Chapter Text
八
Hina walked into their house without asking if she was allowed to come in. She did that a lot. It kept being intense. Naruto was laying on the engawa with a magazine on top of his head, not quite worried about their neighbors walking in and out as they pleased.
Sasuke waited for Hina’s request to come. Can you boys pick something up for me? Could you carry this somewhere? Is the house still hanging on? Do you have some extra eggs for me?– none of it came. Hina looked around the room, at the picture frames Naruto had taken from Konoha. They were all carefully standing on top of their cabinet; the books now having their own shelf. Hina studied their childly faces. Their faces from before either of them had fought for their lives. Their faces from when they thought they knew what they wanted. It was crazy that he couldn’t say ‘ everything was so simple back then.’ It hadn’t been. Everything was simple now, simpler than it had been in a long time, at least.
‘Let’s go sit down for a second,’ Hina said, walking towards their table. At that Naruto lifted the magazine from his face and glanced at Hina.
‘Hey Hina, good morning!’ He called.
She smiled. ‘Good morning, Naruto.’
Sasuke sat down in front of Hina, and nodded Naruto towards the kitchen. Naruto, luckily understood, got up and asked: ‘Would you like something to drink? Water, coffee, tea, iced tea?’
‘I’d like some coffee, thank you.’
Naruto walked up to Sasuke, laid his chin on top of his head softly. ‘You too?’ he asked.
‘Hm..’ At that, Naruto kissed the very top of his head and turned towards the kitchen. Sasuke breathed in and listened to Naruto’s footsteps on the old wood. Hina was more serious than she usually was, he could feel it. Naruto probably could too.
Had she figured out Sasuke’s past? He was under the impression that she just didn’t care. He did realize that every bit of new information could make their opinion of him– ‘This place is really looking better.’ Hina commented. ‘I haven’t properly looked at what you boys did with it, but it’s much more lively.’ She was, again, looking at the pictures from when they were genin . Sesame walked up to the table lazily, stretching his back when he was halfway, and then bumped against Hina lovingly. ‘And you’re getting so big.’ Hina told the cat. Sasuke smiled. Sesame was indeed getting big, and he was getting fat too.
When Naruto came back with two cups of coffee and one iced tea, Hina piped up. ‘Can you come sit too, Naruto?’
‘’Oh, of course.’ Naruto plopped down next to him, cross-legged. He handed Hina her cup, slid Sasuke’s cup towards him as well. Then he put his hand on Sasuke’s knee, grinned. Good , Naruto wasn’t as nervous as he was. Naruto usually had a more realistic view on these things; he wasn’t as clouded by anxiety.
Hina absentmindedly patted Sesame a few times, and then put her wrinkled hand around her cup. ‘So–’ She started, her voice a little rough. ‘I wanted to talk about the house, because, as you should know, the house is technically still mine.’
At this, Naruto shifted, held Sasuke’s knee a little tighter.
‘I’m getting old, I might not feel it yet, but it’s just the truth. Which means that if anything would happen to me–’ She sighed, as if she didn’t feel like saying all of this. ‘If I would die, or something like that, the house would get sold. My house, but yours too.’
She sipped her coffee calmly, seemingly thinking about what to say next. ‘Now I don’t know a single person, other than you two, who feels like living in one of these houses. The chance that no one cares is quite big, but– I hate not being able to take matters into my own hands. ‘
Naruto laughed at this, mumbled a quick: ‘Oh we know.’
Hina rolled her eyes, chuckling a bit too. ‘The point is; I want to give you two the opportunity to buy the house, from me. It’s not cheap, but if you’re planning to stay for a few more years it’ll be cheaper than renting. You don’t have to tell me right now. I don’t care if you keep renting until I die but–’
‘I’ll buy the house,’ Sasuke said, surprising himself. He had the money. Even if the chances of someone else buying the house were small; he wanted to make it zero. This was his house. It was their home. ‘How much is it?’
Hina stared at him, a soft smile on her lips as she started looking through her bag. For paperwork, probably.
Naruto was just grinning, leaning against him, shifting like he was a happy child. ‘We can buy it together,’ Naruto said softly. ‘If you’d like that.’
He’d like that. He’d like that a lot. ‘You don’t have to, it’s a lot of money,’ he said instead.
Naruto grinned. ‘Inherited some from Jiraiya, and he made sure I got my parent’s too.’
Sasuke stared at Naruto, he had never realized Naruto had inherited money as well. He hated the fact that Naruto hadn’t gotten any of it when they were children but– but spending it like this would make it worth it, a little.
‘Okay..’ he said slowly. He breathed in, closed his eyes for a second. ‘Yeah, we’ll buy it together.’
Hina placed the paperwork on the table. A soft smile on her lips. ‘This is all you need to know,’ she said, placing her hand on the paperwork. ‘There’s quite a disclaimer saying that the floor creaks, that it’s old and windy and that the tobukuro don’t properly close, or that there is no warm water anymore.’ She giggled. Sasuke suddenly thought she looked a lot younger. ‘I guess that you boys can just skip that part.’
‘Thank you, Hina,’ Sasuke said. He remembered the first time he saw her. When she had said that the rent was too high for such an old house. When she had told him ‘ There are things you can’t ever run away from.’ She’d been right. She knew it too.
‘Return that paperwork to me whenever. You boys should talk a bit.’ She finished the last bit of her coffee and then stood up. Quick paced, honest, rough; Hina felt familiar like that. ‘Thank you for the coffee.’
As soon as Hina had left, had closed the door behind her, Sasuke shot up and pressed his lips against Naruto’s. Naruto laughed against his lips, not even surprised by Sasuke’s sudden change in posture, and held onto him tightly. He climbed into Naruto’s lap and buried his nose against his neck. Naruto whispered softly: ‘Our own house.’
‘I didn’t think I’d live long enough to ever think about buying a house,’ Sasuke said truthfully.
Naruto kissed him. When he pulled back he smiled breathlessly. ‘Thank you,’ he said. ‘Thank you for giving me a home. From today on I’ll return–’
Sasuke interrupted Naruto by kissing him roughly, Naruto fell back, huffing happily, and leading Sasuke to his lips again. Naruto slid his hands through his dark locks, the feeling of Naruto’s nails against his skin felt amazing. If Naruto hadn’t been so busy kissing him, he knew what Naruto would have said. You’re beautiful, he heard Naruto’s voice whisper in the back of his mind. He’d said so every time he touched Sasuke’s hair. He’d said so at random moments, when Sasuke was just cooking or reading a book.
Naruto pulled back to kiss Sasuke’s nose. He placed his forehead against Sasuke’s. It was warm inside of their room, summer was really starting to hit. ‘You’re beautiful,’ Naruto said.
Sasuke stared back into those bright eyes. Unsurprised, still overwhelmed. He’d always keep on being overwhelmed by his bright boy. ‘You always say that.’
‘I always mean that.’
‘You’re crazy.’
‘Crazy for you,’ Naruto shot back, jokingly. At this, Sasuke kicked him off, laughing softly. ‘You’re so mean to me.’
‘Don’t you have something better to do? The plants must be dying in the weather.’
Naruto chuckled. ‘See? You do love the garden. Secretly, you’re buying the house so you can keep the garden. I can see right through you, Sasuke.’
Sasuke rolled his eyes. ‘Sure you can.’ He could. Naruto knew his everything.
On a cooler evening they walked to the onsen. Now that the weather was getting warmer and warmer, they spent more time at the river and less time at the hot baths. It still felt kind of special when he took Naruto there.
They walked slowly, their sides bumping against each other. Despite all the cuddles when they were inside of their own home, they usually didn’t touch much when outside. They hadn’t talked about it, Sasuke had assumed it was fine because it came naturally. This time though, he didn’t have to look at Naruto to notice the idiot kept glancing at his hand. Naruto brushed their fingers together, kept unusually quiet.
Sasuke almost felt shy about it.
‘Naruto,’ he said, a bit sterner than he had wanted to sound.
Naruto looked at him swiftly, nodded.
‘There’s no one on this mountain, and I have told you more than once that I want you.’ He sighed, giving Naruto his best deadpan look. ‘So what the hell is holding you back? Stop being a such an idiot.’
For a few seconds, Naruto stared at him with a dumb look on his face. His mouth was damn close to falling open. He wondered why; he’d been showing Naruto more affection than he had ever thought he would. He’s been showing Naruto more affection than he thought he had .
Then, Naruto grinned brightly – of fucking course he did – and slid his fingers in between Sasuke’s. He held onto his hand tightly, bumped their shoulders together, and then continued walking. He chuckled lightly. ‘You can be so extreme sometimes, I was just testing the waters.’
Sasuke rolled his eyes. ‘Why the hell are you testing the waters? You’re always doing everything in the wrong order.’
Naruto chuckled and shrugged.
‘Oh and for the record,’ Sasuke continued. ‘I said that there’s no one on this mountain, but even if all the kage’s and all their villagers were watching, I still wouldn’t give a fuck.’
Naruto stopped walking, pulling him back for a second. Sasuke raised an eyebrow at him.
‘Do you have any idea how fucking hot you are right now?’
‘Why?’
‘You’re so badass about being sweet, how do you even–’
‘Shut up, keep walking.’
Naruto did keep on walking, but he also kept complimenting Sasuke. Much to Sasuke’s horror. He carefully hid all his blushes behind sarcastic chuckles and eye rolling. Naruto pulled his hand every time he gave him another compliment. He focussed on the feeling of Naruto’s fingers in between his, on the cool summer air.
They walked into the onsen with their hands still locked. The old man behind the counter, reading some stupid gossiping magazine, looked up with a bored look on his face. ‘Uchiha,’ he greeted. Sasuke guessed he meant both of them by that. It had taken him quite a while to remember or to bother saying his name; he probably wouldn’t bother saying Naruto’s.
Sasuke walked up to the desk – if it could be called that – and laid out a few bills. ‘For two people, please.’
The man looked at him with a tired frown on his face. ‘Kana got a family pass with you two on it. It’s cheaper for all of you. Just go in.’
Sasuke gaped dumbly at him. He wasn’t sure what to do with that information. Behind him, Naruto chuckled. ‘We’re– you know we’re not family right?’
‘ Of course I do, ’ he said as if they were insane. Maybe they were. ‘You two are not exactly infamous. I’m not going to have that discussion with Kana though, she’ll make a fuss. Just pass before I hear from her again.’ Having said what he wanted to say, he turned back to his magazine and started sipping a beer. This conversation is over, he seemed to be saying.
Naruto took his hand again, waved at the old man, and yelled. ‘Alright then, thanks!’
Getting naked with Naruto was something that could leave him with a lot of feelings. Sometimes it left him hot and bothered. Sometimes it left him plain horny. Often it left him feeling like he belonged , with the overwhelming feeling he had a home together with someone. Here, it made him feel calm. It made him feel cared for. By himself, by Naruto, by this mountain.
‘You’re so pale compared to me,’ Naruto said, walking up to him. He glanced at Naruto’s dark shoulders and stomach, skin that had obviously seen a lot of midday sun. His own chest was still close to white, he looked as if he had barely been outside a day in his life. That he was tanner than he’d been in a long time went unnoticed.
Naruto touched his own chest absentmindedly, then looked at Sasuke again. ‘You’re pretty,’ he said. That word had been used to describe him since he was a young boy; it had never hit him like it did when Naruto said it, though.
‘It’s just skin,’ Sasuke mumbled.
Naruto hummed. ‘Can I clean your back before we go in?’
He nodded slowly. He sat down on one of the cheap plastic chairs while Naruto filled the furo-oke with water. He carried the water as if it was heavy, as if he wasn’t one of the strongest men alive. Then he said a quick, ‘Here it comes,’ before throwing the water on top of Sasuke’s back. He got the soap that was standing at all washing spots around the onsen. It smelled like something he couldn’t quite place, there certainly was some lemon in it though.
Naruto came to sit a bit closer. ‘This might be a bit cold,’ he said, just because he liked talking, not because Sasuke didn’t know that the soap was always cold. He carefully placed his hand against Sasuke’s skin, in the middle of his back. Then he placed his other hand on his back as well, and started rubbing circles. Naruto’s touch was intense, almost ticklish. His fingers felt rough like scrub, like they always did, but they slid over Sasuke’s back with ease. ‘Your arm,’ Naruto mumbled, and so Sasuke raised his. Naruto washed his hips, and then his armpits. The touch on his stump felt weird; like Naruto wasn’t actually touching him. He had never really noticed how little he felt there before.
‘Alrighty,’ Naruto said then, and poured more water onto him. Sasuke closed his eyes this time.
Naruto left his fingers on Sasuke’s back, kept quiet.
Sasuke rubbed the water from his eyes, then turned around. ‘What is it?’
‘I– I really want to wash your hair. I’ve really wanted that for a while now.’
He wanted to take Naruto seriously, he really did, but eventually he just started laughing. Naruto could be so hung up about stupid stuff. ‘Why?’
‘It’s– it’s so long and dark and soft and beautiful and I just really–’
‘No, not that. Why are you so shy about it?’
‘Shut up! Fuck o–’ as if remembering that they were in a onsen, and that they were supposed to be quiet, he suddenly shut up. ‘Can I wash it or not, asshole?’
Sasuke turned around again. ‘Just use my shampoo, not the cheap stuff they have here.’
It became dark while they were still sitting in the hot water. They were far enough from each other to not become turned on by each other, close enough to keep their feet touching so they could enjoy each other’s presence a bit more. The warmth calmed his muscles, he closed his eyes and listened to the water dribbling into the bath. Around the onsen there were a lot of cicadas. They were always loud on the mountain, that was nothing new. The old man was listening to the radio, some kind of spelshow, but that was barely hearable.
‘What are you thinking about?’ Naruto piped up, probably bored.
‘I was listening to the water, and to the cicadas.’
‘Oh– sorry.’
‘Hm..’ Sasuke slowly opened his eyes, smiled at his lover. ‘Talk to me.’
Naruto sunk a bit deeper into the water. ‘I don’t want to bother you.’
‘I like hearing you. Just like I like hearing the cicadas, and the water, Sesame’s complaining.’
Naruto laughed. ‘I miss Sesame...’
‘We’ve barely been gone for two hours.’
Naruto pouted. ‘I just miss him, okay! You’re so distant to him while I give him everything he’d ever want. Honestly, sometimes I wonder if I’d be better off acting cold too, but then I realize I just can’t–’
Sasuke let himself slip further into the water, nodded, and closed his eyes again. Slowly, he hummed along with everything Naruto was telling him. The other kept talking, though it became softer at a certain point. Sasuke could feel himself relax, surrounded by the streaming water. The old man’s radio, the wind, the cicadas. He slid his feet against Naruto, tried to caress the other’s instep. The water, Naruto’s voice. ‘ So I might ask old man Teuchi how to make the broth, you know? I don’t think he would mind telling me. It’s at least worth a shot.’
Sakura sent them a letter to invite them to her birthday, a few days later. Naruto had sent her a letter for her birthday, but apparently she had decided that there needed to be a get-together too. The invitation was impersonal, but Naruto got excited about it anyway. Sasuke got nervous about Naruto’s excitement. He didn’t have to say such things, Naruto knew, and made sure to keep on saying things like ‘It’s so nice to catch up to everyone at once. It feels special.’ Maybe Naruto was right, it was nice to make seeing their (or, well, Naruto’s) friends a little special.
They talked about it a lot; about Sasuke going back to Konoha. Naruto told him a thousand times that he really didn’t have to. He thought about the week he had spent inside of Konoha after the war a lot. He had been so frustrated with himself back then, so fucking distracted by Naruto’s presence. With every move he had made he had thought: this is going to be the move with which I hurt Naruto again. He hadn’t. Not really. He had tried to bring it as carefully as possible; he wasn’t staying. He hadn’t been able to say more, but he made sure to write Naruto as often as possible.
Now he could finally tell Naruto everything he had wanted to say. He spilled that he would have stayed if it was just for Naruto, and not the rest of the village. He could finally say that he didn’t mind everyone in Konoha, that he quite liked some of their old classmates. He could finally tell Naruto that he fucking hated Konoha for what it had done to Naruto, that that feeling wasn’t just selfish. That walking through Konoha’s streets, had made him see the blonde child trying to get attention again. In Konoha’s streets he could still feel how Naruto had tried to fight him at any chance he’d get; how he had finally felt something because of it.. He told Naruto all those things, laying on their engawa late at night. Naruto had gripped his hand a little too tight. They talked about themselves from when they were younger, about all their useless fights and about their first clumsy kiss.
They talked about Konoha until the subject became light.
Which is why Naruto’s distant attitude on the day of Sakura’s birthday felt unusual. The morning had been soft like most of their mornings were. Sasuke had claimed his own part of the garden, and he was watching the flowers he’d been growing from the engawa, trying to figure out which one to pick for Sakura. He’d asked Ino about Sakura’s preference in flowers in his latest letter. But her reply seemed to be too late.
He felt lucky when Naruto stormed outside holding it. ‘Hey! The hawk had a letter from Ino, but I have no fucking clue what she’s talking about.’ Sasuke looked up from what he was doing. ‘Oh, that’s for me.’ He reached out and took the letter from Naruto’s hands. Naruto sat down next to him and looked at the letter curiously. Sasuke rarely had contact with anyone except from team Taka. To be honest, the contact with them was quite rare too.
He scanned the letter. Ino had named shapes, colours, moods. He liked her way of talking about flowers; he could work with this. ‘What’s it about?’
‘Bouquet for Sakura’s party.’
Naruto nodded excitedly. ‘From our garden?’
‘Hmh..’
‘She’ll love that.’
‘I guess.’
Naruto shifted closer to him. He put his head on Sasuke’s shoulder and looked at the letter again; like a child trying to figure out a secret. Sasuke placed the letter on his lap, so that Naruto could look at it all he wanted.
‘About that,’ Naruto started, he looked away from the letter and towards the garden. ‘I have to go see someone in Konoha, so I was thinking about leaving in a bit.’
Sasuke looked at his boyfriend curiously. ‘I don’t mind coming with you. Who are you meeting?’
Naruto shrugged. ‘No need.’ That was weird. He usually wouldn’t let a chance to hang out with Sasuke in Konoha slip. ‘I– Tsunade wanted to chat with me. To catch up and stuff.’
‘To catch up? Doesn’t she just want to know if you’re becoming hokage?’
Naruto smiled stupidly. ‘Nah, she just wants to grab a drink. No big deal.’
He stared at the other; he’d seen no letter from Tsunade. Naruto was being awkward too. He felt nervousness kick him in the chest. Or in the face, whatever. ‘And you don’t want to go together?’
‘Sakura’s party isn’t until dinner time! Besides, one socializing event in Konoha is enough. It’s fine, really.’
Sasuke bit his lip. He wanted to ask about it. If Naruto had to meet someone about getting a job in Konoha, he'd want to know. If Naruto wanted to get an extra apartment in Konoha, that was alright. If Naruto still wanted to become hokage, he’d support him in that. He just wanted Naruto to be honest with him.
But Naruto, the fucking idiot, was just stuttering obvious lies. Naruto had never been the best at lying. It was stupid of him to even try. Sasuke wanted to hit his lover with an angry ‘ Just fucking spit it out already’, but he didn’t want to push. He swallowed the words.
He wanted to believe that Naruto had his reasons, always. He reminded himself of the fact Naruto was planning on buying the house with him. He repeated words Naruto had described him with inside of his own head. Everything, that’s what Naruto had said. You’re everything.
It didn’t take away his nerves.
Naruto left after smothering him with small kisses. ‘I’ll see you tonight,’ he’s mumbled against Sasuke’s temple. Sasuke hadn’t replied much; he’d nodded. He felt a little pissed off, he let Naruto leave before the other could notice.
Naruto was quick to leave too.
So what. So fucking what. He wasn’t… depending on Naruto. Or maybe he was; but he’d really have to stop doing that. To some extend, at least. This was a good start.
He focussed on cutting the flowers he wanted for Sakura’s present. He tied everything together with a ribbon he’d bought a while back. He made sure to add a lot of ‘puffy’ flowers, as Ino had called them. She said Sakura loved those, as if they made Sakura feel the softness she never showed to anyone herself. He had chuckled when he’d read Ino’s letter; she’d been right and so damn witty.
Sesame was laying on the engawa when he wanted to leave. He sighed. ‘Inside or outside?’ Sesame glanced up at him, then went right back to sleep. Sasuke left the door open just enough for Sesame to walk through; it wasn’t like there were any people on mount Oda. He packed his back a small and light-weight bag. Konoha had always been linked to weapons, long periods of leaving, or even survival to him. Now he didn’t need anything but his cash, keys and a present. That was crazy. He felt a little lost because of it.
When stepping outside, he turned to look at his own house for a few seconds more. He’d called the house lonely when he came here. He wondered if he still felt that way. He didn’t think so. When looking at his house he couldn’t feel anything but calm. Calm and at home. This house knew what loud footsteps sounded like; it knew sharp meowing. The house had been filled with the smell of food and coffee. The house had pictures inside of it. It had remembered the poems he’d recited, the songs Naruto had sang. This floor had been covered by books, or with clothes on hot days. Hell, Naruto and he had made love on that floor, moaning out loudly because they were far enough from everything not to be heard. This was their piece of land, their house to make a home.
Maybe he calmed the house too. Maybe the house whispered to himself: I hear footsteps, I head the cat meowing, I hear the humans whisper, I hear them playing music softly.
The place Sakura had chosen for her party was small but new and completely fashionable. It seemed like all the shops were new though, and the houses too. In the week he’d spent here after the war he had barely registered all the rebuilding Konoha had done.
When Sakura noticed him walking up to the shop, she walked outside. She smiled sweetly, kept her distance a little. ‘Sasuke! Thank you for coming!’
‘Hm, yeah,’ he held out the bouquet to her.
Sakura took the flowers from his hands, beamed. ‘These are so beautiful. Thank you.’
Ino peeked around the corner, excitedly. ‘He grew and picked them himself,’ she said cheekily. He tried to give Ino the best glare he could manage. It was quickly swept away by the fact he hadn’t seen her in forever. She looked older, she was probably working on becoming the new clan leader and he could read it on her face. Everyone was growing up, he realized. He had too; he just hoped no one would ask him how . ‘You look very good, by the way, Sasuke.’
Sasuke stared at the girl. Sakura chuckled at him, though he didn’t know what kind of look he was showing. He distantly remembered these girls being in love with him. They weren’t the same anymore, he knew that, but – ’I’m– I’m gay.’ It was out there before he could help it.
Sakura tried to hold it back, but Ino just full out laughed at him. Sakura turned to punch Ino on her shoulder. ‘Be nice,’ she whispered aggressively.
Ino just kept on laughing, not a care in the world. ‘Have you met Naruto?’ she laughed. ‘Don’t worry, he told everyone in this village that you’re gay and that he likes you. You’re safe.’
‘ Great,’ he mumbled sarcastically. Even though he kind of meant it; he didn’t feel like telling everyone where he stood with Naruto, these days. He wanted them to know, though. He wasn’t ashamed of being with Naruto. Somewhere, he could understand why Naruto wanted to scream it off the roof. Maybe it was Naruto’s own way of saying; look at us now, look at how we made ourselves happy.
Ino and Sakura just chuckled, moving back inside and signing for him to follow. Sakura whispered, while they walked in. ‘It might be a bit busy, but there’s no one you don’t know.’
He nodded slowly. No one who didn’t know all he’d done. He didn’t exactly know if he preferred that. He appreciated the fact that Sakura was warning him beforehand, though.
‘Okay,’ he answered slowly, taking that time to prepare himself.
‘Oh, and Naruto isn’t here yet. He– well, he was helping Iruka with something and you know how they are–’
He stopped walking. He heard his loud ex-classmates yelling at each other in the other room. Sakura stopped walking as well, glanced at him expectantly.
‘He was with Iruka?’
‘Uh– yes.’
For a while they were both quiet. Sakura was waiting for him to do something; to keep on walkin, or to say something more than he had. Anything.
The voices of his classmates were loud. Someone was yelling at Choji for eating food he wasn’t allowed to eat. There was the sound of glasses being put down, probably being cleaned. Outside, there was some construction work going on.
It sounded like the damn hammering was happening inside of his brain.
Sakura put her hand on his arm. ‘Sasuke?’
He looked at the floor. Hammering, glasses, yelling, fuck . Fuck. It was so loud, he– he needed Naruto– ’Sasuke. Are you okay?’ he heard Sakura ask him.
He swallowed, tried to push the sounds away from him. ‘Why is he lying to me?’
At that, Sakura just sighed. So at least it was true. ‘Sasuke–’
‘Be honest, Sakura–’
‘I, well–’ She sighed again, a bit hopelessly, but she didn’t sound as worried as she had before. ‘It’s nothing bad. I can’t tell you right now, but I promise, it’s nothing bad.’
He didn’t know what she saw as bad. That could be anything. Naruto becoming hokage wasn’t bad. Naruto moving back to Konoha wasn’t either.
Sakura waited for him to answer, patiently. He took a while, thought about whether he was angry or not. He tried his best to hear his own thoughts through the yelling of his old classmates. Through the loud clinking.
‘Sakura.. I just– I have to know if he’s planning on moving back to Konoha.’
At that, Sakura laughed. His eyes shot up to her face. She looked calm about the whole thing. ‘He wouldn’t move back to Konoha even if the entire village begged on their knees. Not any time soon, at least.’ She glanced through the door, at her friends. ‘He loves you, you know?’
Sasuke nodded. ‘I know.’
She smiled, satisfied. ‘Have a little faith in him.’
Sasuke walked back outside. Surprisingly, he ended up telling Sakura the truth; it was too loud inside. He wanted to calm himself. When outside, he focussed on the children playing, on the still loud construction work, on the people chatting away. People glanced at him, then hurried on. He heard his own name being whispered by strangers.
He breathed out. He tried to focus on his own breath, on his heartbeat. Usually, that was his least favourite sound to focus on. But it was familiar. Right, we’re alive, Naruto had said.
Naruto walked up to the restaurant not long after. There were so many people around that he had barely registered Naruto’s presence before he could see him. Naruto gave him a wide grin and an excited wave. He felt himself calm down. He had faith in Naruto, he did .
‘Hey beautiful! Come here often?’ Naruto jokingly said.
He was such an idiot.
Sasuke tried his best to smile.
‘Hey, what’s up?’ Naruto stepped closer to him, putting his jokes aside.
He wondered if his panic was showing or if Naruto could just read him that well. ‘I’m okay,’ he said. He breathed in deeply. ‘It’s.. just a lot. A lot of noise too.’
Naruto bit his lip. ‘Tell me if you want to leave. Any time.’ With that he pulled Sasuke in for a hug. He whispered: ‘Focus on me for a second.’ Naruto blocked out most of the sounds, with the way he had placed his arms around his head. He placed his lips against Sasuke’s temple and very softly started humming a song. It wasn’t nicely hummed, but it did sound happy. Familiar too; he remembered Naruto humming this at home, while working in the garden. Sometimes he sang this song too. The lyrics were about toads, he remembered that much.
Naruto swayed a bit, slowly, to the sound of his own humming.
He let Naruto move him, to the voice he heard every day. This was a part of his home.
For one second, he pulled Naruto in a little tighter, as if to say thank you. Naruto giggled at that; he enjoyed getting squished a little. Then, Sasuke pulled back. ‘Let’s go inside.’
Naruto grinned. ‘Yeah?’
‘Hm.’
Naruto nodded carefully, then nodded again more excitedly. ‘Okay. Hey, did Sakura like your flowers?’
‘Yeah.. I think she did.’
Naruto held his hand when walking inside. He pulled him towards where Shikamaru was sitting, so that he ended up in between Shikamaru and Naruto. He guessed Naruto did so on purpose; because Shikamaru was by far the quietest and the least awkward one of Naruto’s friends. He appreciated the thought Naruto put into it.
Naruto softly kissed his jaw and whispered ‘I’m going to greet everyone. You good?’
He just nodded, ignoring the few stares they got when Naruto kissed him. He ordered some Sake, and let himself lean back in his seat a bit. Shikamaru turned to him slightly, gave him a lazy smile, and mumbled: ‘It’s good to see you.’
Sasuke didn’t know what to answer, and ended up just nodding thankfully. He hadn’t exactly expected to be accepted with open arms, but the other man seemed genuine.
‘Well, I guess it’s just good to see you together with Naruto. As long as he's not as miserable as he has been, you’re welcome with us.’ That was fair.
At that, Shikamaru turned to his cup of tea. He handed Choji the cookie he was given with it without a word. He guessed that all best friends had their own way of understanding each other wordlessly, endlessly. He realized that these people, who had known each other, and fought for each other, held some kind of calm together.
Sasuke stared at Shikamaru’s hand, holding his tea cup. The man had a ring on his finger. They were all growing up, that was for sure. In between them, the waiter put down his sake. He took a small sip. Naruto was laughing at Sakura brightly. He had gotten her green earrings at the market in a village near Oda. She seemed to like them.
‘Are you getting married?’ he asked Shikamaru.
The man glanced at him, a rare smile on his face. He sighed, as if that happiness made him tired. As if love was tiresome to him. Maybe it was. Sometimes it was tiresome to care so much about someone. ‘Yeah. To Temari. You know, Sabaku.’
She’d been protecting Gaara, he did remember that. They were quite the opposite, her and Shikamaru. She was loud and stern. Sometimes that just worked, he guessed. ‘Congratulations.’
‘Yeah, thanks.’ Shikamaru shrugged. The first dishes were put on the table. He guessed that they’d all be sharing. The rest seemed to know the concept of this restaurant already. ‘You too.’ He didn’t exactly know what that meant, he gave Shikamaru a thankful smile anyway.
Naruto had decided that touching him and yelling at his friends was something he could combine just fine, apparently. Sasuke felt Naruto’s strong hold on his upper leg, and watched how Naruto pointed his – still wet from his ramen – chopsticks at Kiba.
‘No, you’re the one who doesn’t fucking get it! If you take two cows–’ Sasuke zoned out again. These people could talk about anything as long as it wasn’t important, and he felt quite grateful for that. More than once one of the boys had been smacked because they tried to tease Sakura and Ino about Naruto ‘stealing away their childhood crush’ and Sasuke had quite enjoyed them getting the punches they deserved too. He was drinking his sake slowly, but fast enough to ease into the situation. Naruto was drinking a beer, laughing even louder than he usually would.
Once in a while he’d turn to Sasuke, breathe into his ear, and ask him: ‘You still good?’
After Sasuke made a noise that told Naruto everything was alright, Naruto decided on kissing his ear, then his jaw. He absentmindedly wondered how drunk Naruto was. He wasn’t doing anything he usually wouldn’t but– well– ‘Fucking God, guys, we know you’re in love. Get a room already!’
Naruto pulled back and laughed. ‘We’re literally buying a house, so we got that room covered.’
Sasuke rolled his eyes at his lover. He was being stupid.
Sakura piped up curiously. ‘You’re actually buying that old house?’
‘Well yeah,’ Naruto sipped his beer, leaned into him a little bit more. ‘We renovated a bit, and we covered up leaks and stuff like that, it’s actually a really good deal, I think.’ Naruto shrugged, mumbled: ‘Never had a home before so– yeah–’
So. That’s just what it was.
They weren’t people who easily felt at home somewhere.
Actually; neither one of them had expected to ever feel safe or at home again. Maybe Naruto had dreamed of it, without much faith, but he certainly hadn’t dared to.
Sasuke slid his hand against Naruto’s – that was still holding his leg firmly – and caressed Naruto’s pinky softly.
‘Hm, that’s amazing,’ said Sakura; she was the first one to speak. Soon after, everyone was congratulating them excitedly. Sasuke tried to nod, thank them, but he ended up kind of avoiding the attention.
Shikamaru bumped against his shoulder. ‘Feeling at home after everything you two have been through.. this must be a special place.’
He could feel a smile creeping up to his lips. He nodded.
Ino yelled: ‘Oh! You should give a housewarming party!’
‘We've been living there for months. I think the house is warmed already,’ Naruto answered. Sasuke chuckled at Naruto’s stupid joke– he liked him so much.
Ino rolled her eyes dramatically. ‘I really want to see the garden though.’
Naruto blushed as soon as someone mentioned the garden, like he always did, and Sasuke felt his heart explode. He fucking loved this man. He leaned against Naruto. ‘They can come over.’ Naruto turned to him. ‘Not too many people at once though, it scares Sesame.’ And him. No need to tell anyone about that, though; Naruto knew.
Sakura said more than once that they could stay over at her place. They, at this point drunk as hell, said that they missed Sesame and wanted to go home. Naruto laughed excitedly at the idea of cuddling their cat. Sakura gave them a worried look, knowing that they still had quite some walking to do while they could barely stand up straight.
‘We'll be fine, Sakura!’ Naruto yelled obnoxiously, still hanging off Sasuke’s shoulder. Sasuke put his arm underneath Naruto’s armpits and hummed to agree.
‘Okay, whatever. Not like you ever listen to me.’ Fair enough. She was right about that.
The walk sobered them up. Though Naruto kept hanging off him, swinging their interlocked hands, making up little dances. Sasuke couldn’t help but feel light because of everything his lover did.
They chatted about their friends, a little later Naruto was complaining, telling him story’s Sasuke had obviously overheard already. Sasuke didn’t exactly mind him retelling everything. He felt soft listening to Naruto’s excited version of the story.
He shrugged when Naruto asked about his opinion. ‘It’s not my business.’
Naruto chuckled. ‘I guess that’s right.’ He bumped against Sasuke’s shoulder as if he was joking about something. ‘You’re so calm.’
Was he? Really? Sometimes he felt calm, but he didn’t exactly know if he was just comparing himself to his past self. Compared to his past self almost everyone was calm. ‘Hm,’ he shrugged.
‘You are though! You make me feel calm, at least.’
‘Am I not just indifferent?’
Naruto stopped to look at him carefully. There were still hints of his grin on his face. ‘Are you? Indifferent?’
He turned to Naruto. He was looking beautiful in the light of the moon, his hair seemed a little lighter. It was a clear evening. For a while, he didn’t answer Naruto. He looked up at the sky, felt a little overwhelmed by the amount of stars, even though he saw them almost every day.
‘No. No, I’m not.’
Naruto walked up to him, placed his palm around Sasuke’s jaw. ‘I know.’ He kissed his nose, then his lips, very softly. ‘You never were.’
‘I don’t know.’
‘I know.’ Naruto looked at him sternly. ‘I do.’ He kissed him again, a little bit more sensual this time. He opened his lips against Sasuke’s, let their mouths fall together in a pace they knew as if it was a home.
Light. He felt light as Naruto interlaced their fingers with their lips still connected. The clumsiness of those warm touches made him feel light. The sake made him feel light. The fact he’d done it; he’d hung out with Naruto’s friends. That he’d shown them that he'd take care of Naruto. The fact that they had seemed to believe him. The fact that Naruto still loved him, even if they hadn’t. Light. Light. So fucking light.
‘Let’s go home.’
Sasuke pushed his nose into Naruto’s hair, breathed in deeply. ‘Yeah.’
By the time they got home they were still a bit giddy. It was late. They opened the door to the engawa and pulled their futons outside, laid them against each other. Naruto almost fell while doing so, twice. Every time Sasuke tried to tell him to be careful, Naruto kissed him so he’d shut up. Sure as hell worked. Sasuke got two cups of tea while Naruto gathered the pillows and the big orange blanket. He was making something that looked like a pillow fort outside. Sasuke couldn’t help but smile as he walked outside.
‘Pillow party,’ Naruto mumbled. ‘The best kind of party.’
Sasuke put their tea down, then he sat down on their futon, his feet on either side of Naruto. ‘I’ll tell Sakura you said that.’
‘Oh she knows. She’s been with me for a while, and it’s always been you.’
‘Hm, yeah.’ Not in the way he would have wanted Naruto to be into him– not back then. It had been– complicated. Something that was heavier than the love that might have been there. He didn’t want to get into it. He accepted Naruto’s words for what they were; it had always been him, in whatever way that might have been back then.
‘Come closer,’ Naruto said, pulling him into his lap slowly. Sasuke sat on top of Naruto’s lap, watched those bright blue eyes stare at him intensely. He bit his lip. Naruto grinned. ‘Take this off.’ Naruto pulled on his shirt.
He took it off, just as Naruto had asked. Naruto pulled off his own shirt as well, then pulled the orange blanket around Sasuke’s shoulders. ‘I’m not cold,’ Sasuke said. Which was ignored by Naruto, who just hummed and started kissing his arm, his neck and then his nipple. Sasuke let his hands tangle inside of Naruto’s hair, put his lips to the top of his head.
‘Sasuke,’ Naruto breathed out while pulling back. It didn’t seem to serve a purpose. A second later they were kissing again, deeply. Naruto moved his warm fingertips from his hips to his armpits. He left his mouth sloppily and licked his jaw. He couldn’t mind the wetness. He moaned out, tried to push the sound back. Naruto’s thumb pushed against the tip of his chin, moving his head to look up at the sky, and then he licked his neck.
Sasuke felt shivers fill his chest. He pushed his hips forward, against Naruto. That earned him a groan, some teeth against his skin. ‘Take your pants off,’ Naruto said against his neck. The vibrations shot through him, right through his heart, towards his crotch. He got up, pushed his pants down as fucking quickly as he could imagine himself doing so. Naruto did the same. He took Sasuke standing up as a chance to pull him in by the hips, to take his cock into his mouth playfully, only to pull back again.
‘Fucking hell,’ Sasuke moaned out.
Naruto grinned up at him, apparently proud of himself. ‘You’re so good.’
‘Right .’
‘Come here.’ Naruto led him into his lap again. As soon as Sasuke was where Naruto wanted him, he was back to kissing Sasuke’s neck. Naruto gripped his hips roughly, pulling him forward. Satisfied, he panted then moved his hands down to Sasuke’s ass. ‘Still good?’
Sasuke kissed him. He felt light.
Naruto took that as the answer it was meant to be, and started fingering him. He felt overwhelmed by the way Naruto was filling him up, spoiling him. He pushed his tongue further into Naruto’s mouth, moaned into him softly. Naruto pulled back and chuckled hoarsely. ‘Hm, you like that?’ He fucking knew Sasuke did. ‘You want me to fuck you tonight?’
Why did Naruto think he had to ask every little thing? He was so– so fucking– ‘Hm, fuck me.’
Naruto pushed in his third finger. He licked Sasuke’s lips as if it was nothing. ‘You’re so beautiful.’
‘Shut up.’
Naruto chuckled again. He didn’t exactly want to admit how much he fucking loved that sound. ‘Nah.’ He pulled his fingers out of Sasuke, held onto his hips again. ‘Want to stay like this?’
Sasuke nodded, placing his entrance against Naruto’s cock. Naruto held on to his hip with one hand, kept the other onto Sasuke’s hair. He felt awfully aware of all the ways Naruto could push him onto his cock if he wanted to. Somewhere he wished Naruto would.
He let himself slide onto Naruto’s cock. Naruto moaned out. He tried to do so quietly, failing. ‘ Fuck. You’re so amazing.’
Sasuke put his arm around Naruto’s neck, moved his hips forward and back. Naruto closed his eyes tightly, then forcefully pushed them open just to look at Sasuke. Sasuke, who moved himself up and down, his eyes closed and breathing heavily. Sasuke, who grabbed a handful of Naruto’s hair tightly and pulled himself closer to his lover by the blonde locks. ‘Holy fucking–’
‘Shh– Naruto.’
Naruto grabbed his hips and neck, pulled Sasuke down onto himself roughly. Sasuke felt himself leaning into Naruto’s touch, unable to move. He didn’t have to; Naruto pushed into him deeply, in a merciless rhythm. He smiled lightly as Sasuke moaned out, licked Sasuke’s open lips. ‘Love you,’ Naruto whispered.
‘Yeah, I– fuck– Naruto–’
‘Hm, ah– shit–’ Naruto bit his neck softly, then licked his ear again. ‘I–’ he started fucking him rougher.
Sasuke couldn’t even move if he tried, he clung onto Naruto, shivers filling his stomach. He was seeing white. He– ’I’m– c– fuck–’
Just as he could feel himself climaxing, Naruto gripped his hair roughly pushed into him with more force and– Naruto moaned out, cumming inside of him. ‘– need you.’ He heard Naruto moan out as soon as his head functioned enough to think more than more, fucking more.
He pulled Naruto in as the other stopped moving, breathing against his lover’s forehead. For a while, they breathed together. When Sasuke finally felt like he could move again, he playfully, he turned his hips one more time. Naruto went wide eyed. ‘Fuck –’
Sasuke chuckled softly. ‘Is that good?’ he asked, a little mockingly.
‘You have no idea how good.’ Naruto rubbed his face against his chest, kissed his skin sweetly. ‘So fucking good.’
‘I think I might have an idea.’
‘Double that idea.’
Sasuke laughed softly. ‘Yeah?’
‘No.’ Naruto closed his eyes, sighed. ‘Triple, at least.’
‘Dramatic.’
In their sleep, Naruto had pulled him in tightly. Recently he found himself sleeping through an entire night more often than not, and so he didn’t mind Naruto’s endless cuddling. It made him feel safe.
It was still a bit cool outside, luckily. The birds were already telling him that it would be a sunny day. They were flying through his garden, making loud noises. The cicadas weren’t exactly quieting down either, but they seemed to never do so.
He wouldn't exactly mind losing the blanket they’d been sleeping underneath. It was definitely cool enough to lay in someone's arms underneath a blanket anymore. He squirmed out of Naruto’s arms. For a few seconds, he just let his arm enjoy the cool wind, then he reached out and touched Naruto’s face.
Naruto shot up. For a few seconds he looked at Sasuke, and then he said: ‘Awh– fuck.’
Sasuke touched the other’s back softly. ‘Nightmare?’ It didn’t sound like it. Naruto’s voice had been… clear.
Naruto pouted, looked down at him. ‘No.’ He laid himself back down on the futon. ‘Wanted to wake you up with breakfast.’
Sasuke tiredly looked at Naruto. He could be so.. stupid. ‘Why?’
‘Just to be nice, asshole.’
‘Well, I’m awake, so..’
‘Yeah I can see that.’ Naruto pouted again, hid his head against Sasuke’s shoulder. ‘Just– wanna– spoil you.’
He shifted a little. ‘I can stay here.’
Naruto looked up, his eyes bright.
Sasuke almost wanted to snort at his boyfriend. He was so– fuck . Who the hell would have thought they’d end up like this? ‘Yeah, I’ll snooze a bit. We have miso in the fridge. Use the pack from the market though, it’s the older one.’
Naruto kissed him excitedly, then stood up. ‘Yeah, cool.’
‘And don’t give Sesame that meat, I think it’s expire–’
‘Yeah, yeah. Relax.’ Naruto picked his book off the table, and handed it to Sasuke. ‘I’ll be fine.’
‘If you come back with instant ramen, I’ll punch you.’
‘I’d like to see you try.’
Sasuke chuckled. ‘You told me to relax. Make up your mind.’
‘You’re right. There’ll be no punching. Lay down. I’m going to make you the best fucking breakfast ever.’
Naruto had a plan, apparently. After breakfast, which had been surprisingly nice, he started packing up stuff because he wanted to go on a walk. ‘That picnic basket I brought when I first came over, do you still have it?’
And so he decided on taking a picnic basket, snacks, and whatever more. Usually, they’d just get some water and leave. Naruto wanted to do something extra, that was fine, except– ‘I hope you know you’ll be the one carrying all of that.’
Naruto grinned up at him. ‘Think I can’t handle it?’
He just rolled his eyes, moved to put on his walking shoes.
They started walking towards the flower mountain. On their way, Naruto made them stop at Kana’s, and he was handed something to drink she’d made herself. Maybe some rose wine. She had put it in a beautiful bottle, at least. Kana waved at him excitedly, he waved back, a bit confused.
‘What exactly are we doing?’
‘A date,’ Naruto answered simply. It seemed like a lot to go through for a date. He didn’t doubt that Naruto would go as far though, not even a second.
He wanted to ask why they were going on a date; why this was a date and not all the times they’d gone swimming, or on walks, or out for dinner, to the market, to the onsen, the pillow parties and all the times he’d cooked for Naruto. Had those been dates?
He wasn’t exactly an expert on the subject.
Naruto reached out and grabbed his hand. Holding hands always felt overwhelming; he figured it was because he had no other hand to back this one up. He briefly wondered what it would feel like if he still had two arms. Would it be less overwhelming? He doubted it; Naruto could sweep him off his feet with the dumbest shit.
The walk seemed shorter, now that they’d done it a few times. They knew where to rest. They knew where the clean streams of water were, so that they could wash their hands. He knew Naruto would put his wet, cold hands against his neck. He enjoyed it when Naruto actually did. Naruto complained about him not complaining, then let his fingers slide into his hair to caress his head lovingly.
And then they went on. They stopped to look at animals. Naruto sometimes left his side to check out trees or to look for frogs. He picked flowers and asked Sasuke if he knew which one it was, Sasuke always did.
It almost came as a surprise when they finally came to the flower field. They never exactly looked at the time, but when they were together time always seemed to go... fast. Not too fast, necessarily, but it would have been nice if time slowed down a little when he was next to Naruto. Just so he could enjoy those moments a little more.
Naruto walked onto the field. He looked at his lover's bright hair in the wind. Naruto seemed to match with the flowers; full of life.
Naruto looked back and grinned. ‘You want to sit here?’ He asked, holding out a blanket.
Sasuke couldn’t help but nod mindlessly.
The first time they’d gone here together, he’d recorded the memory. He’d been so afraid that they’d never come here again. Now Naruto was laying out drinks and glancing at him curiously; waiting for him to come sit down next to him in the massive field.
Sasuke, after a few moments of staring, sat down on the blanket next to Naruto. Naruto grinned at him.
For a while, they sat there in silence, looking over the field. No matter how often they went; a mountain top that felt like the end of the world filled with flowers, had them breathless. He wouldn’t mind staying here with Naruto for eternity. He wouldn’t complain if that was his faith.
The wind blew softly, just enough to make the flowers dance a little.
‘Do you remember the first time we went here?’
Naruto knew he did, still he nodded for Naruto to go on.
‘I asked you if you loved someone, and you told me you did.’ Naruto looked down at his hands. Sasuke had said so much more, back then. Stupid things; things that had almost fucked everything up again. Naruto didn’t want to dwell on that, apparently. ‘And that you’re gay, had me curious as fuck.’ Naruto looked at him, his skin touched by the sun. He smiled softly. Sasuke wondered where Naruto was going with this. ‘Even if you hadn’t said anything, being here with you made me realize I didn’t want anything less. I thought; if happiness like this exists, why the hell would I settle for anything less.’
Sasuke reached out, touched Naruto’s hand lightly. Naruto was making him nervous; Naruto was making him feel whole. He wanted to hold him.
‘And I didn’t. I’m so grateful for that.’
Naruto pulled his hand away from his, sat down on both of his knees to turn to the picnic basket, to Sasuke. He opened the basket clumsily, with shivering hands. He got out something small, held it in his hand tightly for a while.
Sasuke picked his own nails, nervously, and stared at Naruto’s hands as if they were the only thing that existed in this world. Naruto was holding a small box. A dark blue one, suede.
Fucking hell– Naruto was–
Naruto breathed in sharply. ‘I’m not– You don’t have to marry me.’ This idiot. ‘Unless you want that. I know that marriage is just another construct made up by old people and I don’t know– I kind of like the idea of forever– but– well– I’m not going to ask you to marry me.’ Naruto swallowed. ‘I just– I want to offer you forever. For real this time, no bullshit. Would you stay with me forever?’ Naruto looked at him with wide eyes. There seemed to be some kind of sparkle inside of them. Naruto was– sure, he was nervous, but he didn’t seem afraid. He seemed hopeful.
Before Sasuke could answer, Naruto mumbled a quick: ‘Shit.’ He opened the blue box. ‘Wrong order, I–’ he held it out towards Sasuke. Inside, there was a necklace with the Uchiha and the Uzumaki symbol on it. It was a silver necklace, their symbols stood proud, simple. He remembered that necklace painfully well. It looked like the one his mother had worn. The one she’d held to show him– to show him what to get when he was old enough to ask someone to marry him. When you really love someone, and you want them to become an Uchiha.
‘It was kind of hard to– eh– find someone who wanted to talk about how the Uchiha clan did these kinds of things. I almost gave up and just bought a ring but then I found the person who used to make these and met up with him yesterday– and I’m rambling and you haven’t said anything– I– please say something.’
Sasuke stared at his lover and then, just because he couldn’t help himself, he laughed. Naruto was such an idiot. ‘You– you’re amazing,’ he said.
Naruto gave him a confused look.
Sasuke shifted so that he was sitting a little closer to Naruto. ‘Put that around my neck.’
Naruto nodded excitedly, taking the necklace into his hands. ‘Is that a yes?’
‘To forever? I really–’, be honest with him, ‘wouldn’t want anything else.’
The floor creaked with every step Naruto set on the floor. They’d hurried back when they noticed a storm coming. A big part of the route they’d ran, Naruto had been laughing a lot. Sasuke had felt warm. This was his life now.
Now Sasuke sat on the floor, listening to birds hurrying away towards the nest they had made, ready to protect their family. The wood of their house was creaking with the wind loudly. He wondered if they had actually fixed the leaks properly, or if he’d soon hear the dripping again.
He laid down on his back, the floor creaking a protest. Naruto was in the kitchen, telling Sesame that he was making human food. He smiled lightly. Naruto had finally managed to get that Ichiraku recipe, pretended he had done so for Sasuke. Even Sesame knew Naruto really just wanted to celebrate today with ramen. That was fine; Sasuke had taken liking to the endless smell and stories about ramen.
He heard the softest steps on the living room floor. Sesame, probably upset by the lack of food Naruto was giving him, laid down on Sasuke’s stomach. He was purring. Sasuke closed his eyes, placed his hand onto Sesame’s soft fur.
Naruto was humming, a pan was sizzling, he could hear something being cut.
‘Sasuke, do you want mushrooms in yours?’ Naruto called out.
Sasuke lifted Sesame off his stomach, held him inside of his arms. Still cuddling Sesame, he walked towards the kitchen. The kitchen was a terrible mess, as he had expected. Naruto was focusing on dinner as hard as was humanly possible, as if one wrong move would start another shinobi war.
Well, ramen had never been just ramen to Naruto.
He leaned against Naruto’s back, his face buried in his neck. Sesame was warm against his chest, purring sweetly as if he didn’t mind being stuck between them. ‘Hey,’ Naruto turned the gas down a little. The soup stopped boiling. ‘You good?’
Sasuke let Sesame jump onto the ground. He placed his, now free, arm around Naruto’s stomach. He buried his face even deeper against Naruto. The first rain started falling. It pattered on the plants in the garden, onto the roof.
‘Dinner will be done in no time,’ Naruto said, softly now.
He nodded against the other’s neck. The blonde hair tickling his face slightly. He felt so– so calm. They were inside of their house, filled with the smell of homemade food.
‘Naruto?’
Naruto turned his head a little. He placed his lips against the top of Sasuke’s head and then made a curious sound, as if to ask ‘What is it?’
He pulled Naruto a little closer, breathed in. ‘Thank you.’