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For the lack of a better word, Sasuke was fucked.

This had started so well. He had cleared his bedroom, scrubbing every corner. Then he had put fresh sheets on the bed, creating a base. The base he needed. Because Sasuke wanted to build a nest.

“Fuck,” he cursed under his breath, shifting his weight from one leg to the other. “How do I even start?”

It‘s not like anyone had taught him how to do this. Yes, it was traditional and yes, he had classes on courting thanks to his family‘s higher status but that didn’t mean Sasuke had any idea how to build an actual nest in his actual bedroom for his actual—

“Fuck!” he shouted again, kicking his foot against the bedpost. “Why is this so hard?”

Why couldn’t it be easy? Just as easy as his brother had claimed Haku years ago. He had brought the man gifts, had taken him on dates, had done all the cliché alpha-omega bullshit. And of course it had swayed Haku’s already bleeding heart.

The problem was that Sasuke didn’t intend to court just anyone. He wasn’t out for a meek little omega waiting for the big alpha warrior to sweep him off his feet. No. Sasuke had gone and fallen for someone headstrong, someone full of energy and life. He had been drawn in by the heat of the moment and stayed for the warmth of the afterglow.

And now he was here. Trying to build a nest for a warrior omega who didn’t give a damn about pretty or dainty things, who Sasuke knew appreciated thoughtfulness and thoroughness. Who—

Wait. Maybe he could—

Sasuke leapt out of the window.

***

“You should’ve seen the look on your face when that guy got up after you struck him down,” Naruto laughed. He removed his helmet and shook out his long hair, and Sasuke was–

Sasuke was fucked.

It was just a chronic state of affairs now.

But how could he not be, when the sun was playing in Naruto’s hair–Naruto’s long, golden, knee-length hair–hair that had never been cut, because Naruto had never lost a battle–

Sasuke wanted to nuzzle into those tresses and luxuriate in the sweet musk Naruto gave off after battle, a scent of exhilaration and contentment and confidence and–

Fuck.

Naruto elbowed him in the ribs. Even through the armor, it hurt. Sasuke hadn’t taken any direct hits, but the battle had still taken its toll on his body.

It hurt and he didn’t care.

Because Naruto was touching him. Naruto was close enough to scent. Naruto, the one stubborn, annoying, obnoxious–

–powerful, undefeated, alluring–

Well. The one omega that Sasuke had ever wanted–

He elbowed Naruto back. “Keep your hands to yourself, loser,” he said sharply.

Naruto laughed at him and kept talking. “Guess we’re stuck giving the report…”

Sasuke didn’t hear a thing. All he knew was that Naruto was still close enough to smell. Close enough to touch.

Yep.

Sasuke was fucked. 

***

The problem was that no matter what Sasuke tried, it never felt good enough. He wanted to touch Naruto, to hold his hand or braid his hair but all these gestures were intimate and held weight. Too much weight as long as Naruto hadn’t agreed to date him. To be more than sparring partners and mutual friends in battle and beyond.

Sasuke sighed.

“What’s got you so gloomy?” Itachi asked over the rim of his glasses. Sasuke’s brother hadn’t fought in years by now. Since the eye injury in battle and his mating with Haku, Itachi had focused on his family, on nesting and — breeding. Evidently. Right now they were surrounded by two of his spawns and Haku was upstairs trying to put the newest addition to sleep.

“Whyy do you care?” Sasuke snapped. Itachi raised one of his eyebrows.

“I’m your brother, of course I care.”

Of course he cared. This was a joke. A sick fucking joke and Sasuke was the butt of it. He sighed again. Gosh, he was so fucked. “Well, it’s none of your business. I’ll be fine.” He had to be. There had to be a way to show Naruto that he was serious and if he couldn’t build the perfect nest right now, if he needed time to learn, then…there had to be other ways as well. Alphas hadn’t always flaunted their wealth to convince omegas to mate them, right?

Itachi clicked his tongue and picked up his cup of tea. “Suit yourself, little brother. But remember that if you need me, I am here.”

Yeah. That kinda was part of the problem. “Thanks, Itachi,” Sasuke said anyway. His brother was trying to help. But the one he truly needed—

“I’m sorry boys, the marketplace was awfully busy. But I’m here now.” Mikoto set her purse down between the two men, shaking out her silky black hair, surrounding the brothers in a mix of her favourite perfume and her soothing scent. “So what's the occasion?”

The one he needed was his mother. Maybe Sasuke was a little less fucked now.

Once Mikoto had settled and they had exchanged the usual pleasantries, Itachi excused himself, giving Sasuke the opportunity to finally stop avoiding the subject. Coincidentally, his mother was already looking at him expectantly. “So,” she asked, folding her hands on top of her knee. “Why am I actually here?”

Sasuke loved his mother. He leaned forwards with a smile. “There‘s this omega—”

***

“This is beautiful. Sasuke, try this one.” Mikoto waved the garment at Sasuke and signaled the tailor. “Do you have one in the next size up?”

“Yes, madam. One moment.”

The tailor quietly hurried away, leaving mother and son alone. 

“Too flashy,” Sasuke grumbled.

Mikoto laughed. “That’s the point, my love. You’re dressing for a mating dance, not a battle.”

The tailor returned, cradling the silken garment in her arms like a child. Mikoto snatched it up and thrust it at Sasuke. “Go. Try it on.”

She rolled her eyes at his expression. “ Nobody can see you. Go on, try it on and let’s see how it looks.”

Sasuke stepped into the dressing room. He hastily stripped off his everyday clothing–all black, all practical–and grudgingly donned layers of purple and indigo silk.

His reflection scowled back at him. The robes were garish. They were  literally loud, rustling when he walked. He knew it could be so much worse, though, and if he irritated his mother, it very likely would be.

When he came out, Mikoto and the tailor were in deep conversation over a book of fabric swatches. They looked up and gasped when they heard his footsteps.

“Oh!” Mikoto cried. “It’s perfect!”

“It’s–it’s quite–becoming,” the tailor stammered, blushing furiously. “Like it was made for you.” 

“Take your hair down, Sasuke,” Mikoto commanded. “We need to see how it all flows together.”

She unpinned Sasuke’s braided topknot. Black hair cascaded down his back, falling almost to his ankles. 

The tailor gasped audibly.

“Hm. Nice, very nice,” Mikoto said. “It needs something more, though. Something is missing.”

The tailor cleared her throat. “If I may?”

“Of course, dear, what would you suggest?” Mikoto replied. 

“Traditionally, courtship robes have a broader palette. I suggest a complementary sash to accentuate the torso, perhaps in a green–or an orange? Orange would be directly across from indigo on the color wheel.” The tailor blushed when she inadvertently made eye contact with Sasuke. 

“Orange, you say?” Mikoto said, casting a mischievous glance at her son. “How interesting. Bring one out. Let’s try it.”

Sasuke knew better than to argue.

The salesperson bustled off and returned with several sashes in different shades of orange.
“I think this one will be best,” she offered, holding out a wide, yellow-orange belt. 

Mikoto took it from her hands and wrapped it around Sasuke’s waist, tying it into a tidy but unobtrusive knot in the front. She took him by the shoulders and turned him to face the mirror.

Even Sasuke was astounded. Staring back at him was a broad-shouldered, imposing young alpha. The bright sash hugged his waist and defined the angles of his muscular torso. The indigo and purple robes accentuated his dark hair and fair skin. 

“My baby’s all grown up,” Mikoto murmured, wiping a maternal tear from her eye. “I think this is the one, Sasuke. What about you?”

Sasuke had been prepared to agree just to get the torturous shopping excursion over with. Even he could see that his mother had chosen wisely, though. 

“I agree,” he said. 

“We’ll take this one, with the sash–line the sleeves with the same orange silk. It will need some alterations…”

Sasuke tuned the conversation out. He wondered how Naruto would respond to his new finery.

He could imagine him laughing. He could imagine it all too well.

“Have you made Naruto’s jewelry?” Mikoto asked as they left the tailor’s shop.

Fuck. No, Sasuke had not made Naruto’s jewelry. How was he meant to? Naruto didn’t like fussy jewelry or decor–the very items alphas were supposed to present during courtship. He would hate typically feminine items like necklaces and circlets…

“We’ll have to fix that,” Mikoto said. 

***

Sasuke stared at Naruto’s door. It shouldn’t be so hard to just make a fist and knock. He and Naruto had known each other their whole lives. They’d fought together. They’d…

Sasuke shook his head. The history was what made it hard. Every courting alpha risked rejection. Sasuke wasn’t trying to court just any omega, though. Naruto was his best friend. At times he’d been his only friend. Rejection wouldn’t mean simple embarrassment or even heartbreak. It would mean the end of that friendship. 

The door flew open just as Sasuke raised his hand to knock.

Naruto grinned tauntingly at him. “I almost didn’t open the door. I was watching you through the window, wondering when you were going to knock.”

Sasuke frowned at him. “And you didn’t think you might ought to open the door?”

“I did, didn’t I?” Naruto laughed. 

Sasuke cleared his throat and stood straighter. “It would please me to offer a tribute in honor of your beauty,” he said stiffly.

Naruto laughed louder. “Shit. Get in here.” He dragged Sasuke over the threshold. “You’ve never been a practical joker, Sasuke.”

“It’s not a joke,” Sasuke said through gritted teeth. He held out the box that had been concealed within his cloak. 

“Eh?” 

“Do you accept the tribute?” Sasuke said through his teeth. 

Naruto’s eyes bulged when he noticed the carefully-wrapped box. 

“Uh, yeah, sure, I accept it,” he said. Color rose in his cheeks. 

He took the box from Sasuke and unwrapped it. 

Sasuke couldn’t breathe. His heartbeat seemed to pause as he awaited Naruto’s reaction. 

Naruto reached into the box and pulled out the golden hair comb and the chains Sasuke had crafted for his braids. 

“Where did you get this?” Naruto said in awe. 

“I made it.”

“Sasuke, what is this?” Naruto asked.

Fuck. That wasn’t the reaction Sasuke had wanted. Naruto should damn well know what it meant when an alpha made jewelry for an omega.

Oh well, in for a lamb, in for a sheep, he reasoned.

He slipped off his long, black woolen cloak and unpinned the bun that held his hair up. He chose to ignore Naruto’s incredulous expression. 

He bowed his head and bent at the waist, raising his arms and crossing them over his head. He counted to ten mentally. 

Feeling very foolish, he brought his arms down with a dramatic, swooping gesture. He held them out from his sides, shoulder width, and held his head high. He looked Naruto in the eye and puffed out his chest.

Sasuke pulled his arms in close to his chest again, then opened them out dramatically. He repeated the motion three times before he began circling Naruto, who watched in wonder.

As Sasuke moved through the ancient dance, his embarrassment began to fade. His love and longing for Naruto and the promise implicit in his courtship was all that mattered. He spun on his heel and lifted one arm above his head, making a flourish with his wrist. Then he opened his arms wide and sank to the ground, prostrating himself in front of the bemused omega. 

His heartbeat thudded in his ears. Naruto neither moved nor spoke. 

A lump formed in Sasuke’s throat. He prepared himself to exit in disgrace. 

Naruto sank to the ground in front of Sasuke and stroked his hair. Sasuke’s eyes filled.

“Are you courting me?” Naruto asked. 

Sasuke jerked his head up in surprise. “What gave it away, dumbass?” he snapped. “Was it the handmade jewelry? The obnoxious robes? The humiliating dance?”

Naruto laughed softly, but his eyes were watering as well. “I just waited so long, y’know? I didn’t think you would.”

Sasuke raised his body from the floor and sat back on his feet. “You wanted me to court you?”

“Well, yeah, I thought it’d be obvious,” Naruto said. “How long have we known each other? You’re the only person who really gets me. Fuck, I’d have started the courtship myself, except I didn’t want to insult you.”

“To be clear,” Sasuke said, “we’re courting now, correct?”

Naruto punched his shoulder playfully. “Yeah. Yeah, we’re courting. But you did it all backwards. Where’s my nest, huh? And why haven’t you braided my hair?”

Sasuke felt uncharacteristically sheepish. “How am I supposed to build you a nest, dobe? I wasn’t going to make the grade with pretty pink coverlets and matching throw pillows.”

Naruto laughed. “It’s like you don’t even know me. Fine, then. The braid? That part can’t be hard. I’ve watched you braid your hair millions of times.”

Well, shit.

Sasuke wasn’t sure how to voice his thoughts. They didn’t even make sense to him.

“I don’t know,” he grumbled. “Seemed–intimate.”

Naruto’s jaw actually dropped. He stared at Sasuke, open mouthed, and blinked several times before keeling over with laughter.

“You…” he laughed, “...you moron. Too intimate? Did you just say braiding my hair was too intimate?” 

“Glad to amuse you,” Sasuke snarled.

“Did you forget just how intimate we’ve gotten?” Naruto shoved him over playfully. 

Fuck, no, Sasuke hadn’t forgotten. He wished sometimes he could.

He remembered the way Naruto had looked at him that night after they’d sparred. He remembered the way their lips had come together so easily. Way too easily. He remembered the way Naruto’s skin had felt, and how warmly he’d received his knot. Worst of all, he remembered how natural it had felt to lie tied with Naruto, laughing and kissing…

“Do it now.”

Sasuke’s head jerked up. “What?” 

“Braid my hair now,” Naruto said simply. “You’re here and you have the stuff to do it. So do it now.”

“Uh.” Sasuke licked his lips. “Alright. Where?” 

Naruto took him by the hand. Sasuke followed him to a corner where several floor cushions were clustered.

“Sit down,” Naruto said softly.

Sasuke did as Naruto asked. Naruto sat in front of him with his back turned, and Sasuke spread his legs to allow him to come closer. 

“Braid my hair.”

Sasuke’s hands shook as he removed the pins from Naruto’s hair. The thick tresses fell down his back like spun gold, soft and warm in Sasuke’s hands. 

Naruto handed him a comb. Sasuke took his time, taking care to neither damage Naruto’s hair nor cause him pain. He placed the hairpiece he’d made at the top of Naruto’s head, then began plaiting the hair around it. He carefully incorporated the chains, adding another shade of gold to the thick braid.

They didn’t talk much, but Naruto leaned into Sasuke more and more as he progressed. When the braid was complete, Sasuke wound it around his head and pinned it in place. Suddenly bold, he leaned down and pressed his lips to the nape of Naruto’s neck. 

Naruto quaked softly. Sasuke sat up and wrapped his arms around him protectively. “What’s wrong?” he demanded. 

Naruto turned and buried his face in Sasuke’s shoulder, sniffling and wiping his eyes. Sasuke held him close and stroked his hair.

“Naruto?” he asked. “Can you tell me what’s wrong?”

Naruto looked up at him. His eyes were red. He bit his lower lip nervously.

“You remember that night we came back here after we sparred?” he asked. 

“Yeah,” Sasuke murmured. “How could I forget?”

“Well…” Naruto looked down. “I guess–I didn’t realize what was happening. Uhm. So. I guess my heat was just starting.”

Sasuke frowned. He couldn’t remember any symptoms of heat.

Except.

Naruto had initiated everything. True, Sasuke had gladly acquiesced, but it had all started with Naruto kissing him–fervently.

“Alright,” Sasuke said, feeling as if he was missing something important. 

“Sasuke, I’m pregnant.” 

Sasuke’s heart beat out of time. His stomach flipped. “Pregnant?” he said. “You’re pregnant?” 

Naruto nodded.

“You’re going to have a baby?” Sasuke asked. “You’re going to have my baby?”

Naruto laughed and nodded again. “Yeah. I’m gonna have your baby.” His eyes clouded again. “I know we didn’t plan it–”

Sasuke took his face in his hands and kissed him. Naruto did not respond at first. Then, he melted into Sasuke and returned his kisses. 

As gently as Naruto ever did anything, he shoved Sasuke away. “You’re OK with this?”

Fuck yes, Sasuke was OK with this.

Sasuke grinned. “More than OK.” 

Naruto laughed before dissolving into tears once again.

“I was worried you’d be unhappy,” he said haltingly. “You didn’t start any kind of courtship, and I thought maybe that night was just a fling for you. I didn’t think you’d want it…”

Sasuke cursed himself. All that time he’d wasted on his insecurities, while Naruto–his omega– the mother of his child– was walking around believing he didn’t care about him that way.

Without another thought, he pulled Naruto close and cradled him against his body. He emitted a calming scent reflexively. “You could never be just a fling,” he said as Naruto relaxed against him. “I wouldn’t risk all our history for a fling.”

“You acted like nothing happened,” Naruto scolded.

Sasuke huffed in exasperation. “Because that was the way you were acting. I didn’t want to make you feel bad or insinuate that you were obligated to me, so I just took my cues from you. And you acted like nothing had changed.”

Naruto laughed weakly. “I guess a whole lot changed.”

“Yes,” Sasuke agreed, “Everything changed. But nothing changed at the same time.”

Naruto looked at him doubtfully.

“You’re my best friend,” Sasuke said. “I’ve loved you my whole life. That didn’t change. When I began to think about mates, you were the only logical choice.”

Naruto closed his eyes. He fell onto his side next to Sasuke and chortled.

Sasuke couldn’t help it; Naruto’s laughter had always been infectious, and soon, he was laughing too. He stretched out beside Naruto and allowed him to lie against him as their laughter died down.

He stroked Naruto’s face lovingly.

“Tell me that whole thing again,” Naruto said. His tone was playful, but Sasuke could see the vulnerability in his eyes.

“What whole thing?”

“The thing about how I’m your best friend and you’ve loved me all your life.”

“Naruto.” Sasuke leaned in and kissed Naruto’s lips softly. “You’re my best friend. I’ve loved you all my life, and I want to spend the rest of my life as your mate. I want to give you as many babies as you want, and I want to raise them all with you.”

Naruto’s smile lit up his face. “Yeah. I guess we can do that.”

“You guess?” Sasuke poked Naruto’s side where he knew he was ticklish. 

Naruto screeched in mock affront. “Yeah, I guess you’ll do. Since I’m knocked up and all.”

Sasuke rolled Naruto onto his back and looked down at him. “I’ll do? Just because you’re pregnant?”

Naruto nodded. “Yeah. Because I’m pregnant. And because I love you, asshole.”

Sasuke’s joy could have overwhelmed him. He rolled over onto his side and spooned Naruto gently. He rubbed Naruto’s lower belly proudly–it was still flat, and he knew he wouldn’t show for a while yet. It was enough knowing that his pup was growing within Naruto, just beneath the place where his hand rested.

“When did you find out?” he asked. 

“After the last battle. I was sick at my stomach and Baa-chan was worried I’d picked up a stomach bug while we were traveling.”

“So Tsunade knows?” 

“Yeah?” Naruto said defensively. “She’s not just my granny, Sasuke, she’s my doctor, too.”

Sasuke rubbed his cheek against Naruto’s, leaving a faint trace of his scent on the omega’s skin. “I know. I’m glad you saw her. Have you been going to all your appointments? Are you healthy? Did she give you any vitamins?”

Naruto elbowed him laughingly. “‘All my appointments.’ I only see her once a month until the second trimester. And yeah, everything looks good. Wait.” He jumped up excitedly.  “Hold on just a minute. Stay there, alright?”

Nothing in the world could have moved Sasuke from that spot. He watched Naruto sprint across the room, pick up a slip of paper, and sprint  back.

“Wanna see it?” he asked when he joined Sasuke again.

“I can see the baby?”

“Yeah! There’s ultrasounds. Look! Here it is!”

Sasuke looked at the grainy image. “Looks like a kidney bean with teeth.”

“Right? Like a monster out of a fairytale. Look at those things! Like it’s got a mouth full of needles!”

Sasuke chuckled happily. “It’s horrifying.”

“Yeah, but it’s ours.”

“Our kidney bean with teeth.”

“Our fairytale monster.” 

Sasuke choked up. “This is ours. It’s really ours. It’s real.”

“Yeah.” Naruto’s eyes shone. He smiled softly. 

“Sasuke?” 

“Yeah?”

“I’m gonna need my nest.” 

Fuck. The nest–Sasuke had forgotten about that particular challenge.

“But–”

“Don’t worry about what you think it’s supposed to look like. You’ve known me my whole life, remember? So just make it. We can fix it together if something isn’t right.”

Naruto’s scent enveloped Sasuke, calming him. “Alright.” 

***

For the lack of a better word, Sasuke was fucked.

Now, he knew what he was doing this time. Naruto was right, after all. They had grown up with each other. If anyone knew how to build a nest for the warrior omega, then it was Sasuke. And he knew. Sasuke was pretty confident that the arrangement he had so far would suit Naruto, would be something he’d be comfortable in. But there was something missing and he, for the life of him, couldn’t find it.

Sasuke had a robe. An old, worn out thing that his grandmother had given him as a child. It didn’t fit anymore since he entered puberty but Sasuke had kept it, had always hung it over the foot of his bed, knowing full well that it was Naruto’s favourite clothing item of his. Not that it fit Naruto. No, the omega was too broad and tall for the robe as well but according to him “it smelled like Sasuke in a way no other cloth did”. Whatever that was supposed to mean.

It didn’t matter anyway because, matter of fact, the robe was missing. Sasuke had looked for it. He had searched his bedroom, had checked the washer, even though he never even put that thing in the washer, only washing it by hand. It was nowhere to be found. Vanished. Which couldn’t be true because Sasuke had seen it only yesterday and—

“Fuck!” he cursed as the bell in the clock tower struck three times. It was time. Naruto was meant to be here any minute now and Sasuke wasn’t done. He grabbed a few more pillows and the throw blanket Naruto had bought for him a year ago.

Sasuke was done. He had put everything in place, fixed a few wrinkles and folds that felt out of place but…the robe. The fucking robe was still missing.

“What’s got you so tense?” Naruto asked from the side. Sasuke answered without thinking.

“I meant to add one more thing that I seem to have misplaced and I—wait.” He turned, only to see his friend (boyfriend, mate-to-be), his omega , sitting on his window sill, a very familiar piece of cloth casually dangling from his fingertips. Sasuke squinted. “Where’d you find that?”

Naruto looked down at the robe, as if he didn’t know what Sasuke meant. “Oh, this?” he asked, lifting the cloth. Sasuke nodded impatiently. “Well,” Naruto shrugged. “At the foot of your bed, obviously. That’s where you always leave it.”

Exactly. That’s where he always left if but when he wanted to grab it earlier, it hadn’t been there. He could’ve sworn— “You didn’t just grab that right now, did you?”

It couldn’t be. Sasuke wasn’t that blind. He had been stressed and insecure maybe but he wasn’t stupid and the robe hadn’t been there. He was sure it hadn’t been. Naruto shook his head. “No. I’ve had it with me overnight,” he stated as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, as if Sasuke should’ve known, as if—

Oh. Oh . He should’ve known. Fuck. Naruto had told him he needed something with him. Needed his scent since Sasuke hadn’t been able to sleep over. Somehow he had assumed that Naruto had taken one of his shirts, one of the clothing items that actually fit either of them. All of them smelled like Sasuke in some capacity after all. But no. No, of course not.

Naruto had taken the robe. And now he had brought it back. The cloth fluttered in the wind coming in from the open window.

“So?” Naruto asked as he hopped down from the windowsill. “Is my nest done?”

Sasuke snatched the robe out of his fingers and arranged it amidst the rest of the nest. Then he turned towards Naruto with a smile.

“Now it is. Would you like to inspect it?”

Of course Naruto did. He didn’t just want to inspect it, though. According to him, new nests needed to be tested and broken in. Which made sense. What Sasuke didn’t expect was that he was a part of that process. Of testing.

“Comfortable?” Sasuke asked from his position under the omega. Naruto was draped half over him, his nose buried in Sasuke’s neck.

“Mhm,” Naruto answered sleepily. “Very. Good job, alpha.”

Heh. He’d done a good job.

Sasuke smiled. Gosh, he was so fucked. But he wouldn’t have it any other way.