Summary: Minoru is approached by Sasuke by a rather unexpected, and odd request..

Rating: MA/NC-17

AN: companion piece to "Taking a Chance"

Disclaimer: Don't own.

Minoru was working in the mission room, writing down report numbers and corresponding names, ranks and class, in the log book. In the back of his mind he was wondering what he should make for dinner, wondering if he needed to make a trip to the grocery store on his way home. Wondering how Naruto was doing after coming home last night, not that he had any problems sleeping, he made sure of that. He was really sure of that. A grin pulled on his lips at the memory.

His hand paused and his grin faded as he slowly directly his gaze up to find Sasuke looking at him, with what looked like an amused look in his eyes.

Minoru was not amused.

"...How long have you been standing there?" He asked slowly, narrowing his eyes slightly.

"Long enough," Sasuke answered and handed the younger man his report.

Minoru took the offered report with a sigh and looked it over before filing it away, "Thank you." He went back to his log book and looked back up to find Sasuke still standing in front of him, "... Was there something else?" He noticed how the Uchiha shifted his weight and casually looked around the room.

"Would you... By any chance... Join me for dinner?"

Minoru stared. Borderline gaped. To say he was surprised would be an understatement. Angered? Maybe. Although he was trying not to after heeding Naruto's advice about being civil. Then again this man did leave his husband to die. He took a calming breath and asked, "What?" It came out flatter than he intended to, and mentally frowned at himself.

"Dinner," Sasuke answered, meeting his gaze and shifting his weight again, "Tonight?" He clarified, thinking that maybe that's what the younger man was questioning.

Minoru shifted in his chair and furrowed a brow and gave the older man a confused look, "...Okay?" He answered after a moment, unsure where this was going. Not really knowing why he agreed to it. Sasuke nodded looking a bit relieved and it only succeed in making him more confused.

"Ichiraku's at six?"

Minoru slowly nodded, "Okay..." It sounded more like a question and the Uchiha nodded in return before turning and taking his leave.

What just happened? Minoru stared at the double doors until they swung open when a flustered Hatchi walked in. He quirked a brow at him and the other man sighed.

"Everything. Fell." Hatchi made a gesture, spreading his arms wide apart, "Everything. Everywhere."

Minoru cringed.

When Minoru entered the apartment, and toed off his shoes before wandering into the living room to find Naruto reading while sprawled out on the couch, his face must've looked as confused as he felt, because Naruto instinctively sat up and gave him a concerned look. The whole remainder of his shift he kept playing over Sasuke's invitation, and he was still very unsure as to why. Naruto tilted his head questioningly and he had to take a moment before he even started. He slipped off his hitai ate and gloves, placing them on the coffee table and stood there, looking at them as if they held the answer to what happened.

"Minoru?" Naruto asked finally and midnight blue eyes looked at him and dark brows furrowed. He knew that look - that very confused look that he couldn't help but find cute, "...What happened?"

Minoru ran a hand through his hair and moved to sit next to the older man, sitting so to face him fully, "...I'm not sure…" he said lamely. Blonde brows furrowed and he sighed, "Sasuke...invited me to dinner…?" Still sounding unsure about the whole situation.

Naruto stared as if he didn't understand what Minoru said, "Wait…," he turned to fully face Minoru, "Sasuke?"

Minoru nodded, "He came into the mission room to turn in a report and then...asked if I could join him for dinner."

Naruto looked around the living room in thought, "Why?"

"I have no idea…," Minoru frowned, "But I said okay...for some reason...and now I'm going to have ramen with him at six…"

Naruto laughed at Minoru confused tone of voice, "Well, knowing Sasuke...he doesn't do things without a reason."

"That's not comforting," Minoru said with a frown.

Naruto chuckled, "I'm surprised you even agreed to it."

Minoru sighed, "I was trying to do what you suggested...be civil and whatnot."

Naruto smiled and reached over to cup a pale cheek, his smile widening when Minoru naturally leaned into it, "Just bring me back some ramen."

Minoru snorted.

He was about ten minutes early. At times like these he wished he was more like his dad, Kakashi: "casually" late. He sighed and looked down the road still wondering what this was about. Part of him didn't quite understand why he said yes. Maybe part of him wanted to give the other man a chance? Whatever the reason he was there now. He was soon to find out what this whole ordeal was about. He mindlessly kicked a rock and wondered if Sasuke had been thinking about this, if he had been meaning to approach him. He vaguely remembered Naruto telling him that he was having trouble readjusting, and he didn't blame him. He kicked another rock and paused before slowly turning around and looking over his shoulder to find Sasuke standing behind him. His face must have shown his annoyance because the older man smirked in amusement.

"You don't have to keep sneaking up on me," Minoru said somewhat flatly, the other man's smirk only grew.

"It's a habit," he gestured to the ramen shop, "Shall we?"

Minoru gestured for him to lead, mainly because he already felt awkward about the whole situation. He followed Sasuke inside and to a booth where they ordered their usual. Minoru looked around and shifted in his seat before looking at Sasuke who looked up from a menu on the table and offered him a smile.

"Thank you for agreeing to having dinner with me," he said with a little chuckled, "Although, I'm surprised that you did."

"Me too," Minoru said with a hint of humor and chuckled.

"How've you been?"

Minoru was taken a bit aback with the question, although it was a casual one, he couldn't help but feel uneasy, "Good," he answered honestly, "I see you just came back from an assignment, I take it went well?"

Sasuke nodded, "It was okay," he said with a small shrug just as the food came to their table, "How's Naruto?"

Minoru took a bite of his food in hopes that it would ease his nerves. He swallowed before answered, "Good, he just got back last night too."

Sasuke raised an interested brow, "How long was he gone?"

"About two weeks," he answered and slurped up some more noodles, not until now did he realize that he was starving. He gave the other man a curious look when he hummed in response and took a bite of his food.

"Is that hard for you?" Sasuke asked, his tone was genuine and the younger man quirked a brow at him, "When he's gone for a long time like that."

Minoru smiled, "In a way. I miss him, naturally, but I mean...it's okay…" he didn't know what else to say. He wasn't quite sure where Sasuke was going with this, and when dark eyes looked at him they must have read his confusion on his face.

"This is weird for you, isn't it?"

"Just a little bit," Minoru said, pinching his index and thumb together. He sighed, "I'm just confused because this is a bit sudden - and I'm not quite sure...why…"

Sasuke chuckled at that and took another bite of his food, "Does there have to be a reason?"

Minoru hesitated and opted in taking another bite of his food. Sasuke had a point. And it seemed rude to think that needed a reason. If anyone else would have asked him if he wanted to join them for dinner he wouldn't have questioned it. But this was Sasuke; who he had no history with other than what Naruto has told him about him. He was trying not to feel awkward about the whole situation, he tried to just go with it, but it was proving to be difficult, "I guess you're right," he said with a chuckle that sounded more nervous than he intended. Dark eyes gave him a curious look and he returned it deadpanned, "I'm sorry, its just that I know you're the type of person that does things with reason, so I'm just...confused because this is rather sudden..." He trailed off when Sasuke dropped his gaze to his food and took another bite. "Why did you invite me to dinner?" His tone was genuinely gentle and Sasuke considered him for a moment before his lips pulled into a small smile.

"I suppose you're right, this does seen a bit forced, doesn't it?"

Minoru raised a hand before he continued, "It's not that," he clarified, "It's just...," he sighed, "Why did you invite me to dinner?"

Sasuke sighed and drummed his fingers in the table top, noticing how dark blue eyes dark to his hand and back, "...it was suggested to me to...be more social...to readjust..." He started and sighed but the younger man's expression reflected understanding, "I thought that maybe we could...," he gestured to the table.

Minoru looked at the table and then back to the older man, "Eat ramen?"

Sasuke clicked his tongue, his frustration coming through unintentionally. He narrowed his eyes when the younger man grinned in response, "That we could have dinner," be drummed his fingers again, "that's how you make friends, right?"

Minoru's brain tripped over itself. This what this was? Sasuke wanted to be... His friend? Of all people. Sasuke? "Friend?" His voice came out hard that he had to look down at his food briefly, "You want to be my friend?" He noticed how the corner of the older man's mouth twitched.

"Be civil."

Minoru swallowed. Sasuke was asking for too much. The man that left his husband behind -

"I asked him to leave me, Minoru..."

"I know that I'm asking for too much," Sasuke said after a moment, noticing the younger man's tension, "But, will you at least think about it?"

Minoru took in a deep breath and ate more of his ramen. Sasuke was looking at him and he had to avert his gaze, "Okay," he said and finished his ramen. He excused himself for a moment to order a to go meal for Naruto, and returned to his seat.

"I'm sorry that I make you uneasy."

The sudden statement caught Minoru off guard. The calm tone even more so. "It's okay," he said after a moment, "I was just confused..."

Sasuke chuckled, "Like I said."

Minoru gave the older man a sideways look and clenched his jaw unintentionally.

He was still confused.

Naruto looked up from his book when Minoru entered the apartment, wordlessly placed a bag on the coffee table, and moved to the bedroom with a sigh. He furrowed his brows and followed him. He found his husband on the bed sprawled out on his back, his legs over the edge of the mattress in a half sitting position. He turned on a lamp before moving to sit next to him with one leg over the edge and a foot hooked under his knee. He gave the younger man a moment, it didn't take long for him to push himself up onto his hands and look at him. He raised a questioning brow, because frankly, he had been somewhat worried the moment he left. Maybe worried wasn't the right word, it was more of a curiosity. He was curious and confused as to why Sasuke would do such a thing like invite Minoru to dinner. It was just not like him. But he did know from Kakashi that he was encouraging - not wanting to use the word ordering - him to become more social in terms of an agreement, and that Sasuke was having difficulty with that.

Whatever the reason, Minoru had qualms when it came to Sasuke. He never had much thought about befriending the Uchiha, let alone become acquainted with him. He was partly to blame for that - he told Minoru practically everything, confided in him. And Minoru naturally created his own opinion about him.

Naruto looked at his husband, noticing the flicker of Chakra in the midnight blue eyes, "How did it go?"

Minoru sighed and sat up straighter, running a hand through his unruly hair, "Well... It turns out that he wants to be my friend."

Naruto's brows shot upwards in surprise, "Really?"

Minoru's gaze moved to across the room, "I don't know if I can be friends with..." He trailed off and looked at the older man, and cerulean eyes softened in understanding.

Naruto took a pale hand into his and kissed it's knuckles. He looked at the midnight blue eyes and noticed the somber cast in them, "Minoru, I love you," he said with a warm smile, "I love you so much, with every single ounce of me. And because I love you, I won't tell you to forgive him, or anything like that." He thumbed the silver band around the pale finger, "You're the one that brought me back home, Minoru. It's because of you that I made it back."

Minoru swallowed through the lump rising in his throat, and looked down at their joined hands.

"I told him to leave me, Minoru. I told him to go after the enemy. And he did. He stopped them from coming here, to Konoha, he stopped them from coming here where you are. He stopped them from hurting the ones I love."

"I don't hate him for what he did, because in the end he kept you safe. In the end he kept Konoha safe "

"In the end, you're the one that brought me back home."

He remembered Naruto's words as if it was yesterday. When in reality it was nearly a year ago. He remembered when Naruto told him that he remembered thinking about him. How he was the only one he could think about. How he used the pocket watch he had given him as their wedding present to find his way back. How tears ran down his face. How Naruto kissed them away.

"And I know Sasuke," he continued, "He's not one to ask for help, but it seems that that's what he's doing with you." He smiled when midnight blue eyes widened a fraction in realization, "I don't know why, but he is. Maybe it's your charm," he teased with a little wink and Minoru scowled, "Whatever the reason, he's trying," he chuckled, "You have good judgement, Minoru. And I know you'll make the right decision... Just... Think about it, okay?"

Minoru sighed and nodded. An arm wrapped around him and pulled him closer into a warm embrace and lips kissed his forehead. He tilted his head up and caught Naruto's lips in a soft kiss and smiled when a warm hand cupped his cheek to deepen it. "Your food is getting cold," he murmured against lips. Naruto hummed distractedly and sealed their lips in another kiss.

A few days later, after much deliberation, he made up his mind about Sasuke. He realized that if this didn't work out between them, then that would be it. There was no reason to force something that can't be. It wouldn't be right. But he figured, that it wouldn't hurt to at least try. To at least try to give the Uchiha a chance to redeem himself.

When he told Naruto his decision, the warm smile his husband gave him was the last encouragement he needed.

This was why he was perched on a tree, about three branches up from where Sasuke was lounging with a book in hand.

Two can play that game.

Sasuke slowly looked up from his book and directed his gaze up to find Minoru looking down at him with a rather amused look on his face, and an equally amused grin on his lips. He narrowed his eyes somewhat offended that he hadn't sensed the younger man. He watched him as he gracefully landed next to him. "How long were you up there?"

"Long enough," Minoru answered and looked at the book in the older man's hands, "Do you like mystery thrillers?" He asked out of curiosity, earning him a confused look, "Naruto in engrossed in a series. Maybe you'll like it. They sell it in the bookstore nearby." Sasuke gave him a look and shifted his weight. He narrowed his eyes slightly in return hoping he would get the hint.

"Is that so?" He asked after a moment with a bit of hesitation.

"We can go, it's not that far," Minoru suggested and then it seemed to have clicked.

"Alright."

This was going to be interesting.

When they reached the bookstore, Minoru showed Sasuke the series he mentioned, and it seemed that he took interest in them. He didn't know much about them other than what Naruto would tell him, which was basically a summary of every chapter. He smirked when Sasuke started reading and took the opportunity to gravitate towards the art section. Not that he was looking for anything in particular. He slipped a book out of the shelf and opened it to a random page about drawing birds and their anatomy.

"You like to draw and paint, right?"

Minoru visibly twitched at the sudden voice and turned to glare at Sasuke. He took in a deep breath, "Stop doing that," he said in a harsh whisper, and glared harder when Sasuke chuckled.

"It's a habit," he said with a shrug, "I'm sorry," he added as an afterthought.

Minoru sighed, "To answer your question, yes, I do."

"I heard that you were practicing a jutsu?"

Minoru quirked an amused brow, vaguely wondering who he heard that from. Maybe his dad. Or if he somehow found out on his own. He nodded and smoothed his hand over the open page of the book, and the bird immediately popped out.

Sasuke watched with curiosity when the bird perched onto Minoru's finger and gestured to do the same. He did. The bird hopped from Minoru's to his finger and tilted it's head at him, "Interesting. Very life like." He tucked the book be was carrying under his arm and bright his hand up to pet the bird, "This is very good." He said impressed.

Minoru's lips twitched into a grin when the bird got bigger, and much to Sasuke's horror it grew the size of a hawk. He snorted at the offended look on Sasuke's face and took pity on him by dispelling it, letting it turn back into paper. He caught the piece of paper between his fingers as it started to flutter to the floor and casually fussed it back into the book.

"Impressive," Sasuke said with a smirk, "So, it's not only with your drawings?"

Minoru shook his head and slipped the book back into place, "I figured out a way to apply to anything really, although I prefer to use my own." He glanced at Sasuke when he hummed in acknowledgement. He looked at the rest of the books and from the he corner of his eye he saw Sasuke reach for a book and flip it open.

"Have you tried it with a human form?"

Minoru quirked a brow and glanced at the book Sasuke was looking at. Interestingly enough, it was a human anatomy book. "I have," he said slowly, "It's useful. Easier."

Sasuke nodded, "You could create a colossus if you wanted to."

A slow smile pulled on Minoru's lips, "I could," he drawled, "Want to train someday?"

"Sure."

It was a rhetorical question. Minoru shifted his gaze to the books, "Great."

As they were leaving, Minoru made a quick reservation for the new installation of Naruto's favorite series that was coming out in a couple months.

"Reservation?"

Minoru chuckled, "Our anniversary is coming up in a couple of months, so I wanted to add it to his gift," he narrowed his eyes warningly, "Don't tell him." Sasuke chuckled and it took Minoru a bit by surprise.

As they walked and reached a point where they had to take different routes, there was a moment of hesitation from Sasuke that made Minoru feel somewhat uneasy.

"You really love him don't you?"

Minoru fought a blush and smiled, "Yeah, I do." Sasuke nodded as if in deep thought, and he vaguely felt as if he should say something else, but frankly he was a bit lost for words.

"Thank you," Sasuke cleared his throat and made a gesture, "For..."

Minoru nodded, "Sure." He offered the older man a smile, "Maybe next time the three of us can get dinner."

Sasuke considered for a moment, "Alright."

They took their leave and Minoru entered the apartment and toed off his shoes. He moved to the kitchen with a smile when he heard the familiar sound of a knife meeting a cutting board. He found Naruto cutting apples and strawberries into slices. Cerulean eyes met his as he moved closer.

Naruto smiled and pressed an apple slice against his husband's bottom lip, his smile widening when he playfully snatched it away. He chuckled when Minoru wiggled a dark brow at him and moved to stand behind him, wrapping his arms around his waist. Lips pressed at the back of his neck and a shiver ran down his spine, "How did it go?"

Minoru smiled against skin and hummed, "We might have dinner with him some night," he planted a kiss behind an ear, snaking his hands into the shirt the older man was wearing, "Sorry."

Naruto was too distracted to really care, "Okay," he breathed out, sighing when a hand smoothed over his stomach in a tender caress.

Minoru smiled when he felt the older man's abdomen twitch under his hand. His hands moved up, letting his fingers brush against sensitive nipple that turned into nubs. He sighed when Naruto dropped his head with a moan and braced himself on the counter, and subtly rocked his hips back.

Naruto turned around and locked Minoru in a searing kiss, delving his tongue into that welcoming mouth, eliciting a deep moan from his husband. His breath hitched when fingers teased his nipples and Minoru pressed closer. He felt the lips on his pull into a smile and he couldn't stop the soccer that ran down his spine even if he wanted to. And when a warm hand gingerly stroked the underside of his erection, he felt himself twitch, "Minoru."

Minoru smiled and stroked the growing erection through the fabric of the sweatpants Naruto was wearing, "Eager," he teased, eliciting a deep moan from his husband. Hands tugged off his shirt and lips latched on to his neck, making his fingers flex against Naruto's sides. He flushed when his evident bulge ground against the older man's.

"Seems like I'm not the only one," Naruto said a bit too breathlessly, and half lidded glowing eyes looked at him before leaning in a locking gin into a deep kiss. He groaned and moved then to the bedroom, earning him an amused chuckle. He undid his husband's jeans, exhaling sharply through his nose when his erection sprung free. Fingers threaded onto his hair and directed him into a tender kiss as his hands pulled Minoru closer by the small of his back.

Minoru chuckled when his back met the bed and gentle hands tugged his jeans the rest of the way off, moaning when lips kissed and nibbled at the inner side of his hip, "Naruto." The older man growled low in his throat and it sent a pulse down his spine.

Naruto crawled along his panting husband, grinning when half rolled over and reached over to the nightstand and dug around the drawer. He took the opportunity to grope the younger man's toned rear, letting his fingers skid between the clef of the two cheeks. Minoru moaned, losing his concentration and rocked his hips back. He smiled and kissed the younger man's shoulder before reaching over and fished out the tube of lube. He cupped a flushed cheek and the way Minoru smiled up at him caused a flutter in his heart, and he couldn't help but smile down at him and slip l his lips over his. Arms wrapped around his shoulders and Minoru lifted his hips against his, making both of them moan.

Minoru gasped against Naruto's mouth when slick fingers traced his entrance and slipped inside of him. He moaned as a second finger pushed inside, he rocked his hips and shivered when they pressed against his prostate, "Naruto - yes -" he cried out when the fingers crooked, "Y-yes!" He rocked his hips harder, eliciting a growl from the older man, "Naruto -" his hips bucked and lips sealed over his as he felt his erection twitch and precum drip onto his stomach. He flushed hotter at the hungry look in the cerulean as they looked down at him, trailing over him as he rocked his hips, wanting more. And as if sensing it the fingers withdrew and Naruto sat back. He sat up with him and tugged at the sweatpants he was still wearing, subconsciously licking his lips when his thick erection sprang free. He reached around and groped the older man's rear as Naruto got rid his pants, eliciting a deep moan next to his ear that went straight to his aching erection. A hand hooked under his chin and directed his gaze upward, to bright cerulean eyes and equally bright smile that descended onto his. His hands smoothed over Naruto's flanks, his fingers tracing the sensitive scar along his ribcage as his back met the bed. He moaned when Naruto slid against him, slick and hot and oh so hard, "Naruto," he moaned out for no particular reason - and he did it again, "Oh God."

Naruto grinned and circled his hips, "Minoru," hands smoothed over his hips and followed the motion, "You feel so good," he whispered near his ear and felt the younger man shiver with a moan. He pressed his lips on the sensitive scar and traced the rough skin with his tongue. He leaned back, his eyes roaming over his flushed husband, his glowing eyes. He lifted the slender hips, grinning when Minoru rolled them, his erection following the movement. His hand gravitated towards it, slowly squeezing out a drop of precum along with a lot moan. He gave him a firm stroke, making the dark head trash back against the pillows.

"Tease," Minoru breathed out, moaning when Naruto did it again.

"What was that?" Naruto smoothed a hand along an inner thigh, knowing the sensitive inner joint, grinning when Minoru choked on a moan. Teasing his husband was one of his favorite things to do, watching him writhe with pleasure and drip with want, making him beg for release. He could tease him until he came - he has. And the result was always beautiful. Always so hot.

Naruto pressed the slick flared head of his erection against the welcoming entrance, making Minoru's breath hitch in anticipation.

"Tease," Minoru repeated and moaned when the flared head pressed harder against him.

"But you love it when I tease you."

Minoru flushed hotter at the husky voice, "Na-ruto-" his moan broke him off when Naruto pressed harder but just not enough.

"Don't you?"

"Y-yes," Minoru admitted and gasped when Naruto pushed inside of him, so hard and so slick and so perfect,"Yesss." He opened his eyes that he didn't realize were closed and his breath caught at the look in the cerulean eyes that were fixed on him. Naruto leaned over him, bracing himself on his forearms as he circled his hips, making him gasp in pleasure. He cupped the whiskered face, tracing the older man's smiling bottom lip. "Naruto," he said breathlessly, his breath hitching when he rolled his hips. Naruto kissed his palm and thrust into him, slow and deep.

They became lost in the rhythm that naturally happened between them. Their moans echoed in their bedroom, Minoru cried out when Naruto lifted his hips onto his lap, changing their angle and it had him moaning uncontrollably, whispering Naruto's name like a mantra.

Naruto leaned over him, driving deep and hard into him, making eager hands grip onto him as he arched under him, "Minoru," glowing eyes looked up at him, those eyes that some volumes to him. He reached in between them, precum smearing on his hand, sickening his hold as he started stroking him. Hands found purchase on his shoulders, his biceps, and he felt it, felt his husband's pending orgasm - felt it in the way he rolled his hips, the way his breath hitched, the way his hands flexed. He wanted to savor it wanted to watch it happen. He rolled his hips, circling them, making the dark head arch back against the pillows, and circled the sensitive head with his thumb. He slowed his thrust by a fraction and angled his hips and stroked the hard member in his hand the way he knew Minoru loved.

"Oh -God - Na-ruto - y-yes -"

"Yes?"

A heat washed over him, and his back arched as his orgasm claimed him. His seed spilled in between them, onto his stomach, Naruto's rigid length coaxing more out of him as he continued to thrust against his prostate. He panted for air and pulled Naruto down for a hot kiss. And when Naruto pulled away and grinned at him as he leaned back and hooked his hands under his knees a pulse ran through his sensitive body. He fixed his eyes on him, not wanting to miss it - that look of pure pleasure that contoured Naruto's features, the deep flush that spread under sun kissed skin, how he would moan his name. "Na-ruto," he gasped out as his hips faltered and strong yet gentle hands gripped his hips as he filled him.

Naruto leaned back down over his panting husband, bracing himself on his forearms as their hips continued rolling. A fond smile tugged on his lips when gentle hands cupped his jaw and lips brushed against his and whispered the words "I love you" before sealing together with his. He pressed their foreheads together and kissed the younger man's nose, earning him a soft chuckle as he gave his cheeks the same treatment. Half lidded faint glowing eyes looked at him as fingers threaded into his hair. He stayed there, watching him as those midnight blue eyes slid close with heavy lids and the hands in his hair stopped moving and his husband drifted into to stated sleep. His smile grew as he slipped away, eliciting a sleepy hum from the younger man, and made a trip to the bathroom to retrieve a damp wash cloth to give them a courtesy wipe down. And as he caved and slipped next to his sleeping husband and spooned up next to him, he vaguely remembered the fruit he was cutting. In the end this was much sweeter.

Minoru stirred awake to the sounds of Naruto in the kitchen. He sighed and rolled over and blinked at the darkening room. He wondered what time it was as he got up and stretched, ignoring the slight twinge in his rear. He decided to take a quick shower and slip into a pair of sleeping pants and a worn t-shirt before wandering into the kitchen to find Naruto making the one dish he was really good at and that he really loves.

"My favorite!" Minoru grinned at the brow wiggle Naruto gave him, "Chicken stir fry!"

Naruto snorted, "I'll never understand why you like my stir fry so much but - okay!"

Minoru laughed and helped Naruto set the table and make tea. "It smells so good!"

Naruto chuckled, "Does it or are you just saying that because sex makes you hungry?"

Minoru blushed despite himself but laughed anyway, "Okay, it's true, sex does make me hungry, but I love your stir fry regardless." He took a bite and moaned, "It's just so good!"

Naruto smiled and took a bite, "I guess so."

Minoru chuckled and shook his head, "So modest."

Naruto took a drink from his tea, "I wanted to ask how it went with Sasuke."

Minoru raised his eyebrows as if he had forgotten, "It was... Okay..." He said chuckled, "It was interesting?" He took another hungry bite, "Really, Naruto, I could just eat this for every meal." Naruto laughed in amusement. He laughed into his cup as he took a drink, "But yeah, it was okay. It was... Kind of awkward, but I was trying to make the best of it." Naruto nodded as he took another bite, "Can I ask you something though?" Naruto hummed in question, "Was he always like this? I mean, it seems that it's hard for him to...relate? Or empathize with others?"

Naruto thought about it, taking a drink from his tea, "Kind of, not really." He tilted his head, "He's always been closed off, maybe off-putting. The way he showed others that he cared was to push them away." Be gave a small shrug, "One of the reasons he and I got along, to some extent, was because we were both orphans. We always had some sort of rivalry between us, too. He was never one to ask for help, he was always too cocky or proud." He ate another bite, and looked at his husband, "that's why this surprised me, because in a way he's asking for your help. But another thing is that he wouldn't make a decision lightly, if he's going to ask for anything then you know there's a lot of thought behind it."

Minoru ate another bite as he thought. He had considered the possibility, but it still kind of baffled him because what he didn't understand was why him? "You know," he started, "at least he's trying right? Maybe... This is already as hard as it is for him." He sighed and took another drink, "Maybe it'll be okay."

Naruto chuckled, "Apparently we're having dinner with him some day?"

Minoru gave his husband a sheepish smile, "Yeah."

Naruto smiled and reached over to cup the younger man's jaw, "You truly are amazing, you know." Minoru chuckled and shook his head, "I'm serious," he combed his fingers through the dark unruly locks that were still somewhat moist from his previous shower, "There's not a lot people that would give someone like Sasuke the chance you're giving him."

Minoru gave Naruto a half smile, "I just hope I don't end up regretting it."