I Choose You
In his excitement to have his childhood friend back, Naruto kept glancing sideways. Sasuke was back. Things can go back to the way they were before.
His jet black hair was thin and long, like a curtain it covered half of his face.
He noisily slurped his noodles, and hummed when the hot steam hit his face.
Many people didn’t eat ramen during the day, when it was blazing hot, but Naruto didn’t mind. The hateful sun couldn’t be hot enough to keep him away from his favorite place on earth.
“Teme, how long are you staying this time?” he observed Sasuke’s face intently ready to detect a hint of a lie.
“I’m not sure,” Sasuke said shrugging.
Naruto didn’t push him, thinking it was too soon for them to be bickering. So after a long moment of silence, sasuke spoke up again, “Sakura, is she seeing anyone?”
A yellow eyebrow shot upwards, “why?” he couldn’t help himself from turning his entire body to face Sasuke. He inched his face towards Sasuke, as much as he cared for Sakura he couldn’t help but be thankful that she wasn’t here. Sasuke rarely brought her up and the rare time that he did it made something in Naruto twist uncomfortably.
But Sasuke’s pale and unexpressive face refused to give anything away. Naruto only became impatient and frustrated unlike Sakura who used to burst into tears whenever she couldn’t figure out how to read or help Sasuke.
“Is she?” Sasuke got up casually, already having finished a single bowl of. Naruto sprung up to his feet and fumbled to retrieve some cash.
“No, she isn’t. Sakura-chan works hard, she doesn’t have time to date,” Naruto said as he stepped out into the light traffic of people going on about their day.
The breeze made naruto smile broadly, the combination of the wind and the hot meal cooled him off.
“She’s good with children,” Sasuke said looking at Naruto.
“Eh? Yeah. I’m confused. What’s with the questions?” Naruto wrinkled his nose and crossed his arms behind his neck. But to Naruto’s happy annoyance, Sasuke didn’t say a word.
They walked until they parted ways. Naruto walked alone to his apartment while Sasuke left in a solitary walk to his childhood home. The homes’ of his clan were still untouched and were unkempt. Sasuke refused to stay anywhere else, he was going to return home whether it was empty and unresponsive.
For so long Naruto has been trying to reach him, even now that Sasuke was back it was a little odd and even a bit out of place.
“That asshole keeps leaving,” Naruto grumbled and stuck out his lower lip in a pout. It took him a considerably long time to realize he was gay. Friendship wasn’t the same as the longing need to be with someone, to make sure they didn’t suffer alone, or were left alone. He still considered Sasuke to be his match and equal in a fight. But was there more?
Naruto looked where he stepped as he hopped up the stairs up to his place. When he looked up, a wave of sadness overtook him and guilt pinched at his heart.
Iruka was standing outside, facing his door, with his head bowed down. Suddenly, as if he had sensed his presence, Iruka lifted up his head, sniffed and breathed out a shaky breath. All preparedness in the world would never have given him the strength that he needed now. He would never deny his weaknesses or hide them in front of someone he cared very deeply about.
He turned to face Naruto. And came close to regretting being emotionally out in the open. “How could I have fallen for someone I’ve looked after? Someone much younger than me?” he thought, “it’s no one’s fault but my own for letting things get this far.”
Naruto approached him in an unhurried walk. When he was beside him, he reached for his key and unlocked the door. “Iruka-Sensei, I’m sorry,” he quietly said, “Would you like to come in? Do you want to stay?”
Iruka brought himself to give a defeated nod. When he stared at Naruto’s dark blue eyes he felt like a child himself. He felt protected. He could be protected by Naruto afterall, he was much stronger than most.
Inside they went, passed the bed and the kitchen, which were across from each other. It was odd to enter a place where the bed was facing the kitchen, but it was spacious enough. Most homes usually invited you to see the living room first, but in Naruto’s case, the living room was at the end. Iruka smiled fondly, it suited Naruto’s personality, he didn’t care to be like everyone else.
“Naruto, I’m sorry. Things shouldn’t have happened the way they did,” he stood beside the sofa, not wanting to sit like he belonged there, like he had the past couple of months.
“There’s no need to apologize if it was me who overreacted. It was wrong of me to do that after you were there for me all this time. I think...I don’t deserve to ask, but can we start over again, Iruka-Sensei?” Naruto stood standing as well, not wanting to leave Iruka alone in his own discomfort.
The last thing Naruto wanted was to put a cold distance between him and Iruka. Naruto knew then that it would be unbearable if he and Iruka were no longer speaking to each other. He already had to get used to Sasuke leaving constantly, he wouldn’t know what he will do if Iruka was out of his life.
Even though Sasuke had no idea of Naruto’s newfound feelings for him, Naruto thought it had been a blow to Iruka’s heart to be discarded and disrespected like that. If the roles were reversed, Naruto was certain he would be bawling his eyes out and drinking all over again.
It was time for him to let go. Sasuke wasn’t in a criminal organization like Akatsuki anymore. He was home and his mind was sound. It was time to move on.
“Sasuke should try doing the chasing sometime. I’m done and I’m tired,” he thought. He closed his eyes, waiting begrudgingly, if Iruka said no, it was going to hurt like hell and it was going to be well deserved.
“You can’t be so thoughtless and kick me out like that again. Is that going to happen whenever you hear Sasuke’s name?” a stiff silence followed, but Naruto cleared his throat and clearly said no.
Iruka face heated up, he never ever imagine he’d ever be in this position of confessing his jealousy, his hurt feelings, and his attraction to Naruto. An uncontrolled kid who Iruka was forced to babysit and follow around the village to make sure his pranks didn’t get out of hand. A little noisy and overly enthusiastic kid...who grew up to be an amazing person.
“I-I like you Naruto, and I don’t want to be just a friend who listens to you and is there for you. I want more,” his hands found his hips and it bothered him how he sounded like he was giving a lecture in a class...at the academy.
“But, Iruka-Sensei, I’ve never been in a relationship before,” he blushed and scratched the back of his head.
A gentle and knowing smile formed on Iruka’s face, “I know.”
“Are you sure?”
“I think I would know if I’m sure or not. Are you?” Iruka remained still.
Naruto’s hand came to his mouth where he disguised a small, forced cough. A blush was smeared across his face. It was the first time he felt like he wanted to be wanted. Naruto’s mind traveled momentarily to Hinata, who he had good times with, but never actually clicked with. It wouldn’t have broken his heart if Hinata decide to be with someone else.
But with Iruka, the months they spent together. Mostly because he was concerned about his health, had to be the best he’d ever had. Iruka had seen him at his worst many times, but this time he wanted to stay drunk in his sorrows. It didn’t take long for him to sober up, he's been clean for five months,thanks to Iruka. So, really Iruka’s company save his life from staying in a dark, gloomy place.
Naruto brought a sharp thumbs up,“Okay, let’s do this, Iruka-Sensei. I’m ready for it. I choose you.”