title: colors
summary: black, sakura told him, wouldn't do at all.
prompt: day #1 - the smell of fresh paint
rating: k
a/n: this year, i've actually managed to complete all of the prompts, so i'll be posting a new one every day in july both here and on my tumblr. just a heads up—these chapters will be rather short, ranging from about 500-800 words each, but i still really that hope you guys enjoy! thanks for reading, and happy sasusaku month!
Mixed reactions arose with the announcement of a new addition to the Uchiha household.
While the majority of Konoha's citizenry cooed their congratulations to the village's esteemed medic as they gathered around to fawn over her stomach's growing baby bump, there were those who followed her husband with frowning eyes, skepticism evident in the hushed words they whispered behind his back. The Hokage herself seemed to be among them but wasted no time with gossip, uttering nothing but, "You're moving awfully fast, Uchiha—better watch your step," before her fist glowed green-blue, and Sasuke was sent flying—crashing—into the back of the Hokage Office, leaving an almost-father-sized hole in the wall.
Thankfully, Sakura's parents were more accepting of them, having gotten over their initial suspicion toward the recipient of their daughter's affection during the years he spent trying to earn their approval. Sakura's mother's eyes lit with happiness at the sound of Sakura's pregnancy and immediately rushed out of the house to buy clothes and toys for her new grandchild, and after her father recovered from his early shock, he patted Sasuke on the back before pulling the two into an embrace, murmuring, 'they really do grow up fast,' and 'I'm so proud,' while struggling to dab at his eyes.
Across the board, their friends were supportive of the couple as well, and Naruto even began to hoard packs of instant ramen in his closet for the incoming child. "The baby needs good nutrition," the blonde exclaimed when he showed the pair his impressive stash of all noodle-flavors piling into skyscrapers, forming a city in his room. "And we can name him or her Naruto the Second! Uchiha Naruto, it has a nice ring to it!"
(He spent the rest of the day sulking after Sasuke shot his proposal down.)
Sai, too, congratulated them in turn, lips lifted into a polite smile, and Ino came along to bring a bouquet of flowers to brighten the child's new bedroom. Even with the flowers, though, the room was bare, except for a single crib tucked in the corner. Furniture still had to be bought and arranged, and the empty walls were yet to be painted with color.
"Black," Sasuke suggested one morning, as the couple stood side by side in the bedroom, their shoulders touching. "We should paint the room black."
Sakura violently gasped in response, wide, green eyes snapping to his. "You want to paint our baby's room…black?"
"Mm, it's a steady color."
"No, it's too dark," Sakura insisted, as she waved his proposition away. "Black won't do at all."
Sasuke regarded his wife sideways, his eyebrows knitting together. Blowing out a sigh, he leaned against her form and tried again, "Red, then?"
She blinked once, twice. "No, no, no… Blood is red…"
"Some flowers are red," Sasuke said exasperatedly. "Tomatoes are red."
Yet again, Sakura waved off his words. "What about pink?" she asked. "I like pink."
"I am not painting my son's room pink, Sakura."
"We're having a daughter."
"We are not."
"We are, too."
After hours of pestering back and forth, the couple finally settled into a compromise of a light blue color, and soon enough, the air in the small bedroom was thick with the scent of paint.
Moving a brush against one of the walls, Sakura spoke with a smile, "Our little girl will love this color."
Her words flowed so genuinely that Sasuke found himself nodding in agreement. "...Aa, I'm sure she will."