen this time.

“He took what?”

Sasuke mentally face palmed, he couldn’t lie to save his life. “My water bottle.”

“Your stainless steel one? You’re telling me Kurama took that giant thing?”

Sasuke turned around in Naruto’s arms which allowed Naruto to trap him against the counter. “Okay, I know you know I’m lying but do you really think that’s above our dog?”

“No.” Naruto chuckled, leaning in to give Sasuke another soft kiss as Sasuke wrapped his arms around his shoulders. He pulled Naruto into him, deepening the kiss.

It was the first time all day he’d actually felt calm.

Sasuke swiped his tongue against Naruto’s lips, asking for an entrance which Naruto eagerly allowed. Sasuke’s fingers went into the curls, holding Naruto against him, in a desperate attempt to get his mind off that stupid ring.

Naruto’s hands wrapped around Sasuke’s waist, rubbing sides up and down. Sasuke groaned into his lips as he tried to grind his hips into Naruto but the blonde quickly held him in place, not allowing Sasuke to move at all which caused him to whine against Naruto’s lips.

As Naruto disconnected the kiss, he scanned Sasuke’s face like he was trying to figure out what exactly was wrong with him. “I was just going for a little peck.” Naruto teased Sasuke, making him roll his eyes. “Let me make you dinner.”

“Can we skip dinner?” Sasuke was desperate to get any kind of stress relief. He could tell Naruto had gotten just as riled up as he did from the way he could feel him hard against his thigh but Naruto had a stupid stoic look on his face.

“Not tonight, my love.” Naruto mumbled as he kissed Sasuke one more time before giving some space between them. Sasuke gave him a small pout which earned a chuckle. “Go sit, I’ll make us dinner.”

“I can help!”

“Sasuke,” Naruto bit back a laugh, “In the most polite and respectful way, don’t help me.”

Sasuke frowned again, “I’m not that bad.”

“Babe,” Everytime Naruto said that Sasuke always felt so giddy, no matter how many times he’s heard it before. “Before we moved in together you didn’t have a meal that didn’t come out of the freezer and into your air fryer.”

He wasn’t wrong.

“Fine, but I’m gonna sit and watch you.”

“Perfect.”

Sasuke slowly walked away from Naruto, glancing at him one more time before walking toward the fridge and grabbed a cheap bottle of screw top rosé he’d gotten the night he decided he was going ring shopping.

Another desperate attempt at calming his nerves.

Now he really wanted to throw that ring box at Naruto’s head for making him wait til after dinner to kiss him more.

Sasuke sat at the table, staring at Naruto’s back as he moved around the kitchen. He took a big swig of his over-poured glass of wine and watched his boyfriend move around stiffly. His shoulders were tense and he kept shaking his head every few minutes.

When Sasuke watched Naruto normally, the blonde would look up every so often and grin at him widely. Hell, he’d strike up conversation just to fill the air with noise.

He’d done neither of those things.

“Naru?” Sasuke finally spoke, making Naruto jump and turn around to face him. Naruto stood in front of the oven, looking at Sasuke who was sitting in the chair directly across from him. “Is everything okay with you?”

“Yeah.” Naruto said a little too quickly. “I just want dinner to be perfect!” Naruto said as he quickly turned back around. “I’m almost done and then we can sit and wait together.” Sasuke side-eyed him and didn’t respond.

Naruto was being just as weird.

Maybe even… weirder.

When Naruto slid the chicken bake into the oven, he walked over to Sasuke and sat in the chair across from him, averting his eyes to the glass of wine. He reached over and grabbed Sasuke’s second over-poured glass and took a sip of his own. “Ew, you drink this?” Naruto coughed out, setting his wine glass back down. “What happened to your white wine you like?”

“Lily showed this to me and I liked it.” Sasuke shrugged. “Get your own alcohol, jerk.” Sasuke huffed, grabbing his wine glass again. He let out a shaky breath as he took a sip, eyes narrowing at his boyfriend who was also watching him, his eyes narrowed and unreadable.

It was unusual for his bubbly and prideful boyfriend.

“I-” Naruto shook his head and stood up, breaking their little stare off. “I’ll be back, I uh… gotta let Kurama out.”

“I already let him out before you got-”

“He’s whining at the door!” Naruto cut him off, his tone frantic. Kurama had been laying on the couch until he saw Naruto quickly walking past Sasuke. Sasuke turned his body so could see Naruto open the door for their dog that was jumping as high as Naruto’s head, a frown coming onto his lips as the door slammed shut.

What the hell was going on with Naruto?

Sasuke slumped in his seat, pouting as he saw Naruto standing outside of the sliding glass door. His arms were crossed as he bounced back and forth between the heels of his feet. He wanted to go out there and yell at Naruto for not telling him what was wrong.

Then he realized that would be so hypocritical of him. He hadn’t told Naruto what was wrong with him either. So he stayed put, glancing between Manda sleeping on the cat tree and Naruto outside of the door.

Sasuke let out a loud groan, this was ridiculous. They’re a couple. They should just communicate exactly what they’re feeling, not avoid one another. They aren’t teenagers, they were two grown men in love.

As Sasuke went to stand up and step toward the door, the timer Naruto had set for the chicken bake was going off and Naruto wasn’t budging from his spot. “This man.” Sasuke huffed as he walked over to the kitchen and pulled the stupid chicken out with a loud slam shut to their oven. He muttered little curses under his breath as he walked toward the sliding glass door. “Chickens ready.” Sasuke huffed as he opened the door.

Naruto gave him a small grin before nodding and turning on his heels, following after Sasuke. Kurama bolted in, ramming right into Sasuke’s leg head first before running off completely unaffected. Sasuke let out a loud and shaky breath, glaring down at the dog Naruto just had to bring home.

Normally, he wouldn’t have been so angry about small things like this, hell he expected Kurama to run head first into anything and everything.

But with his current mood? Naruto’s weird behavior? That ring he just had to buy, today of all days.

He was so over whatever this game that they were playing was. It was all because of this stupid ring, it was ruining their night and he was starting to regret it. Not because he didn’t want to marry Naruto but because he just wanted to be normal with him.

Which meant Naruto must have been all on edge because Sasuke was, it was the only thing that actually made sense to him. He should just get it over with, ask him while they eat dinner so they could just move on with their lives.

He wished he could just skip this part, skip the whole asking and just go straight into the marriage.

As Sasuke started to walk forward back toward the kitchen, he felt shaky fingers wrap around his wrist. “What?” Sasuke snapped his head back with a glare and furrowed. Naruto had a small smile on his face and his cheeks were a bright scarlet color, looking at him with these soft and pure eyes.

Sasuke instantly felt guilty, his eyes softening as he saw those blue orbs staring at him all shiny eyed and cheeks flared.

“Sasuke.” Naruto’s voice was barely above a whisper. “I know we’ve talked about this a lot and I know we both know…” Naruto trailed off, shaking his head. “Sorry, sorry, let me start over.”

“Naruto?” Sasuke raised a brow and sucked in a sharp breath. “What is going on?”

“I-” Naruto let out a loud groan. “God, Sasuke, I'm in love with you. You and I both know it.” Sasuke blinked a few times, raising a brow at his rambling boyfriend . “I want to marry you.” Sasuke’s eyes widened watching as Naruto started to get down on one knee. Kurama quickly circled back and stuck his face in Naruto’s. “Will you marry me, Sasuke Uchiha?”

Sasuke stared down with wide eyes as Naruto pulled out a small black box and opened it, revealing a ring. It was a simple all black band… with a subtle moon right in the middle. He couldn’t bring himself to say anything, he just stared, mouth agape.

Naruto had planned to propose tonight. A small and intimate dinner, just what Sasuke would have wanted.

Naruto watched with nervous eyes as Sasuke continued to just stare, seeing his boyfriend down on one knee holding that simple but perfect ring that had been all for Sasuke. Neither of them reacted to Kurama, bouncing back and forth between the two.

It was just them, staring at one another… Naruto’s hands were shaking waiting for some kind of answer but Sasuke couldn’t say a word. His whole body was tense, he couldn’t wrap his head around the fact that Naruto asked him… asked him first.

He always knew what he wanted before Sasuke did.

Sasuke took a few steps back, glancing behind him before abruptly running toward their bedroom. He felt his breathing start to pick up as he slammed opened their door, scurrying over to their dresser.

“Sas?” He could hear Naruto’s concerned voice echoing through the hall. “Is that a no?” Sasuke could hear a few steps coming down the hallway, paws obviously following behind his boyfriend.

He put his hand on their top drawer, ripping it open. He grabbed bunches of socks and threw it on the ground as he dug through their stupid sock drawer where he’d hidden it. Naruto mostly wore sandals so he knew he wouldn’t look in there. “Where is it? Where is it?!”

“You know, if you don’t wanna get married it’s okay!” Naruto said as he got closer, “We have a nice little family with our animals and things are going great that way, it’s fine if you-” Naruto paused at the doorway of their room, tilting his head at the sight in front of him. He glanced at the pile of socks on the floor and then back up at Sasuke who was still frantically throwing socks on the floor. “What are you doing?”

“Looking for it!”

“For what?” Naruto took a few steps forward as Sasuke finally found that blue box. Sasuke’s breathing was heavy as he turned to show him the small box. Naruto looked down at it with wide eyes before trailing back to Sasuke, who was still heaving up and down. “Seriously?”

“Seriously.” Sasuke echoed shakily, slowly getting control of his breath. All of this was so surreal, like it was out of some hallmark movie.

What would be more perfect? More perfect than the two of them, the sun and the moon, knowing they wanted to spend their lives together.

Naruto was the first to crack a wide grin, taking a few steps forward toward Sasuke. He took small strides before landing in front him, placing the ring box that he bought onto the dresser. Still quiet, just like the world around them.

Everything was silent and the world didn’t exist around them anymore, they couldn’t hear the cars passing by or see their dog who was panting on Sasuke’s leg. It was just them, grinning at one another like two idiots.

“Sasuke.” Naruto spoke the first words, just like he was the first to everything when it came to them. “We really-” Naruto couldn’t finish his sentence before bursting out in a fit of laughter. Sasuke quickly followed suit, every nerve he’d felt was washed away.

Why the hell was he so nervous in the first place? They both knew they wanted to spend their lives with one another, it was all so ridiculous.

“Well, take it!” Sasuke shoved the little box toward Naruto, hitting him in the chest. Naruto laughed even louder as he grabbed it, brushing his fingers against Sasuke’s. “Give me mine!” Sasuke reached for his own, grasping tightly on the box.

“So this means yes?” Naruto asked as he gasped for air from how hard he was laughing.

“No shit.” Sasuke looked down at the black ring and back up at Naruto, his blue eyes glimmering with amusement and a smile beaming at him. “Naru, this is perfect.”

All of it was perfect, from the ring to the man to the way they got engaged.

When Sasuke imagined proposing, he thought he’d be the one on his knee sliding the ring on Naruto’s finger, but of course the knuckleheads they were, had them sliding the rings they got for each other onto their own hands.

And Sasuke wouldn’t change a thing.

“You’re perfect.” Naruto was so cheesy, he’d always been. It was one of Sasuke’s favorite things about him. “Of course,” Naruto’s hands snaked around Sasuke’s shoulders. “We would be the ones who bought rings the same day as one another.”

Sasuke tilted his head, wrapping his own arms around his boy- fiancé’s waist. “How do you know I got it today?”

“Well,” Naruto couldn’t help but let out a chuckle, “The woman that helped me at the jewelry store made a comment about how weird it was to have two gay men buy engagement rings on the same day.”

“That woman was really judgy.” The words that came out of his mouth would have been more bitter if he wasn’t smiling so widely at his fiancé. “But, I don’t care.”

“We should write a review.” Naruto leaned in, his breath ghosting Sasuke’s lips. “How unhappy we were with her service…” He couldn’t even say it with a straight face, he was too busy looking into Sasuke’s eyes with that goofy grin Sasuke had fallen in love with.

“Shut up,” Sasuke’s laugh echoed between them as his hands went to Naruto’s hips, fingers gripping them as pulled him even closer, “kiss me you Idiot.”

Naruto didn’t hesitate to lean in, capturing Sasuke’s lips in a chaste kiss, their teeth clinking together while they smiled and laughed into soft little kisses.

Soft kisses turned into kisses filled with desire and their clothes discarded around the room while they fell into bed.

By the time they were done falling into one another with gasps between their “I love you’s,” the food had been cold.

Neither of them cared, they were too busy eating their cold food while wrapped in sheets and grins glued to their faces.

————————————————————————

It was a gorgeous ceremony in a garden during spring time, one the two of them had picked together, falling in love with it the minute they’d seen it. The garden was filled with a plethora of colors, flowers of different kinds. With Milkweeds, Asclepias, Coral Honeysuckles and various kinds of flowers native to Florida.

It was the kind of wedding you’d see in a Hallmark movie. Flower petals falling around them, holding one another’s hands and looking into each other’s eyes as if no one was around. Like they were the only beings that existed in the universe.

Plus, Fugaku had found the perfect places to put the vases and candles all around so they’d become their problem. He wouldn’t tell his father but the moment they got back from their honeymoon, they’d all end up in the trash.

They were surrounded by their loved ones, all watching the two of them. It was Sasuke’s too dreamy and too perfect wedding, standing with the man of his dreams that he planned on spending the rest of his life with. Someone who he hoped he’d meet and fall in love with in every universe.

Naruto Uzumaki.

Iruka officiated, giving a beautiful speech about love and how perfect they were for one another. How they were so happy and in love, that they were one another’s soulmates.

This kind of love only happens once in a lifetime and hell, Sasuke was so glad it was during his lifetime. He couldn’t imagine a life without the blonde in front of him. Declaring their vows loud and proud with people tearing up in the crowd.

This feeling was the kind of feeling you only ever read about and seen in movies and Sasuke never knew that the love he felt could ever be this strong, just like the movies he grew up loving. This was the kind of thing he’d studied for years. Something he’d chased and craved without realizing it. The very thing he’d read and taught.

“I do.”

Chemistry.

That was their love.

That invisible string with gold and purple threads, tying them together no matter how many times Sasuke tried to cut it. How many times he tried to deny it and fight against the universe to no avail.

“Hell yeah I do!”

They found one another even through Sasuke’s resistance. The alchemy persevered, proved to them that Sasuke and Naruto were soulmates.

Who was he to fight the alchemy?