you see me in hindsight, tangled up with you all night / burning it down / someday when you leave me / i bet these memories follow you around

- wildest dreams, taylor swift (1989)

only the sound of heavy breathing can be heard inside her bedroom. outside, the city is bustling; inside, here they are. this is the first time they've done this here after "dating" for half a year now, but he seems to be at home on her bed as he lies on his back with his eyes closed and a small satisfied smirk on his devilish mouth.

sakura can't help but think that this is inevitable.

a large hand finds her thigh and he affectionately squeezes it, "you okay?"

she wipes her damp forehead with the back of her hand and answers him breathlessly, "y-yeah… just give me a sec…"

sakura hears the mirth in his voice when he asks, "what? you want another round again?"

without looking at him, she whips her other hand to smack him. it lands on his hip bone and she pushes away the image of what lies deep within that valley that made her see stars earlier, "don't act as if you're not thinking it too, sasuke-kun."

as much as this is the first time they jumped each other in her place, this is also the first time for him to stay the night, and not leave immediately the next morning. instead, after an intense late-night romp in the sheets, he curled up behind her and held her close until they fell asleep from exhaustion.

and then this late morning, she was woken up by his wandering hands and his exploring tongue, and she woke up needy and ready that he immediately paid attention to. he was gentle this time; so patient and so tender with his movements and his words, every breath of air on her skin just burned in the right way and even brought her to tears.

sasuke kissed the tears away.

he made her reach her climax three times before he even went inside her, that's why she fell asleep again after he came with her on her fourth. and when they woke up a few minutes ago, he was on her again.

it's the first time they did it during the day. sakura wonders why. he seems to be more physically attached to her recently, and never passes an opportunity to make her melt with his eyes and hands and mouth. with that question lingering in her mind, she twists her head so she can look at him and surprises herself when she sees him already looking at her.

this is where she is reminded that sometimes life is just so unfair. when you see that face, you can't help but think this way, too.

the afternoon sun hits him perfectly on his chiseled jaw and his early morning stubble. his hair, a gorgeous mane of raven hair, shines as his crowning glory against her baby pink bedsheet. and those eyes, warm and soft and intense, look at her in silent awe and she is speechless.

she turns her face away, "you're looking at me weird again."

his fingers travel from her wrist up to her arm, slowly, until they reach her shoulder. "it's not weird," he murmurs. "you're just not used to it."

that's the thing— she can't be used to it. there are just some things in life that you can't be too familiar with because everything is temporary. one day, everything will end; everyone will leave.

this, whatever the fuck this is, will be over sooner or later. sakura knows this from all the friends and lovers and family that left her to where she is now. why bother being familiar with something that you know won't be there forever?

sakura sits up slowly, bare as a newborn, and looks at the window outside where the sun is slowly setting. "will you remember this, sasuke-kun? when you go and this is all over?" she turns his head to his direction but didn't look at him, "will you remember us?"

when you leave me someday? next year? next week?

tomorrow?

later?

right now?

"who says i'm going anywhere?"

the conviction in his voice gets sakura to look back at him, still on his side as he gazes at her. his hand glides to the space of the bed she occupied earlier until he reaches her pillow where he brought to his face. sasuke closes his eyes and inhales deeply, and sakura is entranced.

"how can i go anywhere when you're here?"

six months is not a long time. there are other couples out there who have been together for six years and still do not see a future with one another.

but here she is— here they are— in this afternoon post-coital glow, looking forward to spending their lives tangled with each other just like they did last night, this morning, and right now.

sakura just looks at him in admiration and there's a faint color on his elegant cheeks and she leans down to give them a kiss. she hovers above his lips right after and sakura can see sasuke looking straight directly at her while his hand covers the back of her head.

he gently tugs her down to kiss her lips and she goes freely— for her heart goes freely to him as well. she smiles against their kiss and her heart leaps in joy when she feels him smile back as they continue to seal their relationship.

and to sakura, there is no other better exchange of i love you than this— tangled with the love of your life on your bed in the warm glow of the sun with your heart safe in his hands.

a/n: ooop sorry this was rushed asjfkldj i'm just so excited about some ss (and other fandom) merch incoming aaaaaaaaa also, please watch out for the next few days on some announcements. "we" have some exciting news on the way ;)) stay tuned!