Notes: It's funny how I punch stories out in sporadic bursts. You know, update update update, don't write for a month, update some more. I hope that doesn't bother anyone. Also, I've been thinking of illustrating these shorts into some type of epic chapter doujinshi or something of the like, and I wanted to know if that would be a good idea. Could you all help with some input on that thought? Thank you.
They were walking back to Naruto's house. A chill hung in the late-evening air, plumes of hot breath rising from their mouths as they trekked through ankle-deep snow. They were being quiet, mostly to conserve energy, but also because this time of day just made one feel like they had to be quiet. And they were enjoying each other's company, so that was nice too.
"You know what?" Naruto spoke up thoughtfully as his apartment building came into view.
"Nn?" Sasuke didn't bother looking up from his chakra concentration; he was manipulating it so he could stay above the piles of snow.
"It's actually…kind of--ahh!--depressing…" his companion on the other hand, wasn't bothering with chakra manipulation, and was stumbling through the cold whiteness as he tried to speak.
"What?" the dark-haired jounin had learned to keep talk to a minimum in situations like these.
"Walking home and…gah!" The blond had not learned his lesson, apparently, "and know--eek!--ing," Sasuke rolled his eyes, "that no one will be!" He fell face-first in a snowdrift on the side of the road. His friend helped him up, and Naruto sputtered, wiping snow out of his eyes.
"Now, finish that without falling on your face," the taller man said with a grin.
Naruto stuck out his tongue then looked back to the dark apartment. "I was trying to say," his gaze softened, "that it's depressing to go home knowing no one's there to welcome you back." He closed his eyes, listening to the slight shifting noises Sasuke was making as he moved closer.
"Oi, dobe…"
"Hmm?" he opened his eyes and cried out in surprise as a huge, ice-cold ball of snow smacked him in the face with a sharp plop! "ACK! SASUKE!" Naruto scrubbed the snow from his face and glared, but the person who had thrown it was long-gone. With a blink and then a downhearted sigh, the blond continued on alone to his apartment. "Stupid Sasuke…" he mumbled, rubbing his cheeks harshly to warm them. "He never listens to me." Naruto reached for the doorknob.
The door opened. "Welcome home, Naruto," Sasuke said.
They stared at one another for a long moment.
"How did you…?" Naruto lifted an eyebrow.
"The window," Sasuke shrugged. That's when he saw the glass on the floor.
"You bastard!"
"What? You said it was depressing not to be welcomed home, so, I fixed that for you."
"Yeah, but now you have to fix my window too!"
"Don't push your luck."
"But you broke it!"
"Ah, relax," Sasuke pulled him inside and closed the door. "I'll fix the window."
"Did you have to break the window?" Naruto groaned.
"I can't win with you, can I?"
"That's not the point, Sasuke! You broke my window!"
"Is that all that's important to you?"
"Well, no…" the blond admitted, grinning suddenly. "It's just a window, anyway. What's important is why it was done, right?"
Sasuke shook his head and grinned back. "Yeah. Sorry anyway."
"Thank you," Naruto's grin turned into a soft smile. "Even if you broke my window."
"…can we just get over the window thing already?"
The blond laughed, and after a moment, he did too.