- Preface -

For the longest while I've wanted to do an AU scifi story; and since I needed a side project to keep my writing muse appeased, here we are! These installments are meant to be short episodes into Naruto's life in this new world of space travel, marriage, and whatever else he's prone to getting himself into.

It goes without saying that I'm (barely) a hobbyist when it comes to understanding astronomy and all other things related to the science.

I hope you guys enjoy reading as much as I enjoy writing this!

Log 1

—Till I See You Again—

15:28.

A quick glance at his wrist watch told him his flight would be boarding soon. Then, as if on cue:

"Attention ladies and gentlemen, boarding for Empyrean Spaceways shuttle flight DS489 from Atlanta Spaceport Station to Laravel Colony will begin in approximately twelve minutes. For passengers still awaiting seat assignments, please approach the gate station for further assistance."

Naruto sighed, looking back down at his phone. He tapped the screen to pause the racing game he'd been playing, and then tilted it upward.

"Ii, pull up wallet."

A small 3D projection of multi-colored squares arranging themselves in a carousel lit up above the screen. He cycled through them until he came to one with an Empyrean Spaceways logo. Tapping it revealed his boarding pass.

"Ii, place ES pass in standby."

"Sure thing," a soft feminine voice with a French accent replied.

The 3D projection disappeared and the pause menu for his game displayed again. Naruto smirked to himself as he thought about how much his husband hated the voice he'd chosen for his Intelligent Interfacer. When the man had been on Earth, before he'd needed to report to Laravel Colony for work, he had griped constantly about how annoying Naruto's choice of voices was—especially when Ii gave alarm alerts in the morning. Why? was often the disgruntled question he'd pose to Naruto. The blond would then proceed to tell him that it was because he liked it, and that no matter how much his husband had hated that year his job had relocated them to Angel Suite—a French established colony, Naruto still thought it was an awesome place. This usually brought them to an impasse. Then his husband would give an exasperated eye roll and walk off to another room.

Naruto glanced at his watch again—seven minutes until boarding. Maybe he should text the other man and let him know that Naruto was about to board his flight. Though, something in him told him to video call instead.

"Ii, call Sasuke. Show on screen video."

"Video dialing Sasuke, one moment, please."

The game slid off screen to make way for a cute dialing animation. Naruto could hear the ringing tone in his wireless earbuds, and after the fourth ring, the call was accepted. The image of a fair-skinned man with deep black eyes and long, dark hair that slightly brushed his shoulders appeared. The soft lighting of a lamp off screen illuminated one side of the man's face and glinted off the rimless glasses he wore.

Naruto grinned. "Hey there, sexy," he greeted his husband.

The other man smirked and removed his spectacles. Casually, he brushed his long bangs aside.

"Hey right back at you, lover."

A warm rush of affection funneled its way from the center of Naruto's chest into the rest of his body, as well as some subversive thoughts that were a bit inappropriate for that moment. His cheeks flushed.

"Stop that," Naruto chided, mildly embarrassed. "I'm in public and you know what it does to me when you call me that."

Sasuke chuckled and placed his chin on a propped-up hand. "I know. Sucks to be you, doesn't it?"

Again, Naruto smiled. "Jerk. Tell me why I decided to marry you again?"

"Because of the health insurance and other fringe benefits you get as my spouse."

"Damn, that's right. Mom always told me I had to marry smart."

"That and I got you a dog."

This prompted Naruto to look down at the animal leisurely napping on the floor beneath his seat. Kurama, their domesticated warrah and husky mix, twitched one of his large ears but did nothing else.

"All right, you've got me. I've successfully been reminded of the many reasons why I said 'I do', Sasuke Uchiha."

Sasuke laughed again and placed his hand back down. "I'm glad. Are you boarding soon?"

"Yup, in like, two minutes."

Naruto gestured toward the idle hover crate sitting on the floor by his left foot. The device hummed to life and glided to the spot in front of him that he'd indicated. Kurama's ears perked up as he stared at it wearily. A small whine left the animal.

"Hey. You know the drill, Kurama. You have to be in the crate while we're on the flight," Naruto said.

The dog looked up at him with pitiful ice blue eyes, ears laying down close to its head. Naruto made encouraging sounds, and with a few gentle prods, Kurama resigned himself to grudgingly walking onto the base of the crate. The carrier's floor extended itself smoothly to accommodate the large dog's size, with room to spare. Then three translucent screens extended from the top of the crate to connect to its base, closing off the crate's three open sides.

"He never likes traveling in this thing, but I guess it can't be helped. IGSA rules and all," Naruto said, turning back to Sasuke.

"Well, it's just a four-hour flight. Hopefully, he'll be okay until you dock."

Naruto nodded absently, watching his husband as the man watched him back. "I can't wait to see you," he stated, gently.

Sasuke's dark eyes seemed to soften in the dim light of the room he was in. He leaned in closer to his screen while Naruto cradled his phone nearer.

"I know," Sasuke whispered. "Those four hours can't go by fast enough. I'm sorry we had to be apart these last two months."

"You'll just have to make it up to me when I get there," the flirtatiousness slunk back into Naruto's voice.

"Any way you want it, Naruto. If that's the way you need it."

A laughed burst out of the blond involuntarily, and he quickly slapped a hand over his mouth to smother his guffawing. A few curious eyes glanced his way, but they didn't linger for long.

"God…dammit, Sasuke! Why are you such a dork?" Naruto snickered between his fingers.

"Blame your father and his love for centuries-old rock bands. He has a penchant for torturing people with them whenever we're collaborating on a project."

"Heh, I'd think you'd be like a bat out of hell—"

"Get on the damn shuttle, Naruto." Sasuke looked like he was trying to scowl, but it was obvious how he struggled not to crack a smile.

Naruto stood, continuing to laugh. He held two fingers to his lips, and then touched them to the screen. "I love you, you bastard. See you soon."

Sasuke mimicked the same gesture and touched his screen.

"I love you too, idiot. I'll be counting the seconds until then. Be safe and text me when you leave hyperspace."

Feeling as if his heart might burst with how much he loved this man he'd decided to marry, Naruto tapped the edge of the screen to end their call. He shook his head to try and clear the butterflies from his stomach, all the while chuckling at how silly his husband made him act sometimes. It still amazed him how things had ended up the way they had between them.

Six years ago, if anyone would have told him that he'd be as crazily in love with Sasuke Uchiha as he was, Naruto would have laughed in their face. Sasuke was known for being a brilliant but reserved individual that was also capable of being an all-around dick when he wanted to be. Out of all the members of the United Engineers Corps, Sasuke would've been the last person Naruto had seen himself with.

But here they were, and as sappy as he knew it sounded, Naruto loved it.

"Good afternoon, ladies and gentleman. The shuttle has successfully been docked and refueled. We are now ready to begin boarding for Empyrean Spaceways flight DS489, flying from Atlanta Spaceport Station to Laravel Colony. We ask that at this time passengers that: require extra assistance boarding, who are traveling with small children with strollers, and those with animal crates please approach the gate now for boarding."

Naruto grabbed the duffle bag that had been on the floor by his right foot and shouldered it. He tapped the top of the hover crate, causing it to gently glide after him as he headed toward the boarding area. He presented his pass to the gate assistant and she scanned it. Glancing up from her reader, the woman gave him a polite smile; then motioned him forward.

"Empyrean Spaceways welcomes you, Mr. Uzumaki. We hope you and Kurama enjoy your flight with us."

Naruto thanked her, and with Kurama's carrier in tow, made his way through the gate passage.