Chapter 10- Comfort
We cannot too often think there is never a sleeping eye, which reads the heart, and registers our thoughts.
—Francis Bacon, Sr.
Hinata's POV
I gasped in awe the moment I stepped inside Berry's pastry shop. Trays and rows of cookies, cakes, and deserts were tiered generously inside the glass casings. Pressing my hands on the said counter holding the food, I gazed at the delectable sweets until my mouth began to water.
"Stop drooling and pick something already." Sasuke poked me, and I shook my head to snap out of it, wiping the line of saliva off my mouth while I heated in embarrassment. "Did you find anything you like? It's Dad's treat." He stood behind me, barely leaning on me while peering at the various choices of food. I noticed Sasuke was close enough to rest his head on my shoulder, if he wanted to. Disregarding the fact and suppressing the urge to blush, my eyes searched for a pastry to sate my curious, yet eager taste buds.
As Fugaku preoccupied himself staring at the cakes, the cashier girl soon appeared before us.
"Hi! How can I help you?" I smiled to greet the employee.
"Hello, can I—?" Bright indigo eyes widened and a grin dazzled the blonde girl's lips.
"Hey, I remember you. You're the girl who went to Thai Food with..." For a moment, she glanced at Sasuke who looked at her questioningly, his face betraying the smallest hints of annoyance from her loud voice.
Then, her familiarity dawned on me, and I hesitantly said, "And you're t-that waitress... r-right?"
"I'll be with Dad. Hurry up." He left to join Fugaku, who regarded him for an opinion on what he should get. Sasuke shrugged indifferently and retorted, "No matter which dessert it is sugar is all the same. Only junk the body doesn't need."
"Well, isn't he nice," the girl remarked sarcastically and I found myself giggling. The brief scowl on her face instantly dropped and she grinned at me again. "You seem different the last time I saw you. A new hair trim, maybe?" Confused, I shook my head.
Though I barely knew this person, she felt nice to talk to. I guessed comparing her to Sakura and the whole female population at my school... labeling me as nobody and shunning my very existence... this treatment felt strangely comforting.
"You know, I was thinking you look a lot more radiant."
"R-really?" She nodded, and narrowed her roundly shaped eyes on me with muse.
"Your voice will sound a lot better if you don't stutter. There's no reason to be nervous, I won't bite." She winked and I weakly smiled in return, earning her to beam at me.
"Sorry to interrupt," both of us turned to acknowledge Fugaku smiling politely at us, who looked at me in particular, "But did you decide on something you want to eat, yet?"
"You're taking forever," Sasuke said gruffly, "I'm not planning to wait on you for the next century."
"Yes!" I squeaked, anxious of Sasuke's infamous impatience and I hurriedly ordered the first dessert I laid my eyes on. "I'll go f-for the w-white chocolate mo-mousse, please!" Miffed that she was interrupted from our conversation, Ino knelt down to retrieve the dessert and then placed it on a paper dish for me.
"Anything else?"
"Yes, can I have a slice of the chocolate cheese cake? And as for Sasuke..." Gesturing for him to say what he felt like having, Sasuke grunted a disdainful no. "That would be all then." When Fugaku retrieved his order and paid for the both of us, I stayed behind with Ino while they seated themselves at a nearby table.
"Ahh," she sighed noisily, eyeing Sasuke who slouched messily on his seat, "That boy's so hot, yet he turns out to be such a mean jerk." Ino exclaimed, propping an elbow on the counter and resting her chin on the palm of her hand, a pout gracing her fair cheeks.
I found this girl very... expressive. It's clearly amusing to watch her.
"How in the world did an innocent looking girl like you end up with a jackass like him?" It took a few moments for the words to fully sink in before my face burned like a furnace. Did she really believe we're... an item?!
"No! I-it's not li-like that! We're f-friends, friends!" I raised my arms up in defense, vigorously shaking my head. Ino blinked, before laughing cheerily, her voice chiming like a loud and pleasant bell.
"I get it, I get it. It's just, you know, the first time I saw you guys I thought you two were on a date. I mean, that's what most boys and girls do when they are together alone. Know what I mean?"
Oh... I never noticed how many couplings we had in this world. Like, friendship's less common between opposite genders. And since when did many friends kiss? My cheeks pinkened from the memory. I distractedly poked my fingers together, thinking on how to explain myself.
"We're not g-girlfriend or boyfriend, but..."
Looking back at the two, I witnessed Fugaku mischievously fling a spoonful of his pastry at Sasuke's unsuspecting face, and the boy was angrily brought out of his dazed boredom to wipe the muck off his nose.
"What the hell, old man?" Both of us secretly laughed from the 'father-to-son' interaction.
"You lucky." Ino winked at me and playfully slapped my shoulder, earning me to smile small. "Wish I had a friend like that, well, you know... who doesn't act like Mr. Jerk Face over there."
"I think the rude s-side of Sasuke i-is pretty honest. So I d-don't usually mind." Ino double-blinked before a smirk slowly crept along her face. Suggestively nudging my arm, she tried to relay a message to me, but I only gave a dumbfounded expression.
"You like him, huh?"
"Of course I do." Regarding her blankly, I thought it obvious friends liked each other. If they didn't, how could they be friends in the first place?
"No, I meant..." She ushered me to lean forward and I obliged, lending an ear. Ino seemed to smile wide in anticipation before whispering the words, "Like-like, as in you have a crush on him." My face glowed white-hot.
"I t-told you! It's not l-like that!" She smirked slyly, enjoying my flustered reactions to her teasing.
"Why are you being so defensive? I was only saying, geez."
Before I could retort, Sasuke's impatient voice beat me to it. "Hinata. What are you doing? Stop wasting your time talking with that girl and eat with us."
"S-sorry." I squeaked nervously again and, noticing the white chocolate mousse I had temporarily forgotten, snatched it up and hurried over to them. Not before apologizing to Ino, of course. Sadly, we had to end our friendly chitchat so soon.
"It was fun talking to you!" She waved and smiled brightly, before turning to greet a customer who had just walked in. I concluded, that seeing a sincere and jovial face on a girl was very pretty and genuine. I felt my heart warm up from the nice feeling.
Finally, I plopped down on a seat next to Sasuke who looked absolutely tormented in his state of inactivity. What could you expect when you're lingering inside a pastry shop full of desserts you detested straight to the heart? I giggled, since that's the kind of message Sasuke seemed to be portraying at the moment.
Nibbling on my desert, my mouth broke out with a delighted smile from the delicious taste.
"You know..." Fugaku said slyly, "Sasuke was beginning to get jealous you were socializing with someone else." He grinned amusingly, who egged the sulking Sasuke to half-choke in surprise. For a second, I swore I saw his cheeks grow pinker than usual.
"N-no I wasn't."
"Of course you were."
"Hn." Quickly composing himself, Sasuke continued to be lazy in his seat, and I wondered why he didn't order anything.
"Sasuke, aren't you hungry?"
"I don't like sweets." He said as if it was the simplest thing in the world. However, I begged to differ. Didn't he drink hot chocolate that one time I first came over? Didn't that qualify as a sweet? "But..." He switched his gaze between me and the dessert, causing me to glance at him in confusion. "I wouldn't mind tasting some of what you've got."
The smirk on his face was quite suspicious, but I wordlessly complied. Tentatively, I held out a spoonful of my dessert before he suddenly snatched my hand and pulled it towards him, eating it clean off. Sasuke licked his lips and inwardly disregarded the taste, for he was quite satisfied of my reaction. I blushed brightly from embarrassment and something else I couldn't quite place my finger on.
Unfortunately, Fugaku caught our personal string of interactions. He smirked.
"Indirect kiss."
It was predictable of me to blush even darker than humanly possible, because yet again, my mind kept straying back to the memory of our kiss. Why did these two had to keep messing around with my head like it's their sick pleasure?! It must be genetic.
"...and?"
Fugaku leaned back into his seat and rubbed his chin in thought, appearing skeptic to Sasuke's lack of expression.
"Have you two... directly kissed?" I would've choked in my food if I hadn't of swallowed it already.
"What makes you say that?" Sasuke tried to come off as impassive, but there was no denying the invisible pink tinge on his cheeks.
"Well, did you?" They both sustained firm eye contact without giving in to answering the other's questions. The pride of besting the other. Few moments later, Sasuke scoffed, a smirk curling his lips.
"No comment."
Not a lie, but at the same time not revealing the truth. Clearly evasive.
Disgruntled that Sasuke escaped ridicule from his father, Fugaku humbly continued nibbling his pastry. In my eyes, he sulked like a kid who didn't get their way for once. I giggled. Funny, and oddly cute.
"Hinata." Sasuke's fingers softly grazed my hair and it caught my attention. His whisper floated smoothly through my ears so Fugaku couldn't hear. Inclining my head toward him, I was anxiously aware of how close he was, his nose barely brushing my cheek. "Let's keep the kiss we shared a secret." Flushing faintly, I nodded and he pulled back, a thin smirk gracing his lips.
How did I tend to end up in these kind of situations? Sasuke stole my first kiss! And what's worse, I enjoyed it!
I just wanted to sink into a hole and vanish from existence. Or bang my head repeatedly onto this table until I lost consciousness. Either one sounded fitting.
Third Person POV
I need to visit my friend soon.
That's what Fugaku thought as he absentmindedly placed the last clean dish into the cupboard. He sighed inwardly while admiring his work, before raising a hand to rub the back of his neck. I wonder how he will take it.
Pondering, Fugaku vaguely touched his pocket-sized handbook within his jeans' pocket. Who would've thought our own children would grow so familiar with each other? The thought brought a pleasant smile on his face.
Speaking of his demon seed child, Sasuke casually walked in the kitchen and b-lined toward the refridgerator. He wore a content smirk all the while, opening the door ajar to snatch a carton of cold milk.
As Fugaku watched him rudely gulp down the contents, he wondered if Sasuke even noticed he was here or was completely disregarding his presence. Most likely the latter.
After Sasuke released a deep and satisfied sigh, he returned the half finished milk in its previous place before sloppily wiping the milk moustache off his mouth with the back of his arm. Then, he muffled a burp and lazily scratched his stomach.
Fugaku quirked an eyebrow from his 'unsightly' behavior, fairly amused.
"Where's Hinata?" Quickly recollecting himself, Sasuke coolly leaned sideways on the refrigerator door, facing his direction impassively. The intensity of his eyes were softer than usual.
"She's still working on her homework. I finished mine a few moments ago." Fugaku noted carefully at how Sasuke fingered the fabric of his sleeve subconsciously, something which he had never done before. He could only assume the faint distraction was because of his thoughts revolving around his shy, lavender-eyed friend.
"She doesn't need any help?"
"I was going to help her right after I took a small break. You can find us up in my room, if you need anything." Without even as much as a goodbye, Sasuke, though inwardly eager, fled the kitchen.
Fugaku watched him ascend the stairs with intrigue glinting in his maroon brown eyes.
"...Are you done already?"
Hinata looked up. "Yes. It seems I didn't need your help after all." She grinned sheepishly in apology.
Sasuke shrugged, leaning on the closed bedroom door while watching her pack all of her school belongings away in her backpack. Today happened to be a very warm day, so Hinata chose to wear a short-sleeved shirt and because of that, he could spot a bluish-yellow bruise on her upper arm, which hadn't completely healed yet.
Few quiet moments later, Sasuke detached himself from the door to walk straight toward her. She continued to shuffle around obliviously while cleaning up the space she used to study until he firmly grabbed her elbow. Startled, she swerved around to see his attention fixated on the bruise marring her skin.
He gently traced the mark, making it tingle. "School starts in a few days." His eyes shifted to her face, anticipating her reaction.
She frowned. This was the very thing Hinata didn't want to remember. No matter how many times she tried to push the deadline back into the darkest crevices of her mind, it kept on haunting her. Because she knew full well she couldn't enjoy the safety of Sasuke's home for long. It's inevitable for she had to confront the world and its harsh reality someday.
Sasuke understood she felt scared. It's partly his fault, he admitted, because his plan to quell Sakura's bullying acts still resulted in Hinata getting hurt.
He lightly pushed Hinata for her to lean on his desk and rested his chin on her shoulder, stroking her back comfortingly while his other hand was planted on the desk for support. Sasuke felt her trembling when she gripped the back of his shirt. He sighed. Well, at least she wasn't crying.
How to soothe an angst filled, teenaged girl...
"...want to take a nap with me?"
Hinata's POV
The sun began to sink into the horizon.
Less birds twittered outside and the wind ceased to a transparent breeze.
All was still and quiet in the dimly lit room, until I drifted awake to register the white walls surrounding me.
The events, which transpired right before the nap, came flying back into my head and I scrunched my face, easing its stiffness. Soon, it was lax again. Sighing deeply, I noticed something completely odd.
I. Couldn't. Move.
Quickly discerning the sprawled weight on top of me as Sasuke, my friend calmly snoozed away as if he didn't possess a single care in the world... literally. His cheek snuggled next to mine, the soft puffs of air he exhaled flittered across my face. His chest rose and fell against my own, his limbs currently pinning me to the bed...
Okay... too close for comfort.
...but... I never said I didn't like it.
I grunted drowsily, ignoring the presence of my conscience as my eyes fluttered shut. Contently basking in his body heat, I knew for a fact I couldn't enjoy this luxury for long. Sooner or later... I had to go back.
"...Sasuke?" Eventually, he mumbled an incoherent reply. "You're heavy."
Grumbling in slight irritation, Sasuke finally uttered a flat and half-hearted, "...fine." I mentally thanked God for granting me the luck of Sasuke's merciful (albeit sleepy) mood.
My breath hitched in surprise when he rolled over, dragging me to lie on top of him. He squeezed me within a firm and stubborn hold, and I awkwardly squirmed to fit more comfortably against his body, knowing there was no point in struggling. "There... better...?"
Hesitantly, I nodded. It only took a millisecond before my ears could pick up the sound of his slow and deep rhythmic breaths again. Asleep so fast??
I sighed, feeling hapless to his obstinate forwardness. Sasuke's too much for me... all the time... I nestled my face to the crook of his neck, on the brink of sleep myself. Slowly, I raised a hand to touch the other side of his neck. Warm... and smooth...
And his scent... I deeply breathed it in. The cologne was so faint... one couldn't smell it unless they were near enough.
I could never believe I was this close to Sasuke. In the past, he felt very much like a stranger... practically unreachable and very distant...
"Wat'cha thinkin' about...?" His voice completely caught me by surprise since I thought he was still asleep. I contemplated my response before shrugging.
"Nothing..."
Sasuke shifted a little, straightening the blanket out and pulling it over us until he seemed comfortable. I clutched him tighter on impulse when his arm fixed its possessive hold around my waist, his other hand moving to stroke the long tendrils of my hair. I smiled from his gesture.
I always loved how he quelled my insecurities. Sasuke convinced me time and time again to trust him without doubt for he had countless opportunities to take advantage of me. However, he never did and that made me happy... My eyes drooped, Sasuke's body heat coaxing me to yearn for more rest.
As we remained in this position, him brushing my hair and me lying on top of him, evening started to roll in. If I was lucky, I could sleep over tonight also...
...but even I was well aware of the fact miracles didn't often walk around the block every day.
"...Sasuke?"
"Hn." I snuggled closer, ignoring my conscience at present to shamelessly enjoy in his warmth.
"I have to go." He paused from brushing my hair for a moment before lowering his hand to clutch my shoulder. A subtle indication of his clinginess.
"No."
"But—."
"You're staying cuz I said so." I pouted even though he couldn't see it.
"Sasuke..." I whined uncharacteristically, half-heartedly trying in vain to wiggle out of his arms, but he embraced my torso, reminding me how strong he was in pinning me down.
"I have an idea." I stilled, both curious and obedient to his husky voice placating me to stay put. "Let's wait until Dad comes. That way, we can say we overslept."
"What an ingenious plan." I giggled and the vibration of his chuckles tickled my chest.
"So unlike you, Hina." I froze, a blush igniting my face from the cute new pet name he gave me. Nobody had ever called me that before...
And then suddenly, our positions switched. Sasuke was on top of me now, smirking while his eyes twinkled with mischief. Instinctively, I closed my eyes, dreading what he might do next. He shifted closer and my body considerably loosened upon his calm breaths warming my ear.
"I think I'm changing you... and I like it." I squealed.
"Sasuke! That tickles!!"
Sasuke's POV
It was dark out by the time I walked her back to her house. Hinata hesitantly approached her front door, before pausing to turn around and face me expectantly.
I looked at her as she waited for something. Honestly, I wanted her to tell me what was on her mind, to confide in me willingly for once. When nothing happened, her eyes wavered and she forced a timid smile. "O-okay, then..."
As she walked up the porch steps, I clicked my tongue from impatience and called for her to stop. Startled, Hinata smoothly turned around and I stepped forward to clutch her hand, tugging her forward to lean on me. I draped my arms around her waist, looking up at her infamous red blush and pearly white eyes.
She squeaked when I lifted her off the steps and Hinata tightened her grasp on me. I chuckled.
"I'll come by the morning to walk with you to school, so..." I seized her full undivided attention now, witnessing her face without the scarlet blush painting it. My heart skipped a beat when I realized she looked cuter than before. "I hope the one week you spent with me has toughened you up."
Hinata nodded, smiling small. I smirked and impulsively leaned forward to kiss her. Relieved she didn't pull away this time, I lowered her to stand on the ground, admiring the light glowing in her eyes.
So that's where the happiness went...
By the time I removed my arms around her, the front door suddenly opened. We jerked around to see Hinata's dad regarding me with a warning glare before softening his gaze to his daughter.
"Hinata."
An acknowledgeable nod. "Father." Approaching him, she turned around to wave goodbye. I nodded in farewell, too before the door closed shut behind them.
Third Person POV
"I hope that boy didn't mistreat you." Hiashi sipped his tea calmly, despite the quirk of his eyebrow twitching from the mere mention of the boy.
Hinata shook her head obediently. "No, he didn't."
"You know I cannot believe he has good intentions, don't you?"
She tensely balled her fist, finding it irrating that her father didn't trust her friend. "Well, I believe he has good intentions." He gave her a calculative stare before grunting. Hinata's resoluteness was improving.
"You two appear... intimate? Correct me if I'm wrong." A light tinge of pink invaded her cheeks. She knew she couldn't deny it.
"We're both friends. We care about each other." Sternly staring at her father dead in the eye and unwavering, Hiashi sighed in dismay, inconspicuously fingering the handbook in his pocket.
"Whatever you say." Hidden message: The day when he does hurt you, don't go crying home to me.
Hinata's shoulders slumped, already sensing the interrogation of their relationship finally drifting to a close. Thankfully, hanging around Sasuke influenced her to be able to disclose information without having to reveal the whole story.
Speaking of Sasuke... Now that she's back with her father, Hinata no longer had the comfort of sleeping beside him...
"Father...?"
"...yes?"
"Can I sleep with you, l-like we used to?"
Sasuke's POV
Nightfall arrived so fast, I didn't notice until darkness tried to creep behind my eyelids.
Robotically changing into a new set of clothes for sleep, I flicked the night switch off and wordlessly slid under my cozy bed sheets. Well, it wasn't as cozy without... Hinata.
Gazing at the darkness of my room with half-opened eyes, I fingered the hem of my blanket solemnly, regretfully aware of her absence and... my chest felt a lonely heaviness.
I shifted to lie on my back and opted to stare at the ceiling. The crickets chirped silently outside, while the sound of her soft breathing beside me was missing. I sighed wearily.
Since when couldn't I sleep without the presence of another, especially her? It almost escaped me until I remembered I never did in fact sleep peacefully at all, thus the reason why I napped at school.
I blinked.
Then, I pulled the blanket over me entirely, hiding myself away from the light of the moon.
This was annoying. I actually missed her.
Hinata's POV
Reluctantly, I crawled under the thick bed sheets of father's master bed, waiting for him to join me. He turned the lamp light off from the bedside table and awkwardly enveloped me in a half-hug as I tried to adjust to the foreign feel of his burly arms.
"...are you comfortable?" I nodded. Five minutes or so later, he fell asleep, father's light snores as the indication.
Lying wide awake in the darkness, I couldn't displace the slight discomfort of sleeping beside my father. It felt different. It was different. Too different. A couple years made a vast difference in estranging our relationship.
If anything, my bond with Sasuke, yet so new, felt a lot more promising.
Before I realized it, my heart experienced a dull pang of loneliness. Clasping a fistful of his shirt in my small hand, I tried in vain to subdue the feeling but my heart continued to pulse wistfully.
...the feel of his lips caressing my skin... he hugged me closer, and his hand strayed from my stomach to clutch at my waist.
He gently nudged my nose with his, and my eyes fluttered closed, his supple lips touching mine.
Sasuke's arms were so strong, firm, and protective... his lips soft and tender, moist...
My mouth quivered and a profound blush crept from my chest to my face. I tightened my grasp on father out of nervousness and panicked I gripped too hard. Fortunately, he only shifted in his sleep from the slight disturbance, but did not wake and I shakily exhaled.
I wished Sasuke was here. I missed him.
(A/N): Heh, I finally got around to re-editing this chapter. And this time, I feel a lot more satisfied.
Part Three of their Spring Vacation is over and next chapter will deal with the aftermath of Chapter 5-6. School returns in a somewhat normal pace and Sakura comes back with a vengeance... again.
What do you think will happen to Sasuke and Hinata after this? More friendship... or... budding romance?