varations of light and shade

A swooshing noise filled the room, reverberating from the old glazed turquoise tiles. Sprinkles of  water hitting them united to fine lines running over the polished surface before they parted again in slowly crumbling joints. For an ephemeral moment they left a non-detectable pattern of drops and stains on the wall before they were washed away by another flood of water.

Taking a shower was the only thing he had been able to think of after that... stupid fight. Small piles of carelessly discarded clothes on the floor bore witness to his spontaneous action. He couldn't care less about that, he never did. Wasn't it exactly what this moron of an Uchiha had just criticized so heavily about him, his recklessness?
Tah, go speak for yourself, bastard... Kicking him like that... What was he? A damn punching bag? Why was Sasuke constantly keeping on and on at him? Yelling! As if he was a deaf idiot... He better should go wash his own ears. Maybe then he would have been able to hear that it hadn't been his fault! He really wasn't the one responsible for Sasuke keeping his stuff in non-fall-proofed height. If it wouldn't have been him breaking the thing, sooner or later someone else would have come along and thrown it down from the cupboard. That “precious” item, tah. Precious the moment he let it drop, that's for sure. Sasuke never had shown any special appreciation to it before. He bet its value raised exactly the second the bastard detected the shards he had overlooked to tuck
away. Damn glass...

A muffled rustling stopped his flood of thoughts. Naruto stiffened instantly and pricked up his ears. Was there someone in here? He didn't turn but simply listened carefully whether there was any sign of noise in the steamy room behind him. Silence. He couldn't detect anything but the swoosh of
water echoing from the walls. Hm, if it's nothing, he'd be going to...

“Make a move.”

Naruto almost crashed into the ceiling jumping up.

“Sasuke!” That bastard really stood rightly at the door, getting ready to enter the shower.

“Now move or you are going to wet your clothes.”

“Sorry, but this seat is already taken, if you haven't noticed yet.”

“Step aside or I'm going to make you.”

“No way.” Naruto shrank his arms in pure obstinacy.

“Do you really want me to get physical again?” Sasuke sent one of his cold gazes towards his roommate. “Naruto, if you don't move in a second, you are going to flood the entire bathroom again and this time I won't help you with the cleaning, just to be clear about that point!” Naruto peeked over his mates shoulder and in this very second of inadvertence, Sasuke stepped next to him.

“Hey! I didn't say...”

“Just cut it.” Sasuke closed the door behind them.

“You are going to take a shower? Fine, I'm done anyway.” Naruto tried to pass, but Sasuke blocked the way. “Let me pass, teme, or I'm going to slash my way through!”

They stood so close their skin almost touched, their glares hanging on each others narrowed eyes
without winking, ignoring the jets of water pouring down on them. As time and water ran by,
Naruto moved first.

“So what are you going to do now, teme? Whooping me again? Shouting? Playing lawyer, judge
and hangman all in one again?” Sasuke narrowed his eyes even more.

“... Oh, Sasuke, I'm sick of death of explaining over and over again that I didn't let it drop on
purpose.”

“Ha, and I also am tired of hearing your lame excuses over and over again, that you didn't do this or that on purpose. I won't let that count any more, Naruto. Not this time. Not in case of Itachi's...” There was a sudden crack in his voice. Both noticed. Naruto could read the sadness in his mates eyes and Sasuke Naruto's sudden recognition. After some uncomfortable seconds of silence and embarrassing stares, Naruto looked down and trashed his defensive guard, trying to reach his mate.

“I'm really sorry, Sasuke... It wasn't on...”

“Ahh, I've had enough of that lame excuse of yours, I've heard it like a billion times, Usuraton-”, but Sasuke stopped himself when Naruto looked up and he finally understood what he saw - Naruto with his big blue eyes, in deepest pain and discomfort. He really was sorry. He knew it.

Ten minutes ago, Naruto had told him that he was about to tidy up and clean their home, when this silly accident happened. Cleaning had been necessary, yeah, obviously necessary for weeks since his last party... Sasuke had no objections against the small or less small gaming evenings Naruto was organizing in their tiny flat. No, it was more the effort he couldn't stand that he had to make afterward for weeks to bring Naruto to clear away the rubbish he and his friends had caused. But, even if he hadn't said it out loud, Sasuke knew that this little extra cleaning session had been for him alone.
Each year, Sasuke made a clear announcement that he didn't want even a hint of any sort of celebration for his birthday – and every year, Naruto ignored that wish. He always organized a party for him that started and ended in a yelling session of these two.
Last year, Sasuke even tried to dodge the party. He thought it would be easy to avoid a predictable 'surprise', but instead Naruto surprised him rather by displacing the event exactly to the place where Sasuke had been chosen to hide. If Naruto's cleaning session wouldn't have caused that stupid incident... he would have surprised him by that again! He always did.

“Let's just forget about it.”, Sasuke murmured and looked away. “It's no use to cry over spilled milk. Guess I was overreacting.”

“Yeah, me too.” Naruto looked at his mate as if he wished desperately for something more than just some words of surficial forgiveness. But the Uchiha kept his look on the floor.

“You want to leave or join me?” Sasuke said it as if it was a casual question, but in truth it was much more. He utterly hoped for Naruto to stay ...and that referred not just to the shower. Naruto also looked down. There was this awkward silence between them for a moment.

“I guess it can't hurt to stay for a while.” Naruto turned to the wall. He was a bit disappointed, but didn't want to show it.

“Could you please rub my back, Sasuke?”

“Hn.” Sasuke took a sponge and did what he was asked for. First his touch was objective just concentrated on the task, but then his hand moved slower over Naruto's skin. He caressed every raise and immersion of his muscular structure cautiously. A sad desire showed up on his face. Naruto shuddered lightly under his touch and Sasuke suddenly thought to hear a sniffing.

“Are you crying, dobe?”

“No!”, he sniffled. “It's just the soap running into my eyes and nose.” He wiped his face and
sniffled on.

“Stop lying, idiot.” Sasuke's tone was rough. “ I'm standing right behind you.”

“It's just...I thought a..about that item...” Naruto's voice sounded nervous. “I mean, Itachi's... I... I should have been more careful. I shouldn't have touched it or ignored that the cupboard is yours to touch alone, you've told me so many times, but I didn't think, and was, I just, I... I...should have listened to you for once... I'm such an...” That was enough! Sasuke grabbed his mate and squeezed him tightly.

“No you're not, I'm the idiot here for fuming about something that can't be changed anymore. Things like that just happen. Everything has its time to go. I know you're sorry. I apologize.” Naruto stiffened in shock.

“What did you just say?”

“I apologize, Naruto, for being a mess all my life and causing you nothing but pain.”

“That's not true. You never caused me pain.”

“Do I have to remember you?” Sasuke smiled sadly.

“Maybe once, but that's long ago.” Naruto put his hands on those of his mate. “I already forgot
everything. I'm happy you stay with me.”

“Hn, I should be the one being happy. But instead I make you feel guilty like this.” He put small  kisses on his back, moving downward. “Let me show you my appreciation for once.”

Naruto did leave a track of chaos behind him, that's for sure... But on that path, he also collected the broken pieces of other human beings, that those were leaving behind. He also had cleaned up the mess Sasuke had left. Oh, and which kind of a big mess that had been...

Now Sasuke only wanted to comfort this man. To let go all his doubts and stupid feelings of pain and guilt and stuff. He so adored that guy for his ignorance and persistence and, yes, also for his clumsiness. Sasuke couldn't but smile. He knelt down and put a gentle kiss on Naruto's behind. He had kicked that part enough, now it was time to make up for it. And Naruto understood this simple gesture. It wasn't meant as an erotic invitation, it was just a sign of deep intimacy between them, a mutual understanding without any words. He finally relaxed, leaning his arms against the wall and just enjoyed this moment of peace.

“Thank you, Naruto.”, Sasuke said.

“What for?”, Naruto asked bewildered, too shy to make a move – no chance he'd let Sasuke see him
blushing!

“For being yourself. For being here with me, standing by my side despite of all my mistakes.” He held him tight.

“I love you, Naruto Uzumaki.”

“Don't say that to my butt, say it to my face.”

Sasuke's facial expression changed from lovebird to demon. He smacked Naruto's butt.

“Usuratonkachi.”

“Teme.” Naruto smirked. Now everything was good again.