Stop Time, I Want To Get Off
Summary: Sakura needs no one to take care of her, Naruto's growing up too fast and Sasuke is, as usual, the problem.
It used to be that Naruto understood her best. Sakura hasn't been a mystery to him since they were fifteen years old. He always liked to say that Sasuke was his best friend, but in the boy's absence it was said in the self-affirming way that only the insecure need. His devotion to Sakura, and her love and friendship in return, are a given.
For almost a decade, she was the most important person in his life. And he left her behind, again.
He's with Hinata now. A wife supersedes a sister, it's the way of things. But that doesn't stop the guilt.
Because he doesn't know what's going on with her lately.
He promised her nothing would change. She promised him everything would.
Ever since Sasuke came back from his globetrotting, she's been different. Well… she was different while he was gone, but she's a different kind of different now!
Team dinners are strained and awkward. She's quieter, in a simmering sort of way. She tells them she's busy, and she is. More than she's ever been in her entire life. She runs the hospital and the paediatric mental health facility. AND she goes on missions. AND she functions as a diplomat to Suna. There's more going on in her life than ever before, but somehow they never talk about it.
Has he been that remiss?
Yeah, actually. When he said he wanted to be Hokage, he hadn't thought about everything he'd have to give up to do it. Mostly his time. And with him and Hinata trying for a baby at the same time, something was bound to fall by the way side.
He hates that it's Sakura.
It's official, he's gotta do something.
.
.
It's a sunny Monday afternoon when he deputizes Sasuke.
"No."
"Come ooon!" Naruto whines. "Without me around who's gonna make sure she's eating okay-?"
"She's a doctor-"
"And who's gonna tell her when she's taking on too much? Or make sure she's not sleeping in on-call rooms."
"I really don't think-"
"-OR ALIVE EVEN?! WHAT IF HER CATS EAT HER?! Who's gonna make her laugh when she's sad because she lost a patiennnnn…neeeever mind, look who I'm talking to here. Never mind, I'll ask Ino."
"Wait."
Naruto turns and grins.
"I'll do it."
"Awesome."
Sasuke hesitates, "But what- what if I- I don't know that I can." Naruto has developed enough tact to wait. "She's upset with me."
"What'd you do?" At Sasuke's flat look: "Lately."
Sasuke sighs and runs a hand through his fringe, pushing it back to reveal his eyes. They're sad.
"Listen, Sakura's okay. She's the strongest person I know. I'm not goading you this time. If you don't think you can do it, or don't want to do it then that's fine. You owe her a lot, but you don't owe her this."
"I owe her everything."
The blonde snorts, "Just your life, what's that worth, anyhow?"
It does the trick. He rolls his eyes and shoves him.
"…Sakura doesn't have any cats."
Migrating some stuff over from tumblr. You can find me there as fiercyy!