He was still reading the mission briefing scroll when she came back out of the bathroom. She had just come home from a long hospital shift, and all she wanted to do was sleep. When she slipped in the covers, he put the scroll away and turned off the lamp. But when he put his arm around her waist and moved closer, she moved a little farther away from him.
"Tch, what are you doing?" he asked, lifting his head. When they were younger, she was the one who had her arms around him. He would always push her off, but after a while, he learned to like the feeling.
"I don't like it." She mumbled, trying to sleep.
"Why?" He asked, annoyed. She didn't seem to mind this kind of contact most of the time.
"Because I'm trying to sleep and you know for a fact that it leads to anything but that." she groaned, turning away from him. He narrowed his eyes at the back of her head. Instead of backing off, he put his arm around her again and pulled her closer.
"I wasn't trying to lead to that, if that's what you're trying to say." he murmured into her ear, trying to suppress a smirk at the shiver that she's trying so hard not let run down her spine. Truth be told, he really did enjoy the warmth she gave him in his arms. It made him feel like he could protect her from anything- not that she needed protection, it was more of a possessive and protective thought process Sasuke had. Thinking about it, he'd notice how she'd tense up a little or try to move a little further away whenever he tried to cuddle. And she was right- that never lasted long.
"Sasukeā¦" She warned. He learned from Sai and Naruto that Sakura should not be messed around with- and he learned the hard way that she definitely shouldn't be messed with when she's tired. His neck ached from the memory of sleeping on the couch for an entire week.
"Hn. Whatever." He grumbled as he turned onto his back, instantly missing her warmth on his torso. He had only closed his eyes before he felt her turn around, and put her arm over his chest. He only turned his head to face her and gave her a questioning look. She didn't open her eyes but she knew that her actions were being questioned.
"I don't like being cuddled, but I like doing the cuddling." was her only response as she finally decided it was the right position to fall asleep in.
Despite the beautiful girl laying next to him, Sasuke felt emasculated.
