Author's Note: Welcome! I posted these two together because both are rather short, and I didn't want this chapter to be such a short update on its own. I hope you enjoy a bit of Sasuke's POV. I actually really enjoyed writing his POV. If I do a sequel, I definitely want to do some more stuff in it. Anyway, I'm glad you guys are enjoying it so far! Please let me know! Getting reviews really puts a smile on my face. So enough of me, on with the show! Please Favorite, Follow, and Review. Enjoy!
Sasuke sighed as he checked out another customer. He had been at work all day and he was ready to be done. Only another hour until close, but it wasn't soon enough. Suddenly, Sasuke heard the bell at the door ring and on a whim he glanced up and was surprised to see that odd blond from before…Naruto, if he remembered correctly.
"Back already?" Sasuke asked, unable to keep an amused smile from leaking onto his face. Naruto didn't seem to notice because instead he looked shocked Sasuke remembered him. That made Sasuke want to laugh. How could he not remember the weird guy who speaks French and sat at his table for two hours looking at him. Even if Naruto wasn't strange, his appearance definitely stood out. He had bright blonde hair and the bluest eyes Sasuke had ever seen on a person. He was a strange mix between handsome and cute. He gave the conflicting impression of a clueless child along with that of a strong man. There was an air about him that just screamed mystery, even though he looked quite open. He was quite the whirlwind.
"We were doing some shopping nearby and my friends got hungry," he said. Sasuke nodded.
"So what can I get you?" Sasuke asked. Naruto just rattled off the same order as before, which Sasuke was surprised he remembered. Next Shikamaru walked up, and Sasuke was a bit surprised that they knew each other. Once they all got their table, Sasuke couldn't help but glance at them from time to time. He recognized the other two men, but he didn't know who they were. He figured he had gone to high school with them or seen them in town. Sasuke couldn't help but smile to himself as he realized Naruto kept looking at him. A break in customers gave Sasuke the chance to look at them for a bit longer and he was extremely amused to see Naruto's face a burning red. It was extremely cute, and the bright red contrasted well with his eyes, making them look even bluer.
Sasuke wondered what they were talking about to make the blonde blush so heavily, and he wanted to laugh when Naruto caught him starring and quickly looked away, his blush deepening. It wasn't long after that they all left, Naruto's face twisted into a small pout. Very cute. It had been a while since Sasuke found an interest in anyone, sexual or otherwise, and he'd almost forgot what it felt like. Clearly the man was new in town because there was no way Sasuke would have missed him.
Sasuke looked up at the clock and sighed. Five minutes until close. Sasuke quickly put a closed sign on the counter and walked to the back. They closed the counter early to give the kitchen time to finish orders and start cleaning. Sasuke told the bakers and baristas he closed the counter and then went to the floor to let everyone know they would be closing soon. Most people in town knew their closing time so there were only a few customers still in the shop. Absentmindedly, Sasuke wished Naruto had stayed late so he could have gone and spoke to him again.
Another hour and Sasuke was finally leaving. The manager was out of town and had left Sasuke as the stand in, so he was always the last to leave. With a sigh, he got in his car that was parked behind the shop and began his drive home. Sakura had asked him to hang out once he got off, so he wasn't surprised when he saw her standing at his door. It used to creep him out, but once they came to the agreement that they were never going to be a thing, she became a pretty good friend. She still did some of the same stuff, like wait outside his door when he wasn't home, but now he just associated it with her personality. She was just a bit over the top.
"Finally! I've been freezing my tits off," Sakura said, and Sasuke rolled his eyes, unlocking the door and allowing her inside.
"Maybe you should wait at home for me then."
Sakura shook her head. "Nope. Because then you'll come up with some excuse as to why we can't hang out." Sasuke sighed, because it was true. He had done it on multiple occasions. They were friends, and he didn't particularly hate her company, it was just his personality. He would avoid company whenever he got the chance, even when he might want it.
"So what are the plans for tonight?" Sasuke asked, pulling off his coat and walking to his room to change. He messed with the thermostat on his way. He had turned the heater on a few days ago but now it was getting too warm.
"Movies, hot chocolate," she began to list off, "the usual." Sasuke nodded in his room, despite her being unable to see him, and pulled on his plaid pajama pants and white t-shirt. When he got back to the living room Sakura had taken off her coat and was sitting on the couch in her own pair of fuzzy pajama pants and a tank top. She already had Netflix pulled up and was scrolling through the Christmas category. Sakura, like the rest of their town, was very festive. Sasuke was never quite that animated about it, but he had always been fond of Christmas. At least until recently. Now it was a bit of a sore spot for him. After the fire last year, he just couldn't get into the mood. Even so, he didn't mind indulging Sakura or everyone else. Even if he couldn't get into the Christmas spirit didn't mean no one else could.
"So what will it be? Snow, or Santa Paws?" Sakura asked, and Sasuke focused back on the T.V. If he remembered correctly they had watched these before, but he couldn't remember what they were about.
"Whichever you want. I'll go make the hot chocolate," Sasuke said, getting up. Sakura nodded and quickly picked a movie, waiting for Sasuke to get back.
"Don't forget the whip cream!" Sakura yelled and Sasuke couldn't help but laugh. As if he could forget. He had been making hot chocolate for them since Sakura went from being his stalker to being his friend. He'd forgot the whip cream once and she had gone into meltdown. It was also that time of the month and she had warned him that she was being extra moody. Sasuke never made that mistake again. His ear drums couldn't take the abuse.
"Here," Sasuke said, handing Sakura her hot chocolate and taking a seat. She started the movie, and soon they were engrossed in the adventure of Santa Paws. This was clearly a kid's movie, but even Sasuke could enjoy the cheesiness and abundant Christmas corniness. A sudden yelp made Sasuke and Sakura jump, pausing the movie and looking at each other in confusion.
"What was that?" Sakura asked, looking towards the kitchen where the backdoor was. Sasuke shook his head.
"I don't know. It sounded like someone yelping." Sakura nodded and they both jumped when they heard a thump.
"Okay, what the hell is out there?" Sakura asked, clutching pillow to her chest. "Go check it out."
"Why do I have to go?" Sasuke grumbled.
"Because you're the big strong man, now go!" she yelled, using her feet to shove him off the couch. Sasuke glared at her but got up anyway and made his way to the kitchen. There was a small window on the back door, but it had fogged up do to the difference in temperature, so he couldn't see through it. As he got closer he could vaguely make out whispering. Was someone trying to rob him? Slowly, he reached for the door and opened it, poking his head outside. What he saw completely threw him through a loop.
"Naruto?" There, in the middle of his backyard, was Naruto, soaking wet and starring at him wide eyed.
"Uh, hey Sasuke. This uh…this is your house?" Naruto stumbled out, turning to face him but looking around the backyard frantically.
"Yeah. What are you doing here?" Sasuke couldn't help but feel a bit weirded out by seeing Naruto in his backyard, but surely there was a good explanation. Then again, it wouldn't be the first time he'd had a weird stalker.
"Um, my…dog got out, and ran back here. I was looking for him." Naruto said, finally turning to face Sasuke, a sheepish laugh escaping him. Sasuke had to admit, he looked rather adorable like that, with his hair clinging to his face and water drops on his cheeks. Sasuke hadn't noticed it had started raining.
"Do you need help?" Sasuke offered, glancing around his yard. It was extremely dark, and he made a mental note to fix the automatic light that was supposed to come on. The only thing illuminating Naruto's form was the moon light and the light flooding form Sasuke's doorway.
"No! Uh, I saw him run back that way. Besides, you are dressed for bed."
"Hey Sasuke, what's going on?" Sasuke turned his head to see Sakura walking up and she poked her head out past him to look into the back yard.
"Hey it's you!" she said, pointing at Naruto.
"You know him?" Sasuke asked. How did everyone seem to know the odd blond?
"Yeah. I helped him find a place that sold horse supplies."
"Horse supplies?" Sasuke asked, turning to Naruto in confusion. Why would he need horse supplies?
"Uh, hi, again. Thanks for before," Naruto said, now looking even more uncomfortable than before. He looked like a deer in headlights. "Anyway, I should go get my…dog. Bye!" Sasuke watched as Naruto ran off, climbing the small fence that surrounded half of his backyard, the other half facing the woods.
"Wait didn't you say-!" Sasuke tried to call out, but the blond was gone. Sasuke could swear he said his dog ran the other way.
"That was weird," Sakura said as they closed the door and walked back to the living room. Sasuke nodded.
"Yeah." They sat back down and finished the movie. They watched a few more before they got tired and Sasuke just left Sakura on his couch and went to his own room to sleep. She could find her way out in the morning.
