By the time tomorrow rolls around, Sasuke informs me that he no longer feels like doing what we planned to do. I'm disappointed, but I don't show it. I want him to realize that he deserves better than a nasty, old perv.

We're sitting in my room. He's not really paying attention to me. "Are you mad?" he asks offhandedly, staring out the window and far away from me.

"No," I tell him.

He sighs. "Yes, you are."

"I want you to do what's best for you," I say.

"Sure," he mutters. "I do hate him on most days... but sometimes I feel like I need him."

"Go break it off with that asshole," I growl. "You deserve better. He looks like fuckin' Voldemort but with hair!"

Suddenly, he stands up, letting out an impatient sigh. "Fine," he gives me a pointed look. "Let's go."

"Just like that?" I ask. I've been trying to coax out a legitimate reason for most of the day. He's probably sick of it by now.

"Just like that," he nods. "I don't want you being all whiny about this, so let's just get it over with."

"Only if you want to, Sasuke..." I say. "If we don't do this on your terms, you won't stick to it."

"I want to," he insists. "Come on."

"Fine," I relent. I stand up and we put our shoes on, leaving the house and getting in my car. "You're gonna have to give me directions."

He nods. The ride is silent other than Sasuke telling me where and when to turn. Soon enough, we're parked in front of a perfectly average looking house on the opposite side of town. It's just like every other house on the cul-de-sac.

"Is this it?" I ask.

He nods yet again.

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Yeah," he says weakly.

"That didn't sound too convincing," I comment. "Want me to come in with you?"

He gives me a dry stare before turning away and reaching for the door handle. "Be right back," he says.

"And if you're not?" I ask.

"Give me twenty minutes," he tells me.

"Ten," I negotiate.

"Fifteen," he retorts, leaving the car. Before I can answer, he's gone and I'm forced to accept the wait.

I turn the radio on, listening to some stupid pop playlist. I try to get into it, but I can't. Obviously. My head is full of what ifs. I wish Sasuke would have let me go in with him. Then I could have made sure he came out all right. I don't know how this will go and I know he's not going to talk about it afterward. He'll just give me more vague answers.

I keep looking at the clock and when fifteen minutes passes, I hesitate. Just when I'm about to get out of my car and go in there, the door opens and Sasuke appears. He looks stony-eyed as he exits the building. Once he's back in the passenger seat, I immediately ask him if he's okay.

"Mhm," he says in a somewhat high-pitched voice, causing me to think he's probably lying.

"You took a while," I mention. "I was about to go in after you."

"It's fine," he tells me, terse and tight jawed.

"Sasuke...?"

He relaxes visible and forces a small smile at me before looking away and staring out the window. "Let's go, Naruto."

"Did he... try anything?" I ask slowly.

"No! Just drive, for fuck's sake," Sasuke says, suddenly sounding very weary and tired. "It's done."

Just like the ride here, the ride back is also silent. Without another word, I drop Sasuke off at home and without another glance, he leaves.

||XxXx||

The next week rolls around and goes by just as slow as every other week. I don't see much of Sasuke. I don't think he's not avoiding me or anything, he's just a little more absent. At least, I hope that's all it is. When I bring it up, he says he's doing family therapy with Itachi and his parents. I tell him that's great. Kisame has also been keeping an eye on Itachi – babysitting him if you will, but with his job it can only go so far. Nonetheless, I think Sasuke finds it relieving to have a stronger presence in the house, someone who can stop Itachi if he snaps. I told Sasuke he could stay at my place, but he refused. I didn't ask again. He knows he's welcome.

Itachi got his prescription upped and Mikoto refused to even consider locking him away again - though the doctors suggested it. He's been like a zombie now. I think the entire situation is really fucking sad and I feel bad for that entire family. I don't think Mikoto understands that there's nothing she can do to help him. I hope something good happens because fuck knows they all deserve a reason to smile.

When class ends on Friday, I go home. My parents are gone away for the weekend since my dad is using some of his vacation days, so I have the house to myself. Cup ramen for days because hell knows I ain't no cook.

After suppertime, there's a knock on my door. When I open it, I spot Sasuke standing there. He smiles when he sees me. I can see that it's forced, but nonetheless, I smile back and allow him in.

"What's up?" I ask.

"Nothing," he says. "I just wanted to come over."

That's cute. "What do you feel like doing, then?"

He shrugs. "Something quiet."

So, we go up to my room and sit on my bed. I get my laptop and look through my torrents until I find a movie Sasuke won't completely despise. As I choose one, Sasuke leaves my room and goes into the bathroom.

"I'm going to take a shower first," he says once he gets back. "I need one... Can I borrow something of yours? My clothes are dirty."

There's something in his tone that I can't quite place, but I don't pry – not yet... He sounds a little hollow if that makes any sense. "Sure," I murmur, moving to my closet. I grab a plain, black t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants, handing them over.

"Thanks," he says before leaving the room.

When he gets out, he's fully dressed in the clothes I just gave him. I like seeing him wearing my things. "Feel better?" I ask and he nods once, joining me in bed. He doesn't even ask what we're watching. He leans against me, resting his head against my shoulder. There's something off about him today. I can't quite place it, but it's unsettling. I want to ask. I want to pry, but I know he'd just brush me off. Sasuke won't talk if he's not in the mood to. He doesn't look like he's paying attention to the movie, and towards the end he begins sniffling. I could tell he's been suppressing himself, I just don't know why.

"Are you okay?" I ask him, closing my laptop and setting it aside.

"It hurts..." he murmurs, sitting up. There are tears in his eyes and I don't understand why.

"What hurts?" I gently pry.

He brings a hand up and covers his mouth, stifling a sob. He closes his eyes and forces himself to calm down. He takes a deep breath and when he opens his eyes he flatly states, "No, nothing... I'm fine now."

I feel my eyebrows draw together in confusion. "Are you?"

He says, "Yes."

"You should take a nap," I add. He looks so tired. "You can use the guest room if you want."

He nods once more, turning around and leaving the room. I stand up and follow him in, watching as he slowly lies down. His movements are so groggy and cautious – like he has no energy.

"What's up with you?" I ask.

"Nothing," he says in that same, dull tone. He pulls the duvet over his face so all I can see is a head of dark hair on the pillow. "I'm just tired."

"Really?"

"Really, Naruto," he insists. "But you can do me a favor if you're so keen."

"Sure," I say. "What is it?"

"Take my phone and delete all the photos on it," he requests. "It's in your room. Since it's over, there's no point in keeping them."

I feel relieved. "Sure."

Without another word, I turn around and walk back down the hallway into my own room. I find his cellphone on my nightstand and I pick it up, typing in his familiar password and opening the photo folder. I look at each photo as I delete them, wanting nothing more than to erase all his shitty memories along with it. But they won't go away just because the evidence is gone.

  ||XxXx||

When it begins to darken outside, I go check on Sasuke. The room is pitch black. "Sasuke?" I call softly.

"Naruto...?" I hear his voice respond. I turn the light on and he squints. He's sitting up, shielding his eyes. "Turn it off."

"Sorry," I mutter, flicking the light switch.

"Come here..." he requests.

"Hm?" I muse, following his voice and sitting on them mattress next to him. A moment later, I feel his hand slip beneath my shirt. I feel his lips on my neck, my jaw, my mouth.

But there's something different about the way he's touching me.

"Can I...?" he asks vaguely.

"Yeah," I say. I don't know what he wants, but whatever it is, I'll give it to him. I don't mind.

I feel the bed indent as he shifts and pushes me down flat. A moment later, he reaches for the rim of my pants and shorts. I lift my hips and he removes them both. I feel his hands in places they haven't been before and then a slick substance on my backside. There's something desperate about the way he's touching me. It's like he needs this.

"Sasuke..." I say his name. "What happened?"

I hear him sniffle and let out a shaky breath. "Shh..."

I feel him ease his way inside of me. It hurts a bit and it feels like my insides are being stretched too far, but I force myself to relax. He moves slowly at first, gradually moving faster. I think he's angry. I think he's using me to let out his anger.

I hear him let out a quiet breath and I feel something drip onto my stomach. I think he's crying. I'll keep pretending he's not. He'd only spite me if I mentioned it. I close my eyes, rubbing my dick before curling my fingers around it.

Sasuke's movements get more aggressive, but it's okay. I don't mind. I'll keep giving him what he wants, what he needs. I get myself off first and he continues fucking me. Soon, he comes inside and I feel it. It feels kind of wet and gross. He starts sobbing afterward and I still don't understand why. He collapses on top of me, crying into the crook of my neck.

"I'm sorry," he sobs. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."

I wrap my arms around him. "It's okay..."

"Hate me," he cries.

"No," I say.

"Hit me!" he screams, digging his nails into my skin.

"No," I say again.

He lets out another string of sobs, demanding, "Why...?"

"Because I like you," I tell him, but maybe it's more than that. I'm beginning to think it is.

  ||XxXx||

A little while later, I get up and throw my pajama pants back on before leaving the room. I go to take a piss and clean the semen out of my butt when I find the clothing Sasuke was wearing in the garbage. I raise an eyebrow, picking them up and looking at them. This is when I notice the blood. It's not a lot and it's nowhere noticeable, but suddenly everything pieces together in my mind. I feel sick to my stomach when I realize where the blood must have come from.

I leave the room with his clothing in hand, moving back into the guest room he's still lying in. I turn the lights on and stare at him. "Sasuke..." I say his name shakily. "What the fuck is this?"

When he notices what's in my hand, his expression grows panicked, as if he's trying hard to come up with an excuse.

"Please, tell me this isn't what I think it is," I whisper.

Still bare, he draws his knees to his chest, burying his face. "Throw them away!" he pleads desperately.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I ask weakly.

He sniffs loudly, not raising his head. His hands wrap around his legs, fingers digging into his shins. He feels trapped.

I leave the doorway, throwing the clothes back in the garbage. In the guestroom, Sasuke hasn't budged an inch. He still looks small. I sit down next to him, wrapping an arm around him and he immediately sinks into me. He sounds like he's choking on his breath. For a moment, I think he might be having a panic attack, but he's not. He's just trying damn hard not to cry.

I hold him tightly, trying to soak up his agony... but it doesn't work like that. At times like this, I really wish it did. He doesn't deserve to be feeling all this pain. He doesn't deserve to keep getting hurt by other people and by himself. He doesn't deserve any of it and I'm beginning to realize something. It's something I can't keep denying. It's scary and it's new, but I think I might love him.