-Canon, Genin Era-

Warnings: Mild blood/injury

Rating: T

"Ow!"

Sakura's sudden exclamation made the two boys pause in their work, turning to see her holding her hand with a grimace of pain.

"What's wrong, Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked, dropping another slice of lemon into the glass drink dispenser.

"I cut myself," she hissed, cupping her hand to her chest. She looked up with a trembling smile, tears starting to rise in her eyes. "I'll be fine, we need to hurry before we have to leave for the picnic."

Sasuke studied her for a moment before going back to cutting up fruit for the punch. When he heard her whimper, he looked up again - and dropped the knife onto the paper towels when he realized that the entirety of her palm was red as her dress.

"Dammit, Sakura," he sighed to himself, opening his pouch to find a roll of bandages. Luckily she'd given it to him for his birthday this year, and he hadn't used it all up yet; it was better than using a flimsy tissue or staining a towel.

He walked over to her and knelt beside her, making her look up in surprise. "S- Sas-"

"Let me see," he demanded, holding out his hand.

Sakura's face lit up in a pretty pink blush and she swallowed before shyly presenting her bleeding hand.

He took her wrist in one hand and inspected her palm. Luckily the knife hadn't gone in too far, but the amount of blood seeping out of the cut was worrying. He kissed his teeth in frustration; Kakashi had gone out a while ago to get more supplies, and who knows where he was slacking off at now.

Sakura's quiet noise of pain made him snap out of his thoughts, and he realized he was gripping her wrist a touch too tight for comfort. He relaxed his hold and got to work, first bringing her over to the sink. He held her hand under the lukewarm running water for a few moments until all of the blood was washed away, and then he carefully and meticulously began wrapping the wound. His eyes stared determinedly at her small, dainty hand until the wound was completely covered.

Tucking the last piece into place, he inspected his work, turning her hand over to see the way it fit over the back before turning it back over again.

"T- thanks, Sasuke-kun," she murmured, and when he looked up at her she was staring at him with an adoring gaze, her cheeks still dusted with red.

He'd be a dirty liar if he said he didn't enjoy her attention like this. How annoying.

He turned away so that his face was hidden into the collar of his shirt, hiding his own blushing cheeks. "Tch. Be more careful with the knife last time."

He could feel her smile on his back as he went back to the table, and when he glanced up and saw her working again, her hand bandaged, if he let his pride show on his face it was nobody's business but his.