This is something I worked on a long time ago and has kind of been floating around as a potential scene. Might make this into something bigger. Might not.

First person present tense was insanely tough, not to mention a little risky. But I think it added something to the story, and I wanted a challenge.

---

My favorite time of year. Employee reviews. My company, Konoha Corp, approaches the higher levels of management first and then goes downward. This is my round. I’ve been stuck in this stale room for 45 minutes.

“Sasuke, sometimes you can come off as…”

Kakashi trails off, which only annoys me.

“As what?”

“As challenging. Demanding.”

Of course I know how I come off. And it works.

“I get results, don’t I?”

It annoys me that he has the nerve to confront me about this. Every single product release under my management has gone off without complications. In terms of revenue and increasing market share, I’ve outperformed every single one of my contemporaries by a landslide. I’ve held this role for three years as of June and have moved mountains.

“Your results are stellar. Sasuke, you are a very brilliant scientist and a shrewd businessman. But you’re breeding a workplace culture that is afraid to fail. They’re afraid to show creativity.”

“Afraid to fail.”

That phrase just sticks between my ears and goads me, because right now I’m so clearly remembering Itachi yelling at me over huge stacks of messy papers when I showed him my plans for the AI components of one of our new virtual executive assistants December of last year.

“This has all been done before. It’s good work, but it’s by the books. Why are you so afraid to fail? You’ll never make a difference that way!”

He died three months ago. Whenever I remember him, I get upset. If I’m around people, that automatically manifests as me being pissed off.

“Can we afford to fail with our brand’s reputation and the market share at stake? Why are you complaining?”

I know I’m being difficult and missing the point. I continue regardless.

“Sasuke, people respect you, but they also fear you.”

“Yes. That’s a management style.”

Kakashi sighs, clearly frustrated. I couldn’t care less, because I’m frustrated too.

Steve Jobs pulled it off. So can I.

“You need to show them a softer, more caring side. These are brilliant people.”

Most of them are bright. I have my doubts about a few, one person in particular on my mind. But I didn’t hire him, so I consider myself absolved. Itachi must’ve been smoking crack.

“They need a supportive environment to innovate. We’re a consumer technology company, Sasuke. We need to be on the edge, or we’re obsolete by definition.”

At this point, I could go on about all of the successful product launches and ballooning profits. There’s just one inconvenient aspect of the situation: he’s right. And I know damned well that people are afraid to think outside of the box because they’re afraid of what I might do if they fail.

He’s asking me to do something I don’t know how to do, but I won’t admit to it. I’m silent, which he takes as a cue.

“It doesn’t have to be anything dramatic or unnatural. Just try to be more understanding if an employee makes a mistake. If they were using their best judgment and were being diligent, then it’s enough that they tried.”

What if they have their head in the clouds and spend all day wondering, “Wouldn’t it be cool if…?” What if they squander their potential by sitting on their ass and playing class clown with coworkers? Like a certain vapid blue-eyed employee I have. Eye color generally means nothing to me, but it’s difficult not to remember such a brilliant blue.

“I agree with you that as long as something was done responsibly and with due diligence, the employee shouldn’t be reproached. What I object to is anything less than diligence.”

Kakashi looks down at my desk, and he looks back up at me with his eyes half lidded. He looks tired.

“Look. Not everyone is going to have your work ethic, Sasuke. And sometimes people do get distracted. As their manager, you use the ruler first, not the sledgehammer.”

A pause.

“You have to show you care.”

Right. The only issue is that I don’t.

I frown. Inhale. Exhale. I remind myself of what Itachi said, which is almost entirely the reason why I speak my next sentence.

“Okay, I’ll try a softer hand.”

Kakashi smiles, because he knows how big of an accomplishment it was to get me to say that. I will let him believe it’s his victory. I don’t give a damn.

“But I’m warning you in advance that we may experience some hiccups.”

I issue that disclaimer because this means relinquishing some of my control in the interest of fostering innovation. I don’t know what will happen. My team might fail. I don’t want that to be interpreted as a failure on my part.

“We’ll consider them learning experiences.”

---

He code named it CMI. Caring Manager Initiative. Apparently, even this requires an acronym. It’s like a bad joke.

This is, without a doubt, my least favorite project that I have ever been on. Ever.

I will have to update Kakashi on my progress next quarter. He’d outlined three action items for me to fulfill by the next quarter:

1. Conducting Employee Reviews
2. Showing Interest in Employee Activities
3. Acknowledging Employee Achievements

I will record everything and act diligently and rationally at every step. If there is a failure, it will not be because I failed.

 

Phase I – Caring Manager Initiative
Conducting Employee Reviews

I can’t even express how much I hate conducting employee reviews.

I go over every detail of the person’s value to the company. I begin with the good, address the shit that actually matters in the middle, then tie it up with a nice bow – the sandwich technique, they call it. They plead their case. They almost always want more money, and I can only acquiesce about half of the time. I listen to their hackneyed excuses with a seemingly empathetic nod, which Itachi once told me was actually pretty convincing.

With practiced ease, like a surgeon, I speak about “opportunities to improve,” because no one wants to be criticized. And this go around, it seems like I have to put the kiddie gloves on. God forbid I hurt anyone’s feelings.

So it’s with mixed relief and dread that I view Naruto’s name on my calendar as my next appointment.

Naruto comes into my office with a big grin.

“Alright, Bossman. Let’s get this show on the road!”

I have told him to stop calling me Bossman so many times that I’ve lost count.

“Sit down.”

Now he has to obey me. He does so without complaint, not realizing that this was a power play on my part. With employees like Naruto, establishing boundaries is key.

As annoyed as I am with him, I know that for once today, I can be honest. I never hold back with Naruto. He takes everything I could ever dish out…and throws it back in my face.

I can’t believe I haven’t fired him yet.

“Okay, Naruto. You know that your designs have, in theory, been…interesting.”

Naruto puffs up like a toad at the compliment and stares at me like he’d just triumphed over me. It makes me regret saying it.

“But when it comes to creating the prototypes and testing them, everything falls to shit. You don’t see your ideas through. That’s fatal. If a product doesn’t work, it’s useless.”

“So you’re calling my work useless?” Naruto bristles.

It is true that he hasn’t gotten a single product off the ground. He’s a dreamer.

“I’m saying that the devil’s in the detail.”

At this point, if it were anyone else, I’d be reassuring them of how valuable they are to the company and how integral they are to the team. I’d smile and talk to them about promotions and ask them to fill out company templates with their goals for the next year. But that would sound forced, because that’s not how Naruto and I talk.

Naruto puffs out his cheeks and pouts, and I feel like I’m talking to a teenager. People have probably told him he needs to be more detail-orientated, because God knows it’s true.

“There’s that, and the fact that you keep checking your cell phone during working hours and socializing with coworkers too often.”

Naruto smiles and gives an impish laugh.

“This is not funny.”

“So… I guess I’m not getting a raise, huh?” he asks sheepishly, still trying to lighten the situation.

“Now that was funny.”

“Oh, you are such a prick,” Naruto answers, amused by my attitude. He should be used to it at this point.

“Is that really what you want to say to your boss?”

“I’m in trouble, aren’t I?”

I dislike the fact that I have to bring this issue to his attention for him to resolve it. It demonstrates a lack of proactivity. In fact, in all aspects of the guy’s life… He’s so laid back and easygoing. Everything is always fine and well with him, and who cares what reality actually is. Such disregard for life’s priorities. I don’t get him, nor do I want to.

“You’ve been warned,” I answer. “I’m documenting it. Fix it, and we’ll have no problems.”

Naruto sighs, and again I feel like a parent. Naruto looks down and bites his lip, and I start thinking that maybe he’s more frustrated with himself than he is with me.

“Okay.”

We continue the conversation. He didn’t call me Bossman again the entire meeting.

Stage II – Caring Manager Initiative
Showing Interest in Employee Activities

Konoha Corp has a club for public speaking, held every Wednesday at lunch time. As both a scientist and a businessman, I realize that scientists are not known for mixing well with the business world. Itachi always told me never to let one of my scientists talk to one of my investors.

Our employees come here for that extra polish. The moderator, Shizune, explained that today’s workshop would all be impromptu, two-minute speeches. She put everyone’s names in a bowl, and she’d draw each speaker out until the bowl emptied. Each person would have their own topic. Meanwhile, she’d videotape them on their phone.

Public speaking is one of my strengths, not that I particularly enjoy talking. I practiced for years and fancy myself an actor now.

And of course, Naruto is here. Of all the faces in the room, his was the one I expected to see the most. He thrives off of being the center of attention. Shizune now pulls a slip out of the bowl, and everyone is sweating around me. Naruto’s name is the first she pulls.

I can’t imagine how pleased he must be by this as he walks toward the lectern.

“And the topic is…”

A pause. Naruto is standing behind the lectern now.

“Your favorite food.”

No one’s looking at me, so I roll my eyes.

Clearly, he’s doing this to show off. He’s a bubbling extrovert. He’s going to crack a few jokes. People will laugh, because he’s damn good at making people laugh. I have no interest whatsoever in watching him puff up and prattle on for whatever acknowledgement his secretly insecure soul craves.

But then he starts speaking. My mind goes blank. I’m taken off guard. Shocked.

Shocked by how horrible he is at this.

“I…”

He looks down at his feet, then paces a few steps.

“Um…”

He’s choking. I did not see this coming.

“Wow, uh…”

His body is very obviously shaking. I doubt anyone could miss it.

“Um… Give me a minute. I’m…” he stammers. “I’m off to some start, huh?”

The room gives a forced and sympathetic laugh that makes me want to cringe.

He’s a wreck.

But he’s trying. I have to say that for him. He’s earnest, and raw, and vulnerable, and… In a nutshell, everything that I’m not.

His face is bright red. I don’t know why, but my chest feels tight. This is painful to watch, yet I can’t take my eyes off of him. I find myself wishing that I could plant words on his tongue, which is ironic given that he generally never shuts the hell up.

“So, ramen…” he starts, gesturing with his arms. “It’s… It’s a hot food and… So, you know…”

Everyone is looking at him. I can’t explain it, but if anyone so much as snickers at his awkwardness, I would fire them on the spot.

If I were that shitty at public speaking, you couldn’t pay me to go up there and fumble, turn five different shades of red, and shake like a leaf. But he did, because he wants to improve. He took initiative. Still, it’s certainly not like I’m impressed by his pathetic attempt at a speech.

Well… Maybe just a little bit impressed.

He’s brave.

Braver than I gave him credit for.

I again remember Itachi telling me, “You’re afraid to fail.” It burns, and I swallow tight. It’s bad enough that he was right. Even worse that he’s dead, and now I’m thinking about it. Nope, I was not prepared to feel today. I clear my mind.

“You um… I like ramen because it’s easy to make and…”

“The time is up,” Shizune informed him with a smile.

He smiles, but his shoulders slump. I can’t blame him.

“And Mr. Uchiha, it’s so wonderful to have you join us today!”

Naruto looks at me, and his eyes widen to the size of golf balls. He is a stubborn thorn in my side, and I want to deck him every time he calls me “Bossman” in that same nauseatingly upbeat tone. Usually I’d jump at the chance to one up him, but this is very different. I hold eye contact with him for just an instant before addressing Shizune again.

“Yes, thank you, everyone. Nice work.”

Without a word, Naruto runs right out of the room, abandoning any attempt at composure and leaving his phone behind with Shizune. This isn’t like him. Was he going to… Unravel? Cry or something? Just because he now realizes I was watching?

I’ve been thinking about it for a while, trying to figure it out. This banter dialogue we’ve had going… He seems like he fixates on me. He’s…

Shit. I really hope this isn’t what I think it is.

All of this churns through my head as my face betrays nothing. I think that the power to pull an impeccable stone cold poker face in light of any situation runs in my family. Or maybe it’s learned. Whatever the case, it’s a valuable gift.

Meanwhile, people start murmuring and chatting about Naruto’s rushed exit.

“Shut up,” I say to everyone, firmly and just a little more loudly than I would in normal conversation.

In a heartbeat, the room goes so quiet you could hear a piece of paper hit the ground.

Refreshing.

The meeting continues with my go ahead. I begrudgingly sit there and pretend to be interested. I pretend like I don’t want to leave that meeting right now and find Naruto. If I found him, what would I do? I don’t know. So why bother?

I see the meeting through to its dazzling completion and have accomplished my mission as Caring Manager for the day, though I admit that telling everyone to shut up was counterproductive. I should have known better, but it was worth it.

Stage III
Acknowledging Employee Achievements

I didn’t see Naruto again that day until the late hours of the evening. It’s ten, at which time the office is generally a ghost town. I could hear someone typing from the opposite side of the floor. We both had our respective deadlines to meet for the next morning, though me pulling all-nighters was nothing out of the norm.

I’m trying to eat my turkey sandwich and mark up my prototypes at the same time. I hear footsteps outside of my office and look to see Naruto trying to sneak past my door. He’s all too conspicuous in his attempts to avoid eye contact with me.

“Good job,” I say loudly enough for him to hear.

He deserves it.

“Very funny, jackass.”

He knows what I’m referring to, naturally. He’s stopped outside of my office now.

“I’m not joking,” I answer.

He looks up at me, and there’s indecision in his eyes. He’s trying to read me, which he’s always been horrible at.

“Is that…an actual compliment?”

Naruto grins. It looks like gloating.

“It was pity.”

“What?”

I have no idea why I just said that; it was a knee jerk reaction. I feel like I kicked a puppy in the face.

“No… It wasn’t pity.”

I’m frustrated with myself, because I can’t seem to pull this off without ruining it somehow.

“Look… If you haven’t noticed, sincerely complimenting people is not my strong suit. I thought I’d take your example and try something I suck at today.”

That was downright painful.

“You’ve got guts, Uzumaki.”

Naruto lights up like the sun and smiles at me, and if I’m going to follow that analogy, I feel like the rays have warmed me.

“Well…” Naruto pauses and then looks into my eyes again. “Good job, Bossman.”

He continues to smile at me, and the atmosphere grows stale. There’s an adage: always leave them wanting more.

“Have a good one. See you tomorrow.”

I give him a nod, and he issues that dramatic, almost frantic wave that he’s known for with a beaming grin. As he leaves my office and approaches the exit, I hear him hum under his breath. Why am I sad to hear him go?

I sigh and resist the temptation to insult him. CMI will be difficult; there’s no denying that. And of all of CMI’s challenges, Naruto will likely be the greatest. At the very least, today Naruto gave me a crash course on how to fail. As sick as it makes me to admit this, I should be learning from him.

Love Is Blind

In response to the prompt: Things you said when you were on top of the world

It felt like the world grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him like a rag doll. His teeth chattered against each other, and Sasuke quickly grabbed onto Naruto as if he could fall off at any moment.

“Hanging on tight enough, Sasuke?” Naruto asked sarcastically. “Not sure I can breathe.”

He knew this was a bad idea. He knew it! But somehow he’d let this jackass in front of him convince him to ride on the back of a motorcycle.

“C’mon,” Naruto had said. “Live a little.”

He couldn’t believe he’d let such a cheesy line sway him.

Naruto had led Sasuke over to his bike beforehand, holding his hand, which was just a bit sweaty. He guided Sasuke’s body to the back seat, had Sasuke touch the exhaust pipe running along the bike while it was still cool so that he wouldn’t burn his leg. He took a seat in front of Sasuke and wrapped the man’s arms around his stomach, giving Sasuke’s hand a soft squeeze. Sasuke felt cared for. Safe.

That is, until Naruto turned on the ignition.

“If you can talk, you can breathe,” Sasuke shouted over the rumble of the bike. “And I’m not getting myself killed to make you more comfortable.”

All of Sasuke’s senses were thrown off. He had no idea where he was in space; the vibrations were too strong, jostling his entire body. He couldn’t hear; the engine was too loud. Scent and touch were the only senses left to him, the heat of this unusually humid Californian day sticking to his skin like lotion. Naruto revved the bike again, causing Sasuke to squeeze Naruto harder.

“I can’t steer if… I can’t breathe,” Naruto wheezed out. “Just a little air please.”

Sasuke relented, instead clutching Naruto’s shirt in his palm so tightly that his nails left crescent indents on his palms.

After he was blinded two years ago, Sasuke was forced to move back in with his mother. He had to play it safe. He always had his cane on him and would probably opt for a root canal before he’d jaywalk.

But this was insane. Why would a blind person ever ride a motorcycle? He couldn’t see potholes. What if Naruto had to veer out of the way of a car? He’d be taken off guard and could easily fall off. Normally, he relied on his hearing and his perception of where he was in space to help him navigate. He was helpless now.

“If I die on this thing, I’ll haunt you for the rest of your existence.”

“Sweet,” Naruto chuckled. “I always wanted a poltergeist.”

It wasn’t too late. He could tell Naruto to stop the bike and get off. He knew that Naruto would understand.

“Just hold on, Sasuke,” Naruto told him, his voice oddly gentle. “I know you’ve got a lot of thoughts bouncing around, but once we get moving, it’ll be just me and the bike.”

Sasuke nodded, even knowing that Naruto couldn’t see him. To have his mind finally shut up for a moment and give him some peace… It sounded nice.

“When I lean, you lean. Stay close to me. That’s all you have to do.”

Sasuke nodded again, and Sasuke could feel Naruto turn around to look at him. Naruto looked ahead again.

“Alright, are you ready?”

Sasuke sighed, “Why not…”

“Hang on!”

Sasuke grabbed Naruto tightly, pressing his body into Naruto’s back. He felt Naruto lift his feet off of the ground, and they were off.

He could tell that they weren’t going very fast. He so keenly felt every single one of the road’s irregularities. The wind blew in his face, sweeping back his bangs. Sasuke couldn’t control where he was going. He felt it in his stomach when Naruto accelerated.

“Our first turn. Lean with me, just a little.”

Naruto took a right turn, and just barely did Sasuke shift his weight. They’d taken it very slowly. All that Sasuke felt was the wind on his face, the rumbling of the bike, and the sensation of speed.

They continued like this. Sasuke smelled freshly cut grass, so strong. It seemed like he could feel every speck of condensation as it hit his skin, that should the weather drop by even a single degree, he’d know. Against his arms, he felt Naruto’s ribcage expand and shrink as he breathed. Sasuke’s grip loosened. He smelled barbecue and knew that they had to have just passed the grill by Wood Street and Eighth.

“Don’t take Cedar,” Sasuke shouted over the bike. “It’s under construction.”

“What?!” Naruto squawked. “How do you know where we are?!”

“The barbecue.”

He felt it against his stomach and arms when Naruto guffawed, and Sasuke felt his lips upturn against his will.

“Naruto…” Sasuke muttered, directly into Naruto’s ear so he could hear.

“Yeah?”

“Put some gas on it.”

Naruto laughed again.

“Having fun in the bitch seat, Sasuke?”

“Just shut up and drive,” Sasuke answered flatly.

“You got it. Hold on tight or kiss your ass goodbye!”

And Naruto thundered off, the sudden acceleration pushing him back. The wind stung his skin as they went faster, faster…

The rumbling of the bike became white noise. He could smell everything and feel everything. The aroma of fresh pine made him remember Christmas mornings. He felt Naruto’s warmth and knew that they were moving together. Or rather, it felt to Sasuke like he was flying. They hugged a turn, and Sasuke leaned with Naruto, feeling as though their bodies and the bike had merged into one being.

Sasuke hadn’t changed his mind. This was still a horrible idea. But somehow Naruto knew that it was exactly what he needed. Sasuke smiled, the wind beating on his teeth.

“I love you,” Sasuke said at a very ordinary volume, knowing that the bike and the wind would take his voice away. Maybe one day he’d say it when Naruto could hear him.

Drabble prompt: Where’s your god now?

Naruto wrapped on the door expectantly, hearing loud rock music on the other side of the door. His blue bicycle rested against his hip as he smiled ear to ear, his helmet still on his head. The door swung open, revealing a muscular, lean man with a pearly complexion, wearing nothing but a black tank top and a pair of ripped blue jeans. The screeching sound of an electric guitar shot out into the open air.

The man tilted his head, covered in black, spiky hair that shot out in the back with dark blue tips. His arm, covered in a large snake tattoo, held the door open. Sucking on one of his snakebite piercings, he tilted his head to the side.

“Hello! Would you like to hear a word about our Lord and Savior?” Naruto asked, helpfully offering the black Bible he held in his hands.

The door slammed in Naruto’s face before he could even see the man’s reaction.

---

The man from Thursday had been even more resistant than his standard crowd. No matter.

He came on Sunday. He picked up the newspaper by the sidewalk in front of the man’s house. A sticker on the bag read: “Uchiha Sasuke.” So Sasuke… That was his name.

He knocked on the door, yet again, his bike resting by the curb. The door was again opened – only this time the man wore nothing but his boxers, chest covered with a large and intricate tattoo. Naruto found himself staring without any idea why. This time, Naruto could see into Sasuke’s house. An electric guitar rested on the couch, amp nearby.

“Hello! I thought that I would bring your paper to your door today. My name is Naruto, by the way.”

Sasuke abruptly grabbed the newspaper out of Naruto’s hand. Industrial rock exploded out of Sasuke’s house. Nine Inch Nails.

“Your god is dead.”

The song shouted out.

Naruto couldn’t hide the look on his face, eyes almost as wide as ping pong balls.

“And no one cares…”

“What’s wrong…Naruto, is it?” Sasuke asked with mock innocence, taking a hit off of his cigarette. His nails were painted black. “Don’t you like my music?”

“If there is a hell…”

“It is…very um…”

He couldn’t even listen to this! How could anyone say such irreverent things?

“I’ll see you there.”

Sasuke smirked, clearly enjoying watching Naruto squirm.

“Have a good day!” Naruto shouted over the music, flustered and not knowing what else to say. “God bless you!”

“Hail Satan,” Sasuke smiled, waving before slamming the door in Naruto’s face yet again.

---

That was it! Clearly, Sasuke was in the devil’s grasp! When he saw that man, he sensed something, and somehow he just knew… He was drawn to Sasuke. This was just a test that God had given him. He had to save this man!

He tried again on Wednesday. Sasuke didn’t answer.

“Sasuke…”

Naruto called out, wrapping on the door at the same modest volume.

“Saaasuke! I bring you the Good News!”

Sasuke blasted his sound system with Led Zeppelin, even the windows shaking from the noise. Naruto knocked several more times over the next ten minutes before leaving.

No matter. He’d come back another day.

---

Naruto came back every Sunday after that, each time around noon. He knocked, waited for about five minutes, and then left. Almost two months had passed.

Sasuke enjoyed tormenting Naruto. One Sunday, Sasuke was making himself a beet salad for lunch, his hands stained a brilliant red. He explained to Naruto that he was preparing a mouse for his monthly blood-letting ritual. And that tattoo on his forearm? The one in Latin? It meant, “glory to Baphomet.”

Naruto was easy on the eyes; he could say that much. He had one of the nicest asses that Sasuke had seen in his life. If only he could get Naruto out of that damned cardigan, dorky bowtie, and khakis and into his bed… It would be fun to toy with him.

Crazier things have happened.

Sasuke and his band had just finished playing at the Punk A Go Go, an underground club closer into the city. He was still dressed from the show: shirtless and with elaborate and snugly fitting chain leather pants. It was just past two in the morning, and his ’89 Camaro was passing through a rough area on the way home. He’d been paid almost three grand for that night, and he inserted the check into his wallet. He’d left the panties that had been thrown at him on the stage.

He rolled his windows up. This area was dangerous. In the light of his headlights, he saw a man in neatly pressed pants and a long-sleeved shirt limping away, running his rickety blue bicycle beside him. It was Naruto.

Sasuke slowed the car down, keeping pace with Naruto and rolling down the window.

“Hey!”

Naruto shrieked, only limping at a more frenzied pace.

“Oi, god squad!”

Naruto turned to Sasuke, still hobbling madly, a large gash on his lip.

“The fuck happened to you?” Sasuke called out.

“I was in…” Naruto panted… “I was in a bar and…”

Sasuke abruptly hit the brakes. Goddammit. This guy was going to get killed limping around a place like this, this late at night.

“Go home. The gangs around here would eat a wide-eyed kid like you for breakfast.”

“My bike! He slashed the tires on my bike, and he’s…” Naruto panted, wincing, still trying to move forward. “They’re chasing me! And…”

On foot? Sasuke looked back, seeing nothing.

“Get in the car, dumbass,” Sasuke said, rolling his eyes. Naruto opened the back door and tried to cram his broken bicycle in, attempting several times before finally pushing it through. He frantically made his way to the front door, and just as he popped the handle, there was a loud howl in the distance. The headlights of a blue pickup truck turned on, the car gaining momentum as it approached Sasuke’s car.

Naruto slammed the door behind him, and as if by instinct, Sasuke slammed on the gas, the car taking to the road like a bullet. Sasuke smoked his cigarette, taking a deep breath as the car quickly gained momentum. 50 miles an hour. 60. 70.

The pickup was gaining on them. Sasuke’s car was old, but the engine had six cylinders. It packed a punch. Sasuke shifted the gear.

80.

“How did you get into this mess?” Sasuke asked calmly.

90.

“I uh… I… Oh my goodness we are going fast!”

100.

“Do you want to live or not?” Sasuke sighed, sounding a little frustrated.

“Oh heavens…”

“Answer my question.”

105.

“I… Uh… The bar is very overrun with sin, so I went there to spread the Good News. There was this man there and he was being very disrespectful to a young black man! He called him the N word! And I approached him and explained to him that God loves all of his children, no matter what their skin color… And then he punched me in the face, Sasuke!”

“This…man didn’t happen to have his head shaved, maybe a cross tattoo on his right temple?”

“Yeah! He did!”

They could hear the hollers of several angry, drunk white men behind them.

“You just picked a fight with the baddest skinhead gang in town.”

“I did what?!”

Sasuke took another hit off of his cigarette, then he laughed. Whatever he had to say about Naruto, what he had done that night took balls.

“Hold on to your seat and enjoy the ride.”

Sasuke tuned into the local classic rock station, Pantera’s “Cowboys from Hell” just happening to blare out of Sasuke’s speakers to drown out Naruto’s voice.

Sasuke slammed the gas pedal down to the floor as the riff sounded.

115.

They were starting to lose the pickup. Another minute, the needle on Sasuke’s speedometer flirting with the 125 mark.

Sasuke lost the pickup over a turn. He skidded into an alley with a sharp right turn, going farther down and killing his headlights. The car came to a halt. In just a few seconds, the pickup truck drove right past them.

“Oh… Oh my…” Naruto panted.

Sasuke put out his cigarette.

“Where did you learn to drive that way?” Naruto asked, winded.

“Does it matter?”

Naruto shook his head. Then he began to laugh, and Sasuke joined him.

“That was really fun,” Naruto admitted, almost as if it were something to be ashamed of.

There was a brief silence.

“Hey, Sasuke…”

“Hm?”

“Do you really worship Satan?”

“I don’t worship anyone. Mankind has enough evil and good without throwing a god or devil into the mix.”

Naruto sat beside him, for once silent. He seemed to be lost in thought.

“Let’s get you home.”

Naruto directed Sasuke to his apartment, and they arrived there without incident. Sasuke pulled up. By the house was an old Toyota. The windows had been smashed in, glass shattered on the asphalt.

“Oh… Oh sh-shoot…”

“What?”

“That’s the car I share with my dad…”

“Where’s your god now?” Sasuke teased, raising a pierced eyebrow at him.

Naruto paused. He shook his head, and then he laughed.

“Sasuke, you are such a fucking asshole.”

Drabble prompt: “My nightmares are usually about losing you.”

“Wow. You look like shit,” Naruto blurted out.

This was his first time seeing Sasuke in over a month. Sasuke’s face was a near perfect white, hair matted to his forehead with sweat. His lips were pale and chapped. He was sitting at their table with a completely full glass of water next to him. The ice in it had nearly melted.

Sasuke stared back at him with his mouth ajar, any trace of shock on his face only lingering for seconds until he launched into ire.

“Coming from you? Really?”

Sasuke gestured at Naruto, his voice a little raspy from his sickness.

Naruto sat before him in a wheelchair. He had an impressive black eye, one broken leg, a fractured collarbone, and a few broken ribs. He hadn’t bothered to change out of his hospital clothes yet.

This was the first time Sasuke had seen him since that mission that went dangerously awry. It was no big deal, Naruto assessed. He was a fast healer, and no permanent damage had been done. In only about a month, he’d be right back into the swing of things.

His friends had all visited him in the hospital over the week he’d been admitted. He’d had plenty of meals transported to him from Ichiraku’s. Sasuke was the only one who could not. Given the particularly nasty (and very contagious) sort of stomach flu he’d contracted, no one wanted him anywhere near a hospital.

“Naruto, could you explain something to me?” Sasuke asked slowly, his tone dangerous.

Suddenly getting smashed by a giant metal hammer wielded by a ten-meter tall behemoth last week seemed like child’s play. Naruto felt himself sweat. He nodded quietly.

“Do you recall, at the academy, when we were ten years old, and Iruka told us to at all times guard our back and spine?”

Naruto nodded.

“Then why the fuck did you allow yourself to get your ribs broken just a couple fingers’ width away from your spinal column?”

“I got him just where I wanted him to be! It was almost finished!” Naruto shot back defensively, immediately baited by Sasuke’s words. “How the hell was I supposed to…”

“You fucking idiot!” Sasuke shouted, abruptly standing up, the chair screeching out as it was propelled backward. “You could have been paralyzed! You could have died! Does that not get through your thick skull?!”

“Are you forgetting that I’m in ANBU? That we’re both in ANBU?” Naruto hissed and then winced as he felt a sharp pang by his ribcage. It was true that after this, their missions had become far more perilous. “It’s part of the job description!”

“You were reckless and impatient. What you did went against even the most basic training we’ve received since we were children. The job is dangerous enough without you fucking around!”

Sasuke’s knees buckled, the world spinning around him. He braced himself with his single hand, sloppily returning to his seat. He fought the instinct to vomit. He was too angry for this, but he felt so light-headed that he couldn’t even yell anymore. He glared at Naruto, making sure that his stare communicated just how displeased with Naruto he really was.

Sasuke was right, as much as Naruto hated to admit it. But he’d been so close to victory. And he had been victorious. He’d just sustained…a little bit more bodily damage than what might have perhaps been ideal.

“Sasuke…” Naruto sighed. “Have you eaten anything today?”

“Don’t change the topic,” Sasuke muttered, finding himself weak.

“You need to get some rest.”

Sasuke nodded.

“Don’t think you’re getting off the hook.”

---

The instant Sasuke’s head hit the pillow, he was out. Naruto wondered how long Sasuke had kept himself awake for Naruto’s return. Whatever Sasuke had caught was really a rough bug. Naruto could feel his heat from across the bed, the mattress giving as Sasuke tossed and turned. From time to time, Sasuke would grunt. Sasuke usually was so still and quiet when he slept.

The sharp pain in Naruto’s sides made any position painful. His leg, bound and in a cast, was awkward to move. He’d refused painkillers because he was tough, dammit, and he didn’t need an easy way out. Maybe that hadn’t been the best decision.

Suddenly, Sasuke shot bolt upright in bed with a loud gasp, holding his chest with his hand and panting hard, eyes wide open. The bounce in the mattress caused Naruto to wince, but in just seconds he was sitting up as well, despite the pain, his hand on Sasuke’s shoulder. Every muscle was tense.

Sasuke jerked his head to look over at Naruto, his body relaxing but Sasuke’s hand still on his chest. He freed his hand from his chest and ran it down Naruto’s marked cheek, as if he didn’t trust his eyes. Reassured, Sasuke collapsed backward, lying down again.

Naruto pet Sasuke’s sweat sheened forehead softly, pulling away Sasuke’s bangs as Sasuke’s breathing began to return to normal.

“Nightmare?” Naruto asked quietly.

“Mn…” Sasuke nodded

That day, when Sasuke was only eight years old… The day his family was massacred, and he came back to the mess to find the outlines of his parents’ corpses outlined in chalk…

“It’s okay, Sasuke,” Naruto mumbled, petting Sasuke’s forehead. It was wrinkled from his eyes being clamped shut. “It’s over.”

“What?” Sasuke mumbled, his voice already slurring despite how awake he had been just seconds ago.

“You’re safe now. You won’t ever have to endure that again.”

Sasuke still looked confused for a few seconds, his fever slowing his mind and dulling his inhibitions. Realization finally presented itself on Sasuke’s face.

“No. These days, my nightmares are usually about losing you.”

Before Naruto had a chance to respond, a soft and peaceful snore from Sasuke announced that he had fallen back into slumber.