Hey, I know it's been ages since I've done an update on my SasuNaruSasu fic Inked (terribad writer's block + life + insert excuse). But I want y'all to know that it is in no way forgotten.
I'm 373k+ words in, and I have another 6 chapters unposted, one of which just might be my favorite in the entire fic. Yet I want to hold off on posting until I have at least a rough draft to the ending. (Unless I crack and post a chapter because my writing is fueled by comments.) I don't want to leave everyone in the lurch like this again.
I'm getting close to the finale, and I feel a shitton of internal pressure to fucking nail it because, hell, it's the ending. There are key developments, and I have to deliver them in a way that makes you really feel.
And if you're a fan and want to continue reading this, please like this post, or even better, comment! They say that motivation should come from within, but let's be real, it's nice to be appreciated.
Thank you so much for your patience. I promise you that I will see this through. 💜
Naruto reflects on the changes happening in his life whilst getting work done on his tattoo.
Note: This is written in the “Inked” universe by OfFansAndFlames.
Warning! Spoilers up to chapter 9 of Inked!
---
Naruto always felt the most at peace when he was in this chair. The drone of the irons, the back and forth banter between Suigetsu and Karin, the rock music playing over the sound system. Aside from work, this place had become something of a second home for him. It was a place he could feel safe in.
He thought back to the very first time he had stepped through those doors. The first person he had seen had been Juugo, a large man with bright red hair. He could still remember declaring “I want a tattoo” when the man had asked him what he was there for. He’d been so awkward.
And then he’d been directed over to Suigetsu, though aside from his odd hair color and Russian accent, Naruto’s memory of meeting him was a slight bit blurry. That was probably because he had simultaneously caught sight of him - a beautiful man lying in a chair nearby.
He could clearly see in his mind’s eye the way Sasuke’s hair fell around the sides of his face, his eyes closed and body so relaxed that the blond swore he had been sleeping. At the time it didn’t make any sense to him - how could someone be getting inked and just lie there like they didn’t have another care in the world?
But now Naruto knew. Knew how calming it could be to be the one in the chair, relaxing while someone else took the reigns and worked on you. Someone that you felt you could trust.
Yes, he could trust Sasuke. It was amazing how close they’d become to each other since that first day in the shop, when the brunette looked like just another customer to him (who would have believed that guy owned the place?). It had only been a couple of months, but with their interactions both inside and outside of the parlor, Naruto had come to feel as if he’d known the man for years.
The thought was both nice and a bit crushing. He could feel Sasuke’s hands on him as he worked, and he tried to paint the feeling into his mind’s eye.
In less than two weeks, this would all just be a memory for him.
He was being deployed, and while he had trained for this very point in his life, had prepared himself both physically and mentally for the call, he never thought he’d have to leave something so precious behind him.
It felt unfair. Those words were always at the corners of his mind, before he brushed them away. He had no right to complain about what was and wasn’t fair when his country was at war. Still, his relationship with Sasuke had only just begun to bloom. It felt as if someone had taken a weed whacker to the seedling that had sprouted up between them before it had a chance to truly shine.
Their date at Shake Shack, the guitar lessons, the amazing sex, hanging out with the guys at the shop, and most recently, the beach at night - it all felt like a happy dream that he would have been complacent to keep on living in. Even if Sasuke had made it clear that he wasn’t looking for anything long-term, Naruto couldn’t shake the feeling he had when he was with him. That if there was such a thing as the one, then Sasuke was it.
If only he had had more time.
He could feel Sasuke’s gloved hands moving over his back, feel the irons pumping down and marking his skin permanently. Sasuke was working on the fifth tail of the fox on his back today. Ultimately, he wouldn’t be getting all nine done before he left, but he’d take what he could get.
Despite the mess that was his head right now, his body felt at peace. He was relaxed. He was safe. These were the feelings he wanted to remember. When he was a million miles from home, these were the memories he wanted to hold onto.
He knew that the moments now were forever fleeting from him, but he’d keep his head held tall, his shoulders squared. He’d face it all head on, like he always had.
Maybe Sasuke wasn’t meant to be a “forever” in his life. Maybe this was all doomed to end before it ever really began. Even still, Naruto wouldn’t let himself forget this. Wouldn’t let himself forget the joy and excitement that Sasuke brought into his life. Wouldn’t forget the new friends he’d made, or the love that had grown in his heart.
No, certainly not. For even if his feelings were to one day fade away, and the memories crumbled to dust, one thing would never change. That was the ink being drawn into his skin. It would be with him for the rest of his life. Right now, Sasuke was putting a piece of himself on him and Naruto vowed to cherish it with everything he had, no matter what happened between them now or in the future to come.
And in that very chair, in which so many memories had been carved, the blond took a steady breath in, and, moments later, found himself drifting off to sleep.
Rules: Answer these 92 statements and tag 20 people.
THE LAST:
1. Drink: Water
2. Phone call: My mom
3. Text message: My bf.
4. Song you listened to: Say You Won’t Let Go by James Arthur
5. Time you cried: Uh...idk? It’s been a while.
HAVE YOU:
6. Dated someone twice: No
7. Kissed someone and regretted it: No
8. Been cheated on: No
9. Lost someone special: Yes...
10. Been depressed: Yup.
11. Gotten drunk and thrown up: Yup. Once on my 21st birthday. Never drank again after that.
LIST 3 FAVORITE COLORS:
12-14: Green, blue, and purple.
IN THE LAST YEAR HAVE YOU:
15. Made new friends: I’ve made a couple of friends at work, some in college, and some through tumblr.
16. Fallen out of love: Nope.
17. Laughed until you cried: Yes
18. Found out someone was talking about you: Yes.
19. Met someone who changed you: Nope.
20. Found out who your friends are: Yes.
21. Kissed someone on your Facebook list: Yes.
GENERAL:
22. How many of your Facebook friends do you know in real life: All of them lol.
23. Do you have any pets: Nope. Wish I had a dog though.
24. Do you want to change your name: Nah.
25. What did you do for your last Birthday: Celebrated my 21st with my friends and family. :)
26. What time did you wake up: I usually wake up around 8:30ish?
27. What were you doing at midnight last night: Reading fanfics...I probably should have been sleeping.
28. Name something you can’t wait for: My trip to Japan with friends next Spring ^_^
29. When was the last time you saw your mom: I live with her so I see her every day.
30. What is one thing you wish you could change in your life: I wish that I was more physically fit and had more confidence in myself.
31. What are you listening right now: Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack
32. Have you ever talked to a person named Tom: Uh...my bf’s sister’s boyfriend is named Tom.
33. Something that is getting on your nerves: There are many things...I am very irritable.
34. Most visited Website: Tumblr maybe?
LOST QUESTIONS. I JUST PUT IN RANDOM INFO ABOUT ME
35. Mole/s: Yeah, on various places on my body
36. Mark/s: Like...scars? I have a scar on my knee from the stitches I had to get when I was 12 after falling off a wall. A stick stabbed my knee...don’t ask how that happened.
37. Childhood dream: I wanted to become an entomologist (study bugs) but that was before I started hating bugs.
38. Haircolor: Dark, dark brown.
39. Long or short hair: Idk? Medium, really. I’ve always had mostly long hair though.
40. Do you have a crush on someone: Does my bf count? Lol.
41. What do you like about yourself: Um...I...don’t know? There isn’t much I like about myself really. Er...I guess my ability to be rather perceptive of others?
42. Piercings: None.
43. Bloodtype: Dunno.
44. Nickname: Yumi, Yums, Yu.
45. Relationship status: In a relationship.
46. Zodiac: Leo
47. Pronouns: She/her
48. Favorite TV Show: Uh...does anime count? If so, My Hero Academia. As far as normal TV shows, I guess I’d have to go with Castle.
49. Tattoos: None. Though me and one of my best friends talked about getting matching sun and moon tattoos.
50. Right or left hand: Right
51. Surgery: One when I broke my arm when I was four.
52. Hair dyed in different color: I used to have highlights when I was 11-12. Then dyed it this reddish, brown color. Dyed the tips red when I was 16. And then I re-dyed my hair a dark brown when I was 18
53. Sport: Softball, soccer, and air riflery.
55. Vacation: Going to Japan with friends/family.
56. Pair of trainers: What.
MORE GENERAL:
57. Eating: ?? I had a kimchee noodle bowl for dinner.
58. Drinking: With water.
59. I’m about to: Sleep.
61. Waiting for: Nothing
62. Want: A normal sleep schedule.
63. Get married: It’s come up with my bf but it won’t happen until both of us have finished school and are stable as individuals.
64. Career: Currently, I work as a sales associate. But I want to be a high school English teacher.
WHICH IS BETTER
65. Hugs or kisses: Both. Though, I am partial to hugs.
66. Lips or eyes: Depends on my mood.
67. Shorter or taller: Usually taller but not too tall.
68. Older or younger: Doesn’t matter to me. As long as the age difference isn’t too large. There is a six month difference between me and my bf. I’m older.
70. Nice arms or nice stomach: Arms? Lol.
71. Sensitive or loud: My bf is both and compensates for me since I’m more quiet and reserved. I’m not all that sensitive. He’s a lot more sensitive between the two of us.
72. Hook up or relationship: Relationship.
73. Troublemaker or hesitant: Troublemaker. I like stirring up trouble every once in a while.
HAVE YOU EVER:
74. Kissed a Stranger: Nope.
75. Drank hard liquor: Yes
76. Lost glasses/contact lenses: Nope. I have neither.
77. Turned someone down: Yes.
78. Sex on the first date: Nope.
79. Broken someone’s heart: Yes...sometimes I do it unintentionally...
80. Had your heart broken: Yes. By the same best friend that wanted matching tattoos. Went through kind of rough patch with her when we were 10. We’re good now and better than ever. :)
81. Been arrested: Nope.
82. Cried when someone died: Yes. I tried very hard not to but in the end the tears just kept flowing.
83. Fallen for a friend: Yes. One of the best types of relationships is having a lover and a friend in one.
DO YOU BELIEVE IN:
84. Yourself: Not really...
85. Miracles: Yes. I have seen them happen.
86. Love at first sight: No. Love requires understanding a person.
87. Santa Claus: Believed in him all the way up until I was 11.
88. Kiss on the first date: Er...I kind go by a three week deal. Idk? I’m weird like that.
OTHER:
90. Current best friend name: I don’t really have a sole best friend. I have about four. But I don’t think they’d want me sharing their names lol.
91. Eyecolor: Dark brown.
92. Favorite movie: Uh...I can’t recall. I guess I’ll go with Moana?
I tag: @rei-scarlet, @narutoandsasukearecanon, @sns-is-my-lifeblood, @tomato-x-ramen, who ever wants to.
omfg did someone insult your beautiful art? i will fight them. (no seriously, i LOVE your art so much. you could publish professional e-comics, and i would be on that shit 1000% <- not a typo)
JFKDSJFKDSLAFDJSKLhhh hh *hides face* it was a troll, don’t worry about it ;u; but aaaHHH gos h i cant even do comics properly rn but im very flattered you think so, thank you (⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄) <33
Hey all! At long last, I've updated Inked. Thank you, everyone, for your patience!
57. Past, Meet Future
Enjoy~
–
Naruto, an on-call marine, finds himself at the mercy of the talented hands of Uchiha Sasuke, an insomniac tattoo artist working in New York City. As physical and psychological distance tests their budding romance, two strong men must learn to embrace their weaknesses to connect and find peace.
(Hurt/comfort, BDSM, humor, antiwar, Sasuke and Naruto are switches) Rated: Explicit
