notes: fixed! (8/9/19)
rating: K
disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
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28. glasses
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"Grab the finger with the ring, Sarada," comes the chiming of Sakura's encouraging voice that seems to trail off into a gentle end as her eyes contain an expectant glimmer towards her daughter. Moments pass and so does the slight wagging of her fingers, a subtle attempt at trying to get her small baby to see the golden band atop her fourth finger: the ring finger. It'd been a simple band that Sasuke forged—a special little thing it was to her.
A scoff. "It's only been two weeks since she's been born." Karin wears an expression of mundane seriousness even before she crossed her arms over her chest, index finger tapping along her arm absentmindedly. "Just because you married a prestigious man doesn't mean your child will automatically become the same."
Patience is the key.
Simplistic thinking, Karin knows, but it really does pay off in the end. Even if the woman beside her used to be branded an enemy to her, the redhead cannot find it in herself to deny those wistful emotions locked into the eyes of Sasuke's wife back when they first met: Karin's back cold against cracked cement as Sakura busied healing her fatal wounds. The tears that fell on Karin's face unwillingly reveals so much and it made Karin realizes just how true the old saying absence makes the heart grow fonder really is. It had been the first time Karin had seen such passion; it made her so bittersweet, so goddamn indignant. Some part of Karin hasn't gotten over Sasuke, even as the years pass and his marriage with Sakura is sturdy as ever, but she's aware that it's a losing battle for her and she's content enough to see his life getting better even if it meant taking care of his wife and baby.
"But—" Sakura cries out, her head rotating enough for her to peer at her comrade. "—Karin! Even if she is still so young, she should've been reaching out for something that stands out in front of her, like this ring!" Children and babies are easy to entertain; they often do make a grab for anything shiny, anything pretty. Sakura had seen the way some of the babies acted whenever mothers gave birth in the hospital and whenever the nurses dangle toys in front of them.
Except Sarada had a hard time deciding which something stood out for her as her arms hesitantly wave around.
As if she cannot spy the band around her mother's finger.
Always one to speculate, one of Karin's arms uncrossed to let her thumb settle upon her lips in contemplation and her eyes attain a focused gaze at the baby. "Let's check something."
When Sakura scoots to the side, Karin proceeds to hold up two wooden sticks that used to be lingering midst the rubble of her hideout. One stick shines in a coat of red (which Sakura will not remark about as she has a good idea what happened to it) and the other maintaining its normal brown exterior. Not your average eye test of reciting letters off a chart, but seeing how this used to be a hideout for rather dark purposes, it'd be best to improvise something else. Besides, Sarada cannot speak yet. Despite that, the impromptu test is highly appreciated.
"Sarada, can you gesture to the red stick for Aunt Karin?"
When Naruto called Karin that in front of Sarada, the baby reacted so jubilantly, pudgy hands clapping enthusiastically—and so, Aunt Karin stuck to her. It aggravated the redhead at the beginning and it still does a little, but traces of indignation vanishes when the baby does indeed point at the red stick, her glowing face beaming brighter than ever under fluorescent lights. She honestly thought the test would be a flop and didn't think the baby could even comprehend what red or stick was. Maybe the smarts of her parents were just that inheritable.
Karin hums, further continuing this unofficial test. Her fingers now hold up two regular brown wooden sticks, but she manages to scribble a quick small smiley face with a marker on the top of the other stick before resuming her hold on both objects. "How about the one with the smiley face?"
A quirk of her head commenced, Sarada gurgles a confused noise.
Everything's blurry.
With some hesitation, her finger points randomly; the regular stick was chosen instead. Karin taps the chosen stick against her chin, pondering about the child's eyes before she sets the items down and scour over her desk. No luck. Dried old cloths, test tubes, calculator, pliers, papers—nothing here can really help. Then again, she's not exactly a professional eye doctor. It's only when her face reflects off her small desk mirror does she finally feel an idea coming up.
I'm so smart.
Karin's hands settle at the sides of her glasses, lifting the red frames off her face and with much delicateness does she place them on the baby's face. Sakura, who had been busying herself with a messenger hawk (from her husband, she concludes) outside, returns just in time and smiles at how the scene resembles a princess getting crowned to be a queen like in fairy tales.
It's a small sacrifice—Karin had been quite attached to these frames—but it'll be worth it.
"How about now?" She lifts the sticks again, patiently awaiting. Sakura does not see it since the redhead's back faces her, but Karin's lips twitches into a smile upon receiving the right answer this time. "I think I found the problem. Kiddo here can keep those. I can always get another pair."
Sakura observes how Karin ruffles the baby's head and says nothing as she grins, scooping Sarada in her arms. "Thank you." For everything. She'd like to say the rest, but she'd feel like Karin would humbly wave it off.
It's just a small sacrifice, but it's worth it. "Just get outta here before I get more 'eye patients' lining up for business." Karin rolls her eyes, feeling quite odd without her frames occupying her face.
Sarada giggles, and then she lets out a squeal as she tries to hold the glasses up.
Karin couldn't tell if it was a sheer stroke of luck that her prescription is exactly what Sarada needed for her eyes, but one thing is certain: it's definitely worth giving them away. Sarada may be her favorite niece even though she is her only niece.
"Feel free to come by again when she's older!"
