Sasuke stands there, unable to answer. The question Naruto asked just moments before is heavy, weighted with concern and ignorant curiosity. It requires Sasuke to reveal the dark secrets of his past, buried deep beneath his pride and resentment. His attitude turns cold as he grunts and turns away from Naruto.

"Well?" Naruto says, hoping this will encourage Sasuke to say something. But he doesn't. His lips are sealed.

Sasuke pulls his hand away from Naruto's grasp. "He's just an asshole, okay?"

Naruto knows this isn't true. Itachi is kind. His voice is gentle, and his eyes hold such unbridled love for the world and everything in it.

"No, he isn't," Naruto defends Itachi. "He cares about you. Whenever I'm with him, he always asks about you. If you just--"

Sasuke spins around quickly. His black eyes hold such malice and possessiveness that it causes Naruto to take a few steps back.

"You... you hang out with him?" Sasuke asks, already assuming the answer is yes. "Is that where you've been?!"

Naruto knows he's fucked up. The words catch in his throat as his eyes dart around, looking anywhere other than Sasuke's enraged eyes.

"You were with him, weren't you?!"

Naruto clasps his eyes shut and nods, hoping Sasuke will spare his life. "I'm sorry, please--"

He isn't able to finish his sentence. Sasuke is already pushing his lips against Naruto's, trying to mark him. The kiss is sloppy and needy. Naruto can't keep up with how Sasuke is kissing him but returns each messy kiss with enthusiasm. 

Sasuke's hands slip underneath the thin fabric of Naruto's shirt, skimming over raised skin and bruises. Naruto winces at the pain he feels once Sasuke presses a little too hard on his bruised stomach.

Naruto pulls away from Sasuke, telling him to stop. He hesitates but yields, stepping back from Naruto.

"I'm sorry I just," he pauses, clenching his eyes shut. "Please, stay away from Itachi. He's dangerous."

"No he's-"

"Naruto! Just listen to me!"

"If you don't tell me why, I won't stay away from him."

Sasuke grits his teeth. He lets out a frustrated yell and turns on his heel. "Fine! See if I care!"

He does care. A lot. He doesn't want Naruto anywhere near his rotten brother, but he can't monitor Naruto.

"Tell me why you hate him."

Your persistence is annoying, Sasuke thinks as he looks over his shoulder.

Naruto's blue eyes hold unwavering curiosity and determination. Sasuke would've thought it was a cute look on him if this attitude wasn't directed at him.

Sasuke blows air out of his nose in an irritated huff. His jaw clenches and unclenches. If Naruto weren't the love of his life, he'd probably punch Naruto in the face.

"I'll tell you when you have sex with me."

The determination Sasuke once saw in Naruto's eyes falters as he blushes.

"F-Fine then! Don't tell me," Naruto stutters as he walks away.

With a sigh of relief, Sasuke heads toward his dorm. "I knew that would get him off my back."

He still feels apprehensive about the situation, and his hands can't stop shaking from the uneasiness that flows through his body.

Why did he want to know that all of a sudden? He wonders as he holds his sides to ease his anxieties. What did you tell him Itachi? What did you talk about?

...

Naruto comes barreling through his dorm, surprising Sai. He's erratic, frustrated, and flustered. He doesn't even close the door all the way, much to Sai's annoyance.

"Sasuke has a dark secret!" Naruto wails out.

Sai continues painting, rolling his eyes. "What? That he likes to be sounded?"

Confused, Naruto raises an eyebrow, allowing the conversation to go off the rails a bit. "What's that?"

"Well, it's a kink where you, ah," Sai stops, glancing at the innocence in Naruto's face. "Never mind. What's his dark secret?"

"I don't know! He won't tell me," Naruto sighs, collapsing on his bed. "I just want to know why he hates Itachi so much."

"Probably cause Itachi is like a thousand times hotter than him," Sai says, mixing blue and pink paint together.

"No. That's such a petty thing to hate your brother over. He got so mad when I told him that me and Itachi hang out."

Sai hums, looking up at the curling before dipping his paintbrush in the color he just made. "Well, there was this one time when Deidara used Sasuke to get closer to Itachi. Deidara and him were like steady for a while, then Sasuke introduced him to Itachi. From what I heard, Deidara fell head over heels in love with Itachi, but of course, Itachi wasn't interested especially after Deidara broke it off with Sasuke."

Naruto sits up quickly, his eyes sparkling like Sai just solved an intricate puzzle. "You say that you hate Sasuke, but you sure do know a lot about him."

Sai shrugs. "Well, you have to have dirt on your enemies."

Naruto sits cross-legged on his bed, thinking about how Sasuke reacted to Naruto's secret hangouts with Itachi. Sasuke was just as possessive as that one time where he violated Naruto in the bathroom. Clingy, touchy, like he wanted to mark Naruto all over.

"I think I have a plan to make Sasuke jealous."

"And what is it?" Sai asks, only half-listening to his roommate.

Naruto grins, proud of his plan. "I'm gonna tell him I had sex with Itachi."

Sai snorts. "It's your funeral kid."

Just then, their door slams wide open, and there standing in the doorway is Sasuke. His eyebrows furrow, digging into the crease between them. His cheeks are puffed out and red with embarrassment.

"Why do you hang out with Itachi more than me?!" He whines, clearly pouting.

Naruto shrugs. "He's nicer than you. Doesn't always try to get in my pants."

"But I'm better!" Sasuke stomps his foot like he's throwing a tantrum.

Naruto ignores him. "And his fingers are so long."

"What?" Confusion is evident in Sasuke's face since this comment came out of nowhere.

"I was practically calling him Daddy while he sucked me off."

the pieces of the puzzle start piecing together in Sasuke's head. Within moments, Sasuke is lifting Naruto by the collar of his shirt. His incredible strength doesn't surprise Naruto, but it does scare him.

"You had sex with him?!" Sasuke yells, shaking Naruto.

Naruto swallows his fear and says, "Well, we didn't go all the way."

Although his voice is small and quiet, Sasuke hears Naruto perfectly clear. He drops Naruto on his butt and holds his head in his hands. "You let that good for nothing bastard get you off?! I can't believe you!"

Naruto stares at Sasuke's distress, wondering if he went too far. Regardless, he still wants to ask his question. "He took Deidara from you, right?"

Sasuke turns to Naruto, bewilderment, and anger in his eyes. "Wha-"

"Is that why you hate him?" Naruto questions, picking himself off the floor.

"Who told you that." It's more of a demand than a question, and Naruto answers by pointing to Sai who is peacefully painting.

Sasuke glares at the other boy, smacking his painting off his easel. "You're such a nosy little brat."

Without any emotion in his eyes, Sai smiles. "Thank you, I take pride in my work."

Sasuke growls and turns towards Naruto again. That same curiosity and determination from before lies on his face.

"No. That's not why I hate Itachi. I could care less about that bitch Deidara," Sasuke sighs, defeated. "If he wants Itachi, he can have him."

Another sigh leaves Sasuke's lips. "Why do you care so much Naruto?" His voice is quiet.

"Itachi cares a lot about you, ya know. He worries, a lot. He thinks you're going down a dark road," Naruto replies, stepping forward and reaching out to Sasuke. To Naruto's surprise, Sasuke leans out of his touch.

Sasuke's eyes clench shut, and he grits his teeth together. "Well, fuck him! I don't care about what he thinks."

The silence chokes them, and finally, Sasuke meets Naruto's eyes. "Just stay out of it, okay?"

Sasuke leaves. The door closes behind him with a gentle click.

He could've sworn. Not only did Sasuke's voice crack, but he could've sworn... The sorrow and agony in his voice when Sasuke told Naruto to stay out of it was loud and clear. But he could've sworn...

Naruto saw a tear.

He could've sworn he saw a tear in Sasuke's eyes.

...

A/N: oof- I did this all on my phone, and now my fingers are dead. Today I learned that 250 words = one book page. I'm always so worried that I'm not writing enough in a chapter, but now I realize I'm giving y'all on average 4-7 pages each chapter. Hope you enjoyed. Love you, bye!