Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Summary: 100 Theme Challenge. 14 – Smile. Naruto & Sasuke.
Word Count: 426
Smile
A 100 Theme Challenge
Naruto & Sasuke
His mother used to say smiling and laughing is like riding a bike – you never quite forget how to do it.
Sasuke Uchiha had grown up with smiles and small laughter. He'd also grown up with scowls, glares and frowns. But every once in a while, they'd slip in, unexpected but much appreciated. When his mom used to garden, she'd hum and give a little quirk of the lips and Itachi and him couldn't help but smile along with their mother.
His father, on one occasion, had made them laugh. Sasuke didn't like to think of that day. Something like that had never happened again.
Team 7 was a minor source of smiles. Naruto's idiotic grin, Sakura's childish smile and Kakashi's smiling eye. But...
Itachi was the source of his smiles. Brother love is strong, unbreakable. Well, he thought so. For years that knowledge slipped away from him. There's a fine line between hate and love, and Sasuke was straddling it, watching enviously as Itachi sat with open hands on one side. He just couldn't tell which side. Maybe if he had known, nothing would have happened. But he didn't know.
But for those few years of splendid happiness, Sasuke was sure nothing could tear those laughs out of his chest, those wicked grins when he would feel Itachi's shoulders vibrate with chuckles as he sat upon them.
He loved it.
Feeling the bubbles burst from within, sending tickles along inside of him, causing heat to spread to the tips of his fingertips and the top of his head and the ends of his toes. It wasn't easily forgotten and welcomed with great haste and admire. It was his. His and Itachi's. It was theirs.
And when that fateful day many years down the road appeared, mocking him, slapping him in the face, he couldn't pull that smile up as Itachi did. His nose twitched and he watched the gleam he was used to as a child vanish from his brothers – Itachi, who had been turned into a weapon and shattered many times over – eyes. He couldn't bring the bubbles back for his cherished family as they died. The only family he could love. And he rushed forward, jumping from where he was stuck on that damned line and as if he was four again grasped Itachi's hand, finally figuring out which side he was on.
His mother used to say smiling and laughing is like riding a bike – you never quite forget how to do it.
Sasuke Uchiha never learned how to ride a bike.
.: forgive me Sasuke... maybe some other time :.
And for the lack of Naruto? Well, with the 100 Theme Challenge, it doesn't necessarily have to be about them. They could just be mentioned. Well, there you go. Plan to try and do most of the 100 challenges but it may take some time. And I may feel the need to repeat some considering those plot-bunnies are out to ruin my life.
Eva