Naruto + Sasuke ficlet

The time for words has passed, and now all Naruto can do is fight him, which is somehow a lot easier.  But still hard.  Ironically, now that they're on opposite sides, their moves compliment each other perfectly; they're an even match.  When they're as exhausted in body as they are in soul, they collapse on the ground next to each other as if they were teammates taking a break from sparring.  Naruto pretends for a few seconds that they are.  It isn't enough.

Their eyes meet, and Naruto tries one more time to think of the magic words that will fix whatever's broken in his ally, his rival, his friend.  Sooner or later the words will come to him.

It's not going to happen any time soon.

There are no words, and they can't fight anymore.  Naruto, frustrated, rolls over on top of Sasuke and holds him down, unwilling to let him escape or get the upper hand, and it's then that Sasuke starts to look scared.

Naruto understands why when their lips lock together in something like a kiss.

He probably should've seen it coming.  They've done everything else to each other.  It's almost like coming full circle.  Almost.

But nothing changes after they pull away from each other, eyes wide and pupils dilated, bodies marked, breathing hard.  He's not going to come home; not today.  Naruto isn't going to ask.  In fact, as Sasuke disappears between the trees, Naruto can't think of a single thing to say.