Title: Sneaking Out

Rated: T
Words: 1274
Romance/Humour

Summary: all the characters live in the same building au / blank period / mostly dialogue / fluff & slice of life.

When the "temporary" settlements are taken down, sixteen months post-war, and most of her friends end up moving to the same apartment complex, Sakura realizes it will be a lot more difficult to sneak out for the usual late night make-out sessions.

"We need a plan," Sasuke says after she confides her concerns to him that night.

He hasn't noticed the changes – because a) he doesn't care about people, b) he was away for quite some time, and c) he doesn't really care – but she had. Every day there's someone moving in and every day more familiar faces greet her when she's leaving or arriving at her apartment.

"It shouldn't be as complicated as you think it will be." He tells her as though her worry is unwarranted. "We just need to use our skills; we are shinobi."

"And so are all tenants from the 3rd to the 10th floor."

Sasuke sits down on her secondhand couch and sighs. "I can walk up the outer wall and get to your window."

"As romantic as it sounds Sasuke-kun, you could be easily spotted." The disbelieving look in his mismatched eyes prompted her to continue. "Masked chakra or not, someone could look out of the window or get on the balcony and see you."

"Henge?"

Sakura snorts. "And that wouldn't look suspicious at all."

He glares at her and she glares right back. She gives up first, groaning as she starts to pace the room.

"Imagine the repercussions… we'd have to explain to Tsunade-shisou what you were doing climbing up a residential building wall late at night. You, Uchiha Sasuke, ex missing nin who spent the last four years plotting revenge—"

"Tch, I get it." Sasuke averts his eyes, but doesn't look fazed by the touchy subject. "You could take the stairs up to my place."

"And risk bumping into someone?"

"Who takes the stairs when there's that brand new metal box that takes everyone up and down here? It's the first elevator in a non-governmental building and everyone wants to ride it." He rolls his eyes and Sakura mirrors the action, because yeah, it's ridiculous. They can do magic ninja stuff and people are excited by a mechanical thing that moves vertically.

"Well... Kakashi takes his sweet time climbing the stairs to his apartment. Lee says the additional exercise is a challenge. Tenten has to follow suit when he's around. I saw Kiba taking the stairs with Akamaru once… I guess some people just don't like the wait." Sakura shrugs, not dismissing the idea entirely, just being realistic about the risks. "Besides, you wouldn't want me bumping into Lee late at night."

Sasuke frowns. "Why wouldn't I want that?"

"Because…" Sakura trails off, the very valid reason she had vanishes at the sight of a jealous Sasuke.

He just… he looks so, so good when he's confused and angry at the same time. His jaw ticks, his voice turns gruff, and that little pout that goes with the sullen glower completes the hottest bad boy look one can have. Why are they wasting time talking when they could be kissing? His conceited smirk snaps her out of her daze and she berates herself for falling for his trick – he knows how to distract her very well.

"Because he'd hog me until I allow him to walk me safely back to my door."

Sasuke groans and lets his head fall on the pillow behind him. "I'll go down to you then, problem solved."

"That could work, but we'd still risk Ino or someone from the hospital walking in on us." He doesn't say anything to that, but Sakura sees the question on his face from where she's standing. "You haven't been back long, so to put it simply, I'm needed in that hospital and they have the gift to need me when I'm off."

Sakura watches with a satisfied grin as Sasuke's eyebrows shoot up in surprise. He looks at her with respect and curiosity... And damn, forget about the bad boy thing because this makes her tremble with anticipation. That look is everything she's ever wanted.

"You're my teammate."

"Your female teammate, the one who has had a, uh, crush on you since forever. Stop smirking! The entire village knows."

Sasuke cocks an eyebrow. "I thought you loved me."

Did he just… goad her on? The bastard has the nerve to puff up his chest and look smug while saying that.

"That's too personal!" Sakura hides her pink cheeks when she twirls around and resumes her pacing. When she completes a full circle, their eyes meet and she sighs. "Yeah, yeah, they know."

Three circles later, Sakura has an a-ha moment and asks, "Are you good at teleporting yet?"

After Sasuke's recovery and his brief trial that led to the end of the council, the Hokage authorized the Rinnegan research. Kakashi and Sasuke have been training together every other day since. Sasuke's stamina is building up to a point he's not completely exhausted after using his new ocular powers.

Sasuke's mood changes immediately. The scowl on his face is telling and Sakura almost winces – he's too proud to admit that he's probably not quite there yet. Teleporting back and forth after training hours could drain him.

"What if," Sakura says quickly, changing the subject. "What if we just don't sneak out."

"Then we won't be spending time together?"

"But we do."

"How so?"

"I mean what if we just don't care if someone sees us going to each other's apartments? We are two consenting adults and it's none of their business anyway." Sakura explains, chewing her bottom lip as she mulls over the various outcomes of not keeping their relationship a secret anymore.

It was not a premeditated decision to hide it in the first place. But when they have two loud-mouthed best friends, the news would blow up within hours and they just want some privacy.

It's not like they'd be advertising their relationship or anything. And who cares if nosy people gossip about it? The only thing that matters is that they are together (and ridiculously in love).

"You know what, this won't keep me away from you."

"Oh yeah? You're going to forgo any social etiquette just to have your way with me, huh?"

"As if you'd complain!" Sakura scoffs and crosses her arms. "If I don't do that, you will. And you know why? Because you'd miss me."

Sasuke snorts but she pays no heed to it; she knows he would never admit to that if asked. And, she can see the blush creeping up the side of his neck and the tip of his ears. Adorable.

"You'd miss me and these sugar lips." She swipes her tongue across her mouth and notices how his eyes darken, following the movement. "Tell me I'm lying."

When he stands up, rather abruptly for a human but not for a shinobi, she's forced to take a step back and crank her neck up to look at him. Sakura's still not used to this Sasuke, tall and broad, who towers over her.

"Come here, sugar lips."

He speaks with a rough, low voice, and what's supposed to be seductive and hot-hot-hot, makes her giggle instead. Even though Sasuke's just repeating her own words to annoy her, that's something she's never expected to hear.

"I can't believe you said that. Uchiha Sasuke—"

"Shut up."

—called me-mmph!"

He kisses her silly that night – and all the other nights that follow – putting to rest all her doubts and worries, because he does miss her and no neighborhood gossip will keep them apart.

A/N: Just a little something that came into mind last night when I saw that au name on twitter. Hope you all like it! :)

xoxo