Notes at end!
[DISCLAIMER: I do not own Naruto or the characters, they belong to M. Kishimoto]
It was way too long before Naruto had a chance to escape his busy school life in order to visit Sasuke. It had been a little over a week since he'd gone home from Sasuke's place and ever since the moment he'd left the raven alone, a strange sense of dread had been building up in his stomach. It was hard to describe; an uneasiness that wouldn't go away, even when he told himself it was all fine, and just got worse when he dwelled on the thought of leaving somebody completely alone in the house where their family had been murdered and where nothing but painful memories hid in every corner you looked.
Today was the first day in a long time that his classes had suddenly all been cancelled and he had immediately decided what he'd do with this day of freedom. It wasn't hard for him to throw any other plans suggested by friends sideways without a second thought today as he longed to see those intimidating dark eyes again and see that they were still the same.
It was silly of him, but part of him was nervous. It was his own fault, really. Once he'd started thinking about what to say to Sasuke once he would get there, there was no way back and he started wondering if they even had anything left to discuss. The last thing he wanted now was to sit awkwardly in Sasuke's house and make it more uncomfortable with his unusual lack of guts. He had gotten to know Sasuke pretty damn well in the time they had lived together. He was stoic, silent and broody. He didn't let it surface often, but he had a lot of emotions that tended to build up. He smelled like cinnamon and some exotic fruit and he loved tomatoes more than anything. He didn't say it when he liked things but once you understood his face language you could tell what he meant by the way the corners of his mouth moved or how his eyebrows rose. He had adorable little quirks. He didn't enjoy cooking or eating but loved sketching when he thought nobody could see him do it. His hair was soft as silk and when he wanted to close himself off even more he let his black bangs cover his eyes. There was an endless lists of things Naruto liked about his strange character.
Suddenly confident in his social capabilities he'd closed the subject with a mental note to just let it happen. The good thing about Sasuke never really speaking much was that Naruto would probably get to choose the subject of their conversing, so he'd just ramble his way through things he liked and stuff he had a lot to say about or could share with the ever so silent teen.
It was half past twelve in the morning and he was just about to leave the house after doing some groceries when he heard his phone explode with messages. He sighed and was secretly thankful for being reminded he was forgetting his phone. He opened the group chat with his friend group and read the sea of messages he'd missed in a matter of seconds. Group chats were always a mess, especially when your friends were as energetic as Naruto's, so he wasn't surprised to find no trace of decent conversation in chat whatsoever.
Ino: So anyways. Kiba you still here?
Hinata: I think he might have left, sorry ino.
Kiba: Sorry,, got a beer wat r u sayin again?
Ino: ANYWAYS so that bitch tried to get away with stealing my hair tie right so I confronted her and her traitor ass right,
Sakura: OMG GUYSSs
Kiba: Wait does this shit even have alcohol in it this tastes like my dad's socks.. f ukc
Hinata: Please be safe with your drinking, Kiba..
Sakura: listen listen::
Ino: So I walked up to her and slapped her right on the cheek and completely smudged her foundation and blusher hAHAA you should have seen her face I died.. also pay attention to Hinata, kiba, the cutie really cares for youuu for some reason;P heheheh
Hinata: ! Ino…. Please don't tease me..
Gaara: Can you guys shut up.
Kiba: ..Don't worry, Hina;) (Ino fight me rn)
Shino: I found a bug;0
Kiba: great dude….
Sakura: I'M THROWING A PARTYYYYYY! so yea you guys all have to come or I'll literally punch you in the face bc I had to go through so much shit with my parents to get the house for myself but we have the ENTIRE house aaaa! And bring alcohol if you like, you can crash if you like, and bring people if you want. It's gonna be awesomeeeee happy birthday meeee! (in a week or so? I'll let you guys know.)
Tenten: Accidently cut myself.. rip
Ino: YEEEEEEEEEEESSSS I love you, forehead! Another excuse for getting drunk weee I needed this ugh
Kiba: oooo hell yes. I'm in. I'll bring booze too;;)
Hinata: Oh that's so nice, Sakura! I will come too if that's alright^^ Are you alright Tenten?
Temari: I'll be there, pinkie! I'll bring Kankuro too and drag Gaara along.
Gaara: ….
Sakura: YAY GUYSSS
Tenten: PARTY YESSASSS! And I'm okay thanks Hinata dear, and don't worry about Kiba the idiot always drinks uwu
Ino: We need to go shop for cute dresses gurl.
Hinata: okay tenten^-^
Sakura: YOU PIG my forehead is fine!
Sakura: yes we do omg. Tomorrow?
Kiba: I need a dress too
Shikamaru: May I ask what I just missed..
Choji: nm Sakura's throwing a party I'll drive us bro!
Ino: HAHA KIBA you'll look stunning darling:3 pink with glitter?!
Ino: Yeee I'll pick u up after classes sakuu
Shikamaru: ah, I see. Troublesome.
Sakura: woop woop more people and you better enjOY MY PARTY SHIKA.
Kiba: TENTEN WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY PHONE
Choji: Temari do you still have those delicious chips? Pls bring em with ya
Gaara: She does. I can smell them from rooms away. gross.
Tenten: hehe::D Also Shino, Neji, yall coming too?
Shikamaru: Do I want to know?
Ino: HAHA NOO…
Sakura: Wait Ino did I leave my hair straightener at yours?
Hinata: Neji is training right now but he informed me he will be there!:)
Kiba: Dis gon be fuuuunnnnn
Ino: OH you did actually! It's better than mine tbh I'm stealin'it baiii
Tenten: Yeeeee okay wbu shino?
Sakura: pfff, bitch x'D
Shino: yes.
Gaara: wait Kkuro can't come he has work
Ino: noooooooo:'c (Your nicknames are too cute, Gaara baby)
Naruto: HIYA
Choji: oh hey Naruto!
Gaara: don't call me that ever again. Hello, Naruto.
Ino: HAAAAY GUUURL u coming too right?
Kiba: ofc he is, he aint missing the alcohol and hot girlz pff
Naruto: hey dog breath is that one little sip of bear getting to ya head already
Tenten: oh wow ahaaaa
Shino: The bug bit me….
Naruto: BUT I'M IN ofc I mean party awyessss
Sakura: Hiiiii, and great!
Ino: hey blondie, you bringing that secret lover of yours too?;;3
Shikamaru: ?
Gaara: ?
Kiba: HAHAHA yes oh god:'D
Hinata: Let's not make anyone uncomfortable guys .. hh
Sakura: aaaaa he's fine, why are you not replying Naruto, We're so curiousssss (and worried, but u wont let us be so spill it or we will kidnap you and pet you until you say it)
Naruto: ehemmm bring my whAT. Don't pet me my hair is already untameable,, ya know eeeeeeehh GUYZz plz
Tenten: I think I missed something big wow
Choji: nah naruto's been off lately,, we concluded it was a loved one messing with his head?
Ino: well that, and I can see the look in your eyes when you space out and think about her, Narutoooo
Shikamaru: Choji I have those cookies for you, my father brought them from a trip to Europe;)
Naruto: …..I was worrying about a friend yes but plEASE aa I will consider it if you all shut up!?
Hinata: I believe you, Naruto uwu
Naruto: Thanks hina, haha
Gaara: hmm..
Temari: I'LL BE SCANNING THE PARTY FOR YA DATE HAAA
Ino: huehuehue
Sakura: gtgggg stupid parents hh XOXO
Choji: shikaaa LOVE U MAN
Kiba: byeee sakura, see ya soooon at da partyyyyy or wait no school first.. bye anyways pff
Ino: going too, got a dateeee;*
Hinata: Have a nice day, guys ^^ good luck, ino!
Ino: Thanks babe3 you too
Tenten: see ya ayyye
Tenten: shino how's you bug lmao
He locked his phone and sighed with a smile resting on his face. Their personalities were so different you'd think they would clash, but to him it honestly felt like the family he'd never had. They had become very close over the past years and they all loved each other and their weird little quirks and imperfections.
I was kind of cold outside as Naruto walked to Sasuke's house in a calm pace, his hands pulled up in his sleeves and his chin disappearing in the pulled up collar of his orange and black jacket. The air smelled fresh and the background noise consisted of distant cars and trees swaying in the wind. It didn't take long for him to get to the house and the weird feeling in his stomach he'd pushed away suddenly made itself known again. When there was only ten metres space left between him and the dark blue front door he looked down at his light brown timberlands and sighed to calm the pace of his heart down. The urge to hug Sasuke extremely tightly was ever so present and he needed to know he was okay or he would scream.
It wasn't hard for Naruto to make friends, but once he attached himself to a person emotionally, like what had happened in the days Sasuke had spent at his place, he couldn't bare losing them. Bonds were something he cared about and wanted to cherish. He felt like Sasuke needed somebody. Possibly him. He knew Sasuke had some friends named Juugo, Karin and Suigetsu and some other people he'd forgotten the names off, but they all seemed to care more about themselves than about Sasuke. He'd heard Sasuke talking to this Juugo a couple of times though. He seemd alright, even though Sasuke just shrugged when he'd asked if Juugo was his best friend. He himself didn't know how deep his feelings for the raven went, but he knew that he needed to be there for him and help him get through. He put his usual grin on his face, walked up to the door and rang the bell.
Sasuke's head snapped up from his book and he panicked for a second before realising it was just the sound of the doorbell ringing. He sighed and shuffled to the door on his warm grey socks.
The door opened just enough for Naruto to see a dark eye peering at him suspiciously through the crevice. He smiled brightly and the door opened completely while Sasuke stepped back, in an invitation for Naruto to come in.
He stepped in and took a long look at the empty shell that used to be Sasuke. Sasuke looked unsure of what to do and closed the door behind them. Naruto attempted to look Sasuke in the eyes but the raven kept looking at something that wasn't there.
''Have you eaten at al..'' The words had slipped from his mouth softly before he could stop himself. His face was contoured in worry and he kept searching Sasuke's face for something that could remind him this was the same person that had knitted him a soft blue scarf out of nowhere and handed it to him with pink tinting his cheeks.
''Yes.''
''How are you feeling, can I help?'' It was a stupid question, but seeing as his worrying had only become worse in the last few seconds, he couldn't restrain his mouth.
''No. Why are you here?''
''You didn't answer my question, Sasuke. Are you doing okay? You look like you're killing yourself and I want to help. I'm here because I'm your friend and I wanted to check up on you, ya know?'' He said while smiling lightly at Sasuke, who in turn frowned slightly.
''…I can take care of myself.''
Sasuke proceeded to turn around and walk to the kitchen where he started making tea for two and Naruto walked after him and sat himself down at the dining table. As he was looking at Sasuke's back he swallowed with difficulty. It was hard for him to stay happy when he felt like Sasuke was losing himself right in front of him. How the hell could he help, what could he do?
He was shaken out of his musings as a cup of tea was put in front of him and he looked up to see Sasuke sitting down in front of him as well at the opposite side of the table.
''So eh.. How was the first check-up?'' He tried while gripping his cup of tea tightly with both hands.
Sasuke finally looked up with drained, tired eyes and shrugged. ''Fine. Took them two minutes to realise they couldn't do much about me.'' He stared at his tea for a second before lightly blowing at the liquid and taking a sip.
''Sasuke..'' Naruto's big sky blue eyes pierced into Sasuke's lifeless black ones and the raven looked to the side quickly.
''Don't start that again, dobe.''
Although the insult reassured him in a strange way that the old Sasuke was still in there, he wanted to cry and wrap Sasuke in a blanket burrito style and keep him warm and away from the ugly parts of life. He wasn't the one hurting from loss and hatred but he needed Sasuke to be okay. Suddenly, he managed to get some of his confidence back after mentally slapping himself awake, and he made up his mind.
''I'm staying here.''
HEY THERE
Managed to write a chapter ayyyy
((one of you mentioned it'd be nicer if the chapters were longer,, and I agree completely but i'm still trying to find the motivation for that.. but i'll work on it!^^
Veryyy busy with school and stressed tf out BUT have this chapter anyways. Some may call this a waste of my time, I call this.. a waste of my time.
ANYWAYS if you review I LOVE YOU like honestly aaaa
hope this was okay uwu
so many ideas in my head,, so little motivation,, rip
