A/N: The stories in this collection were not only inspired by the lyrics of the songs, but also the melody and overall feel of them. Listening to the songs beforehand may enhance your reading experience.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto nor the song Delicate.
This ain't for the best
My reputation's never been worse, so
You must like me for me
For a long time, Sasuke stood at the Konoha gates. It's been eight months since he began his "journey for redemption". And it had been tough. Even though he was sure that he was already getting used to it, people's hostility still surprised him – especially since plenty of them were people he actually never knew. Had he really brought that much negative impact in their lives because of his selfish hatred?
He wasn't really sure if he… improved, but eight months would have to be enough for now. He had been doing missions pretty much all the damn time, and frankly, he wanted to rest. He also wanted something constant. A constant bed to sleep in, a constant bathroom to shower in.
He wasn't sure of anything, really, because although he was sure that he wanted to rest, he wasn't sure if he was ready to stay home for an extended period of time.
Home. Ridiculous. One always looks forward to coming home… Was he looking forward to this?
Pink flashes through his thoughts for a split second. When he visited, he always went to her first. He didn't know if he was doing it out of habit, but every time he set foot in Konoha, his feet would automatically take him to her house, or to the hospital. He closes his eyes, ignoring the tug, and decides to head to the Hokage tower first before Naruto never lets him have peace again. He was sure that Sakura would understand. After all, she was probably busy, and Sasuke knew that he would have time for her later.
"Sasuke. I didn't know you'd drop by," Kakashi says, without looking up from whatever paper he was reading, the moment Sasuke opens the door.
"Hn." He walks over to his former sensei's table and for a few moments they were silent until Kakashi looks at him, scans him like there was Morse code written on his entire body.
Before leaving on his journey, Sasuke heard from his teammates – former? – that they always teased Kakashi, saying that he has always been his favorite student. He didn't know if that holds true to this day. After all, everyone's bond has grown with time, and Sasuke wasn't there for any of it.
"Is there anything I can do for you?" The Rokudaime finally asks.
Sasuke finished his last mission a month ago, and he asked for a travelling break afterwards. It helped, a little, but it didn't ease his exhaustion. "I… want to stay here for a while. Maybe half a year."
Eyebrow raised, Kakashi echoes, "Here? For a while? In Konoha?"
"Yes." Home, Sasuke wants to say, but he unsurprisingly doesn't.
"Forgive me for asking, but… Are you going to stay in the Uchiha compound?"
"I…" There was a pause again. He did not think about that. Sasuke stayed in, well, almost exile when he was brought back to Konoha, while Kakashi and Naruto and Sakura fought for him again. After which, he stayed in close watch, just going back and forth between the Hokage tower and the hospital. It wasn't long before he decided to leave, and when he did visit, he didn't dare set foot in the Uchiha compound. At first, he stayed with Naruto – even though it was bothersome for his peace. When his best friend got busier and spent more time with the Hyuuga girl, however, Sasuke started seeking Sakura first when he visited. His pink-haired teammate graciously accepted him, and even offered to give him her spare keys. He said that he didn't want to be a bother. She said he never is. He still didn't take the keys. Whether or not their sensei knew this, he had no idea.
"Naruto's busier than ever, and that probably won't do your mind any good. You can always get a new place of your own. Or maybe you can ask Sakura if she'll let you stay at her place." Ah, of course. He knew.
"I'll go look for her, then."
"She's probably in her office right now. You'd bring her all these documents, wouldn't you?" Kakashi says, gesturing to the pile of paper sitting on his desk.
"Tch." This old man. If he wanted to make him run errands, he should've just said so in the first place. Sasuke took the papers soundlessly and made his way to the hospital.
We can't make any promises
Now, can we, babe?
But you can make me a drink
Sakura wasn't in her office. Shizune said she was performing a surgery, but Sasuke can wait for her. He placed the papers on her desk and let his eyes wander. He was surprised to see their photo – the one taken all those years ago, when they were still genin – on her desk. The last time he was in Konoha, the picture was in the pinkette's living room.
She's probably been spending more time here, Sasuke thinks. Since he wasn't going to stay in the Uchiha compound anymore – what in heavens would he do with that place? – he figured that he should just give his copy to Sakura, so that they'd have one in her living room.
That is, if she allows him to stay with her. He really doesn't want to trouble himself looking for a new place, since… Well, since it's too much trouble. And he really did not have anywhere else to go. Besides, he'd promise to share expenses anyway, and Sakura has an extra room.
He senses her chakra before she even opens the door.
She, however, does not sense him, and the complete surprise on her face is too endearing, it almost makes him laugh. Almost. He settles for a smirk instead.
She stares at him, wide-eyed and lips parted, and it takes her a while to recover from surprise. "Sasuke-kun– I– What are you doing here?"
"Shizune said I could wait for you, but… I can always leave if you didn't want me here."
"No, no! Of course not! I'm glad to see you, Sasuke-kun! It's just that– I wasn't expecting–" A little bit embarrassed, her eyes dart around, and she spots the pile of paper on her desk. "Kakashi sensei sent you?"
"Aa. I went to see him first. He asked me to bring those to you."
"I see." She sits on her chair and stretches for a bit. When she notices him staring, he smiles at him. "Thank you, Sasuke-kun."
"Hn." This is what he was looking forward to, but he'd never admit.
They sit in comfortable silence as Sakura browses whatever it is Kakashi sent her. She hasn't asked him yet what he's doing in Konoha, but Sasuke realizes that she's probably waiting for him to tell her himself. He decides to break the silence.
"Sakura."
At this, emerald eyes look up at him. "Hmm, Sasuke-kun?"
"Hmm? You're turning into me." At this, Sakura laughs, and Sasuke thinks it's the most pleasant sound he's heard in months. He continues, "I'm staying in Konoha. For at least six months."
"You're… staying?" She looks bewildered and delighted.
He nods. "I… can't stay at the compound. And I was wondering if… you'd let me stay with you."
Sakura blinks, slowly, processing what he had just said. She opens her mouth to speak, but then closes them again, pursing her lips. When she looks at him again, she asks, "Naruto?"
If this was the Sakura from all those years ago, she would have never hesitated offering her place to Sasuke. This Sakura was different, mature. She still, again and again, welcomed him with open arms, and she was still ever-so-patient with him. But now, she knows exactly what she wants, and how to conduct herself, and every time Sasuke remembers this, he can't help but be in awe of their – his – female teammate.
"Kakashi said Naruto's busy. Besides, the dobe's too loud, and I'd probably regret coming home if I had to hear his voice every day."
Home. He said it. Sakura looks stunned.
He could only hope that she caught on what he did not say as well. That, these days, he never regrets anything when he's with her.
"I understand, Sasuke-kun," she says with a soft chuckle. "I wouldn't last a week if I had to live with Naruto as well. You can stay with me! The other room is all yours."
How was it even possible that she was smiling at him brighter than she was earlier?
Sasuke waits for Sakura to get off work that day, and they walk back to her place together in peaceful silence. Sasuke reveled in it. Sakura also seemed happy, and Sasuke was glad. Although, the dark circles under her eyes gave away her tiredness – and it was probably the same for him. He longed to thumb the weariness away from her face.
When they reached her house, Sakura led him in.
"I'm sorry if it's not particularly the biggest place around, Sasuke-kun."
"Sakura. It's okay."
She smiled shyly at him, and he wished he could say more. That he was more than grateful that she allowed him to stay with her, and that he really didn't want to stay anywhere else.
"Alright then! I guess I'll leave you to relax. That's your room over there, Sasuke-kun. Feel right at home, okay?"
"Aa."
"I'll just go make food and I'll give you your keys later. Is there anything else you need, Sasuke-kun?"
"Actually… Can I have green tea?"
"Of course!"
Just as the pinkette turns to go to the kitchen, Sasuke calls her back. "Sakura."
She turns back to him and smiles that sweet smile again. "Yes, Sasuke-kun?"
"Thank you."
That night, sleep came easy for both of them.
Is it cool that I said all that?
Is it chill that you're in my head?
'Cause I know that it's delicate
Sasuke didn't expect that he'd be able to sleep for more than a wink. He glanced at the clock he brought with him, and realized he had been sleeping for almost 16 hours. This was rare, and a dreamless sleep was a luxury – until now, the Uchiha's nightmares still haunt him, and when he was alone, it had been difficult not to fall back into such a dark abyss. He should be getting better, but it was never easy. It was one of the reasons he was so exhausted.
He steps out of Sakura's spare room only to find the pinkette sitting in the living room, attention completely taken by what looked like a medical book. She didn't even realize he was there until the Uchiha decided to plop onto the space beside her.
"Sasuke-kun," she says, only glancing at him for a second before turning back to what she was reading, but he could hear the smile in her voice. "Did you sleep well?"
"Mm."
"I'm glad, Sasuke-kun."
"More than I have, in a long while."
This snaps Sakura out of her focus, and when she looks up at him, she finds dark eyes already staring back. A faint blush grazes her cheeks, and Sasuke doesn't know what overcomes him, but finds his thumb already brushing over it, only causing Sakura's blush to grow deeper. His touch doesn't linger, but he never takes his eyes off her.
"I only sleep soundly when I'm here."
Sometimes, I wonder, when you sleep
Are you ever thinking of me?
Sometimes, when I look into your eyes
I pretend you're mine all the damn time
He didn't think it would be this easy. In just a month of staying with her, they've already fallen into a sort of natural, almost familiar rhythm. Sakura would always wake before him and leave him breakfast. Since he wasn't particularly doing anything yet, Sasuke would discretely help with whatever chores needed to be done. He'd bring Sakura lunch – the first few days he did this, the pinkette was a blushing mess – and Sasuke found it adorable, more than he wanted to admit – and she'd insisted that he didn't have to, but he insisted otherwise, until he won, because that was how they were – competitive and unrelenting. So it became a habit, a constant. What I wanted, he thought. Except for the stares.
Today, Sakura was working overtime, visiting each department to help and note how they were doing and what they needed. It was already almost ten in the evening, and Sasuke just knows that the medic hasn't eaten yet. He also hasn't seen her all day, since she was still working during lunch, so he figured he would just wait for her and they can eat dinner together before going home.
Home? No, he corrects himself. Sakura was just being gracious enough to allow him to stay with her… Because his supposed home is built on ghosts of the past, and he would never go back to that.
Sakura slipped back into her office at quarter past eleven, and he was there, patiently and soundlessly waiting.
"Sasuke-kun! I– I'm sorry– since when have you been here?" She looked really guilty. And tired. Sasuke wanted to… What did he want? To protect her? But she's not that fragile girl anymore, hasn't been that girl for years.
Instead, he just said, "It's okay. Let's go home."
Home. He said it. Out loud. But when he's met with shining green eyes, he thinks, this feels right.
Sasuke stayed silent, since he figured that Sakura was too tired, and her energy shouldn't be wasted in talking. Not that he's much of a talker, anyway. But his pink-haired teammate still asked about his day (nothing much happened, he said), and if he sparred with Naruto (he did), and if Kakashi sensei made him do errands again (he avoided the old man).
Then Sasuke asked her, and he was glad he did, because there was a light in her eyes when he told him about her day. Sasuke wondered how she can be beautiful in her exhaustion. Sakura continued telling him the details of their day on the way back. She sat on the couch when they got back, and when Sasuke reappeared after getting them water from the kitchen, she was already asleep.
He set the glasses on the table and he sat beside her. Should he wake her up, or just carry her to bed? Would he bit him to a pulp if she woke up and he was carrying her? But he snaps out of his thoughts when he realizes that the sleeping girl has sensed his warmth and has curled up against him.
I should probably wake her, he thinks.
But he doesn't. He just looks at her – really looks at her and he sees her, in her strength and vulnerability all at once.
And maybe, just maybe, he wants to kiss her.
It's not the first time he has ever thought about it. During his quick visits, or the times Kakashi asked them to do a mission together for old time's sake, or when they sparred with each other, he often found himself overwhelmed with feelings he doesn't readily understand. And it always happens when he looks at her.
It was only recently he found out maybe he wanted to kiss her when he saw Naruto looking at Hinata with so much adoration before he leaned in for a kiss.
It was almost comical that Naruto has this blooming love life while Sasuke struggles to understand the basics of any relationship.
He pinches his nose bridge. He's giving himself a headache. But it was always like that when it came to his pink-haired teammate. She confused him: She shakes up storms within his mind but also settles a calm over his soul. That's what they called love, right? Sasuke wasn't sure at all, having spent his years harboring hate, seeking vengeance, and after that, trying to atone for his sins.
He freezes when he feels Sakura stir beside him and mumble something incoherent, but she settles eventually, and he sighs.
"Alright, off to bed with you," he says quietly, trying his best not to wake her when he lifts her with his lone arm.
Is it cool that I said all that?
Is it too soon to do this yet?
'Cause I know that it's delicate – isn't it?
She doesn't wake even as he carries her to her room and when he settles her gently on her bed – she must really be tired. Sasuke gently sits on her bed and tucks her in.
He finds that he can't stop his hand from brushing her hair away from her face.
"Sakura," he whispers. But his words falter. He doesn't even know what to say.
He stands up and makes his way for his own room, but just as he opens the door, he hears her call to him.
"Sasuke-kun?"
"You fell asleep on the couch, Sakura. It's okay. Go back to sleep."
She's silent for a while, and Sasuke thinks she fell asleep again, but then she says softly, "Stay here."
He looks at her, at her tired, half-lidded eyes, and at the way the light of the moon illuminates her skin.
"Okay. I'll be back in a bit."
He comes back to Sakura's room a few minutes later, all showered and clean. He thought she'd already be asleep when he came back, but she was still awake, waiting for him.
"You came back."
Sasuke knew those words meant so much more than just the moment in front of them.
"I said I would, didn't I?"
Sakura gave him a contented smile. "You did. Thank you, Sasuke-kun."
"Hn." He walked over and awkwardly scooted under the blankets next to her. He faced her, and for a few heartbeats, they were only looking at each other.
This wasn't the first time this happened. When he was in Konoha, Sasuke often woke to worried, emerald eyes when he was having nightmares.
He was glad that she was his reality.
And now, it was his turn to ease Sakura's weariness, as she had done for him.
He pulled her closer to her then – taking care that he wasn't too harsh – and he pressed her head to his chest. "Sleep," he said, pressing his nose to her hair.
He could hear the hammer of her heart against her chest, and he wondered if he could also hear his.
But she doesn't say anything about it. Instead, she wraps her arms around him and closes her eyes, smiling. "Goodnight, Sasuke-kun."
He watches her, tracing soothing circles on her back as she falls asleep.
"Sweet dreams, Sakura."
A/N: For this particular story, what has been said is of equal importance as what was not, because I view Sasuke and Sakura's dynamic as such: not just built on words, but also on meaningful silence. It was challenging getting into Sasuke's head and trying to give justice to his speech and thought. I also would not like to say that he was out of character in this story, as people view him being in character when he's stoic and cold, and I believe that he is so much more than that.