Sad music = sad writing

Title: Dreamcatcher

Summary: Only Sasuke knows about Sakura's nightmares, and only Sasuke knows how to make them go away.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Prompt: Chasing a Dream

Rating: K

Warnings: none

Comments: happy day twelve~!

Sasuke would never admit it aloud, but he really preferred to share a room with Sakura when on missions.

Her skin was soft and smelled nice, and her hair felt like silk when it occasionally brushed his arm. But more than anything, he liked watching her sleep.

Yes, it sounded creepy…but there was something about the gentle rise and fall of her chest that provided a soothing rhythm that made him forget about all the stress and pressure of life (even if for just the briefest moment).

In their genin years where life was carefree, painless, and simple, her slumber was quiet, only broken by the occasional sigh. She liked to sleep on her stomach and hug the pillow, head tilted to her left no matter what side of the bed she was on.

However, after he returned to Konoha and after he won back his rights to go on missions, he noticed something had changed about Sakura.

She had nightmares.

Now while a nightmare every once in a while is common, (Sasuke had experienced many since he left Orochimaru)Sakura had been living out some form of hell every single night.

"S-Sasori!" she breathlessly whispered, clenching the sheets with white knuckles. A bead of sweat dripped down her neck, her entire body trembling. A pained gasp left her lips, followed by a wordless whimper, followed by a choked "Chiyo-sama…"

He wondered just how many people she had seen die since he had left, how many people she couldn't save.

"Tsunade-sama," she cried out, tears leaking from her closed eyes. "The village…everyone is…."

More sobs continued, and the bed shook lightly.

How many ninja had died while in her arms? How many of them had trusted her to keep them alive?

"Jiraya's dead," she whispered, body still. "What do we tell Tsunade?"

It wasn't good for a konoichi to spill her secrets to whomever she spent the night with, even if she probably wasn't aware it was happening.

"I guess I really am annoying," she said calmly, and it was so distinct that Sasuke had to check to make sure she wasn't actually awake. But nonetheless, she continued, a bittersweet smile on her lips. "No wonder why he left."

He froze.

No wonder why…he….left?

He secretly wondered if Sakura had any other men in her life besides the ones she merely fought alongside. Did she ever have any lovers? Did she flirt with other boys? Did she kiss any of them?

He wanted to say no, but he was too proud (and scared and terrified and insecure) to ask her directly.

"I…love you," she gasped out one night, and he could feel his heart clench. "Even though I don't want to."

There was a long silence, yet every cell of Sasuke's body begged her to continue, begged her to spill the rest of her secrets from those pretty pink lips.

"I…hate…you..."

No matter how hard he fought his instinct to hold her in his arms, nothing could change the instantaneous pain he felt in his chest, hard and sharp.

(He wasn't sure if he'd ever get the chance to change her mind)

And since she was in such pain, and since she looked so…broken in that moment, he did something he had never done before.

He initiated body contact.

Slowly, he wrapped his arms around her, and lightly pulled her close. The mood in the dark room instantly shifted, and her heartbroken expression smoothed into a blissful smile.

She was finally silent.

She was finally silent for the rest of the night.

(He stayed up to make sure)

From then on, every time Sasuke shared a bed with Sakura, he pulled her into his arms just as before, enjoying the warm embrace that he could only dream of occurring in the daylight. For he knew that there was a strong possibility she would never trust him again after his betrayal, and an even stronger possibility she would never offer her heart to him.

When they were genin, he had taken her gentle presence for granted, and now that they both bitter and broken and ruined by the world around them, she could no longer bring him the same unconditional love and support.

(In his younger years, Sakura was the only one to believe in him. It was only logical that when he proved her wrong, her world would die along with his dreams)

During the daytime Sakura was cool and distant, avoiding eye contact…during the nighttime Sakura was warm and close, pressed against his body like nothing had changed between them.

So whenever he got the chance to hold her, he took it.

Their innocence was gone forever, but for at least a few hours at a time, Sasuke Uchiha liked to pretend that it had never left.

I legitimately started this with the intention of making it cute and heartwarming, but now I just feel really depressed. Ugh…SasuSaku angst is so easy to fall into. (Excuse me while I now go cry over my OTP)