A blonde mop of hair was blending in almost perfectly - hidden in between the hay that was being stored outside of the stable. Sasuke was quietly sneaking up, using the element of surprise to his advantage and flicking the other man's forehead playfully. There was a soft plop, followed by a whiny - overdramatic - hiss, just before the other looked up at him, familiar blue eyes meeting his glance.
"There is quite the turmoil in the palace.", Sasuke smirked, "what are you hiding from this time, your highness?"
He made sure to stress that last part. Naruto visibly pouted.
"You're the future king.", Sasuke stated nonchalantly, shrugging at the blonde without a second thought. It might have only been for a split second then, yet Sasuke caught it - the way a worried and hurt expression crossed Naruto's usually carefree face all of a sudden. He didn't expect that. It must be something truly troublesome this time then, if it could cause this, leaving Naruto this worried.
Sasuke sighed, motioning for the other to move a bit - only to make some space where Sasuke could sit down beside him in the hay. Naruto didn't need to be told twice. He shifted almost immediately, even reaching out - instantly grabbing Sasuke's wrist to gently pull him closer. As soon as Sasuke was next to him the prince leaned onto him, letting his head fall down right on the other man's shoulder. Sasuke sighed. One day, someone will surely catch them like this - probably Iruka, Naruto's overprotective butler - and all of this, them, will go up in flames. After all, Naruto was the future king of this realm and Sasuke, well, he was nothing more than the stable boy - an orphan the palace had kindly taken in so many years ago after his family had been killed, saving him from inevitable starvation.
This had been such a bad idea, yet, completetly out of Sasuke's control ever since the first time he had seen Naruto all of this time ago.
They had barely been 8 years old when Sasuke had met him - helping this very loud, obnouxious brat mount a horse for the first time. It had been a pain in the ass.
So, considering that, and several other encounters they had had, he didn't know how somehow along the way, during the years that had passed he had fallen in love with this incredible idiot.
Yes, it had been an utterly bad idea.
Still, right now, he raised his hand, his fingers easily finding their way - softly stroking through blonde hair, trying to soothe him, even though he didn't know what for yet. It became quiet around them for a while.
"What's wrong?", he eventually asked. To make it better, Sasuke had to first understand the problem.
He could hear the other man swallow - somehow trying to get even closer to Sasuke, making absolutely sure to not meet his eyes as those next words left his mouth bitterly.
"They... want me to get married."
Sasuke felt his stomach turn in the blink of an eye. Of course they would want that, he was such an idiot. Naruto's eightteenth birthday was in less then two months from now. He would become king in less then two months - finally able to step into his late father's footsteps. He will be king and they expect him to find someone - someone noble and rich - to rule by his side, someone for Naruto to love and eventually start a family with.
Sasuke's body felt rigid all of a sudden - something heavy weighting down not only his heart, but his whole being.
Of course they would want him to get married.
Of fucking course they would-
Naruto's voice was barely above a whisper when he spoke up again, yet Sasuke could hear him perfectly. The blonde was still pressed up against him and Sasuke was able to feel him, his warm breath - the rise and fall of his chest - all of it making his mind spin, his heart beat louder.
He didn't know if he could bear hearing those next few words Naruto was about to say.
He didn't know if they would help, soothing the pain in his heart even a little bit, or if they would set it on fire even more. He wasn't sure if he wanted to find out. Naruto said it anyway.
"How can I marry someone else if I'm so inevitably in love with you?"
SNS day 26 : Royalty AU or Codependency
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