Chapter Text
Sasuke shoved all thoughts away as he focused on the dark road ahead of him. If he even allowed himself to focus on how Naruto had sounded as if he'd been crying, he knew he'd struggle to drive safely.
His hands tightened around the steering wheel and he took a quick glance at his phone, checking to make sure that this truly was the quickest route. At times like these, he hated the small English countryside roads. He had to completely focus on the road and make sure he was always prepared to make space for another car.
But he just didn't care. All that rang through his head was Naruto's sniffles and his shaky voice. Sasuke had never heard him sound like that before—he never ever wanted to hear him sound like that again.
Fiddling with some buttons, Sasuke allowed the first radio station to connect to continue to play all throughout his journey. The unimportant chatter would distract him at times, breathing some normalcy into his current situation.
Turn right and in 100 feet, your destination will be on the left.
His spine straightened at the words and he leaned forwards, desperate to see where the blond was. Sasuke didn't know what he was expecting but it wasn't what he saw.
Naruto was standing beside the streetlight, his body leaning on it for support. His back was to Sasuke's car, facing towards the rest of the road ahead whilst his head was tilted to also rest on the pole. What struck Sasuke the most was his posture, how small and tucked into himself he looked.
His arms were bare, exposed to the chilly breeze of a spring night. He had them wrapped around his waist, clutching his sides with silent resignation which made Sasuke's stomach instantly drop.
Braking hard, Sasuke turned on his hazards and hurried out of the car. He, less elegantly than usual, pulled off his coat to place it over Naruto's shoulders and it was only then that the blond turned to face him.
If not for his years of practising his poker face, Sasuke might've crumbled right before Naruto when he saw him. His eyes were glassy and rimmed with an angry red that drowned out his usually electric blue eyes. Naruto's cheeks. A persistent crimson painted his cheeks as he aggressively wiped away the tears that had managed to roll down his face.
He looked utterly defeated. Crushed even. What on Earth had happened?
The last time Sasuke had left him, Naruto had been spending time with his two year old godson. He knew kids were mean these days but surely it hadn't been this bad.
"Come on, let's get you warmed up." He instructed, placing his hands on Naruto's shoulders and guiding him to the car he'd carelessly left in the middle of the road.
Sasuke held the door open and Naruto slumped inside before he shut the door. On his way to his own side, just as he was about to pull his own door open, Sasuke felt compelled to look up at the house Naruto had been standing in front of.
He made eye contact with what looked like a man, before they quickly shut the curtain and their dark form disappeared. At least he'd identified the culprit. His lips pulled in a thin line as he sat down, beginning their journey back to London.
—XX—
Naruto hadn't spoken at all.
It was daunting. In all these months, Sasuke had never sat in silence with Naruto unless the man was asleep.
Sasuke was beginning to have to grapple with the fact that he was incredibly inadequate when it came to emotional matters. Sure, he could tell Naruto was upset but whenever he tried to think of the most optimal way to comfort him, he short circuited.
So much time had passed with him trying to think of the best way to approach everything, that Naruto had curled up in his seat facing the window. The occasional sniffle would break the silence and Sasuke would stiffen, his chest tightening as if Naruto's pain was infectious.
Fuck it.
"What happened? It's fine if you don't want to talk about it just yet but at least say something." Sasuke asked hesitantly, his eyes flickering from Naruto to the road. When Naruto didn't even move an inch, Sasuke turned to pleading, "Please? Just say anything, I just need to know where your head is at."
The lack of light in the car made it damn near impossible for Sasuke to get a proper look at Naruto so he relied on his scent. He had to be careful since he was still an alpha but the utter despair that poured out of Naruto muted everything else.
His scent was heavy in the car, settling in every corner. The comforting smell of wet earth had saturated until it felt completely overpowering, leaving no room for anything to grow. Even the citrus had become feeble, no longer dancing along the Earth, but rather, becoming more buried with every passing second.
"I'm sorry the visit wasn't what you wanted it to be." Sasuke sighed, running his free hand through his damp hair. He'd left in such a rush that it hadn't fully dried after his shower.
"I…overstayed my welcome, I think." Naruto's voice was raspy, yet it still captured all of Sasuke's attention. His eyes widened slightly and he patiently waited for him to continue.
Shifting in the seat, Naruto faced ahead. Staring along the motorway.
"I don't even know why I'm crying so much." He chuckled bitterly, pulling Sasuke's coat off his shoulders to place it over his front like a blanket. "I'm sorry for calling you over here so late, I know you have work early in the morning."
Sasuke was about to interrupt, to insist that it didn't matter. That he honestly didn't give a rat's ass about work but Naruto didn't seem done.
"I didn't know who else to call, y'know? I just…I just knew you'd come and you'd…"
His voice wavered and Sasuke glanced at him in alarm. "I knew you'd come."
The knot in his stomach finally eased and Sasuke nodded in agreement.
It was such a primal feeling of satisfaction—to know that you were reliable and a source of strength for your an omega. Sasuke had considered these feelings barbaric in the past, an animalistic way of living in comparison to his much more evolved path, yet for some reason he was preening at the thought of it all.
"Of course I'd come." He affirmed, "Work doesn't matter much."
"Work doesn't matter?" Naruto huffed, "You run a multi-million-pound company."
The alpha shrugged, "Then it should be able to survive one morning without me."
"You're a workaholic, Sasuke. I think you need the company more than it needs you." Naruto pulled the coat further up, the collar of it now resting right below his nose and Sasuke tried to ignore the warmth spreading beneath his skin at the thought of Naruto using his scent to regulate himself.
"I'm not a workaholic." He mumbled, "It's called discipline."
"More like addiction."
Sasuke hid a smile. At least Naruto was back to talking again.
—XX—
Naruto had directed Sasuke to his apartment but had quickly realised that he'd forgotten his house keys back at Obito's place—Sasuke assumed that was the man at the window.
So after much insistence, Naruto headed back to Sasuke's home for the night.
Only after Naruto had finally agreed to come with him did Sasuke realise that he'd landed himself in a predicament. The penthouse was tidy, that wasn't an issue. He just didn't know what Naruto would think about it all.
Also, inviting another person into your space wasn't a small thing. He pulled into the underground parking before turning the engine off, shoving his keys into his pockets and stepping out of the car.
"You're sure you don't mind? I don't want to intrude." Naruto stared at him, his brows drew together gently. "I could just book a hotel for the night."
Sasuke walked towards the elevator, his steps faltering slightly at the worry that he might've been too pushy in his insistence. He turned on his heels, making Naruto suddenly stop right before he'd bumped into him.
"I mean, if you'd feel more comfortable in a hotel then of course I'll drive you there." He met the blond's eyes, relieved to see that the redness had faded, "But I'd also like to have you here. That way I know you're okay."
The alpha held his breath as Naruto stood before him silently, clearly deep in thought. It was unspoken but obvious that they were crossing a line that they couldn't draw again but this was also a matter of comfort for Sasuke. He just wanted Naruto where he could see him. Where he could help instantly.
He knew he was arrogant in his thought that maybe he could help Naruto more than anyone else—he just didn't want Naruto somewhere he couldn't reach. His fingers fiddled with the ends of his t-shirt whilst he awaited the omega's response.
"If you don't mind then." Naruto mumbled shyly, gesturing for Sasuke to walk ahead. The tension in Sasuke's shoulders eased before he even realised he'd been holding it there.
Once they stepped into the elevator and Sasuke scanned his key before pressing the highest floor, he could feel the line begin to fade with each passing moment. When the elevator doors shut, it truly sank in.
Naruto was the first omega in his penthouse since his divorce months ago.
Jesus, did that make him a bad person?
The thought should have unsettled him. But the truth was that it didn't.
Whatever that meant, all that mattered was Naruto.
"You live very high up." Naruto stated once the elevator doors opened and they stepped inside.
Chucking the keys onto a table at the entrance Sasuke grunted, "It's much more peaceful up here."
He was amused by how Naruto mirrored everything he did. When Sasuke slipped off his shoes, he watched Naruto hurriedly do the same.
Pulling some spare slippers from the shoe rack, Sasuke placed the before Naruto's feet and gestured for him to wear them before he grabbed his own slippers. "The floor takes a while to warm up so it's better for your feet to be covered."
They walked through the penthouse and once they reached the living room, Naruto headed over to the floor-to-ceiling windows. Marvelling at the beauty of London at night.
"It's stunning." His face was so close to the window that his breath fogged it up and he instantly pulled back in embarrassment, "Sorry."
Sasuke gave him a small smile, simply relieved that he was talking again. "That's another benefit of living so high up. It's a nice view to look at when you're doing some work."
"You're helpless." Naruto sighed, tucking his hands into the pockets of the coat. "But I get it."
His head tilted upwards, eyes locked on the full moon that sat in the clear, black sky. "The moon is my favourite bit of the sky." Naruto revealed, "I don't know why but I've always thought it was so interesting. Always changing yet never chaotic. It always seems so…calm."
"What's your favourite phase?" Sasuke asked softly, his gaze solely focused on the man beside him.
He'd hardly taken a second to think before replying, "Crescent Moon."
Sasuke shrugged, turning his head to look at the sky, "I've never spent much time paying attention to the moon, it doesn't seem like much to look at to me."
"What do you like then? The stars?"
Tilting his head in thought, Sasuke tried to remember the last time he'd really admired the sky. It had been years ago, when he'd gone to Australia on a business the trip. The sky had been so clear.
He remembered the relentless warmth most of all.
"…Maybe the sun."
"Seriously? I can't get with that. It burns, it's bright and you can't even stare at it directly." Naruto frowned, his words laced with disapproval. His shuddering only solidified how much he disagreed.
"I think that's why. You never really have to look for it, you can always just feel that it's there. Always warm and shining no matter what."
They stood there for a minute, admiring the city, the lights and the sky before Sasuke cleared his throat. It was getting late and they both needed rest, he turned his back to the windows before sitting down on the couch.
"I've got some clothes I can lend you to sleep in for tonight but I don't have anything spare for you to use in the shower." He hunched over, rubbing his chin in deep thought. Maybe he'd order extra toothbrushes and wash cloths in the morning.
"Would you be alright with a t-shirt and joggers or do you have any preferences?"
Naruto shook his head, still lingering at the windows. Despite all the beauty behind him, Sasuke's breath snagged at how Naruto looked. His golden hair was tousled, covering his forehead and ears but his cheeks still had remnants of pink lingering over them. He must've bit his lips quite a bit today because they were even redder than usual, greedily calling for all of his attention.
"I'm gonna grab the clothes, just follow me."
They headed towards the bedrooms. Sasuke pointed out that the guest bedroom was right after his before he disappeared into his room to find some clothes for Naruto to wear. Each one of his clothes were coated in his scent, even the ones he hadn't worn in a while but he hoped Naruto wouldn't mind.
He sure as hell didn't.
Once he'd found loose enough clothing, he headed to the guest room to find Naruto sitting on the edge of the bed. His face was covered by his hands but Sasuke immediately knew something wasn't right by how rigid his body looked.
"Are you okay?" His steps were wide and urgent as he dumped the clothes onto the bed before sitting right beside Naruto.
This time around, he didn't waste any time trying to think of the best way to comfort him. He just acted. Sasuke wrapped his arm around Naruto's trembling shoulders, pulling him into his chest before beginning to rub. Slowly and soothingly. Naruto's head fit right underneath his and Sasuke carefully placed his chin on the man's head, letting him fully lean into him.
For a split second, Sasuke worried that he'd overreacted but when he felt the first few droplets of tears falling from Naruto's eyes onto his shoulder, his grip on him tightened even more.
Naruto's hands searched blindly until they found the fabric of Sasuke's t-shirt. His fingers twisted into it with surprising strength, as though letting go might send him tumbling apart all over again.
Sasuke continued to rub him, he didn't know how long this went on for nor did he care. Some of Naruto's tears had even managed to get under his t-shirt, rolling down his chest but he simply carried on. He had no words capable of fixing this. So he simply stayed.
Soon enough the tears had dried up and Naruto's once rigid body was now limp against him. Sasuke didn't want to pull away but he knew he had to. He had to get Naruto into a more comfortable position—especially since he was finally peaceful enough to rest.
Carefully pulling away from the omega's grip, Sasuke shifted him higher up on the bed and rested his head on the pillows. He adjusted his head to make sure it wouldn't hurt the next morning before grabbing a blanket and throwing it over him.
Once satisfied, he stood on the doorway of the room and stared for a second. Naruto still hadn't told him what had happened but at least he was showing his pain instead of hiding it. Sasuke ran a tired hand over his face, savouring the sight before him. He didn't know if he'd ever see Naruto like this again.
So at ease. In his penthouse.
—XX—
Sasuke had fallen asleep immediately after sending Suigetsu a ridiculously late email stating that he'd be absent from work.
He rolled out of bed with the intention of taking a peek to see if Naruto was up, he'd ordered the extra necessities and they were due to be delivered soon.
Just as he stepped out of his bedroom, the door system announced that someone was on their way up. He winced at how loud the announcement was, dragging himself towards the door to receive the parcel.
"What was that?" A hoarse voice spoke up and Sasuke turned to see Naruto rubbing his eyes with a frown. His hair looked absolutely ridiculous—like a bird's nest.
But it also lit a fire in Sasuke, one he never even knew could burn within him. Somehow, Naruto's messy hair, oversized shirt and sleepy expression looked strangely natural against the backdrop of the penthouse. It was a seamless fit.
Sasuke had never been a domestic man but he understood the appeal.
"It must be the shower stuff I ordered. Go back to bed." He watched with a small grin as Naruto shuffled to him. Barely lifting his feet off the ground.
"I'm already up, might as well wait with ya." Yawning, he stretched his arms out like a cat and Sasuke chuffed at him.
"All those bones cracking are really showing your age."
"Hey!" Naruto exclaimed, gently pushing him with a grin and Sasuke pushed him back, accidentally using too much force. He wrapped his hands around Naruto's wrist, pulling him back before he could stumble.
That was when the elevator doors opened to reveal a woman Sasuke hadn't expected to see here.
Her grey eyes widened in shock at the scene in front of her and Sasuke was suddenly reminded of the plan they'd made for her to return the penthouse key and grab the stuff she'd left behind.
Naruto's head turned between the two, slowly putting the pieces together and Sasuke's muscles stayed taut under Hinata's gaze. He felt the omega quietly step back, slipping out of Sasuke's grasp.
Sasuke felt a hint of shame prickle beneath his skin, "Hinata. I'm sorry, let me grab your stuff."
The words came out quieter than intended.
"Nevermind that." Her voice was thinner than he'd ever heard it before, "I'll come back when you're…less busy."
She pressed the button but her eyes never left the pair of them until the doors shut. A cold sweat ran down Sasuke's forehead, his feet rooted to the floor. He had never heard her sound like that before.
Silence draped over the room, muffling even the faintest of noises. Sasuke couldn't remember ever seeing Hinata look so angry…or had she looked disappointed? He was unsure. An embarrassing realisation washed over him, that he didn't really know his wife of five years.
Not because of her, she had never hidden herself from him.
He'd just never even taken the time to see her.